The V&A Courtyard
A web of tranquility
A snapshot of a midsummers day in the courtyard of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Elytra Filament Pavilion - a carbon fibre, web-like structure fabricated by an onsite robot which mimics the intricacy of a beetle's forewing shell - juxtaposes the Victorian grandeur of the buildings. The space is home to two architectural masterpieces of distanced eras, yet remains modest and simple by design.
Children wallow in the shallow oval pool which is set so seamlessly into the ground, it might have been a mirage. Creative souls sketch whilst reclining against shrubbery. Business folk brew novel ideas over coffee in sunflower patterned cups. Humanity shares in the tranquility of a space which is inspired by and seems to inspire life.
The Victoria and Albert breathes culture, old and new, with exhibitions showcasing the relevant (Contemporary British Engineering) the abstract (A Brief History of Underwear), and the classic (National Collection of Sculpture). Inspiration seeps from each brick and brings the sun-bleached inner courtyard to life as if through osmosis.
If you are in need of physical as well as mental nourishment, the Garden Café will do you well with its selection of coffee, cake, salad and sandwiches. Venturing inside the main V&A Café, you may deem the diverse pastry selection suddenly irrelevant as you gaze upon the overwhelmingly lavish Victorian design of the Morris, Gamble, and Poynter 'refreshment' rooms.
Anyone seeking a breather from the onslaught of information that the museum district brings could do worse than this square of solace. Whether you're sat under the pavilion, or swept up by a moment of mindfulness as you dip your feet in the fountain, you may get the feeling you're caught in a temporary utopia, where innovation, creativity, and tranquility are at the forefront.
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