The David Bowie Centre opened its doors on 13th September 2025. This landmark addition to the V&A East campus celebrates the life and legacy of David Bowie - musical icon, innovator, and champion of self-expression. Studio ZNA collaborated closely with the V&A team and IDK Architecture practice on the project. Lighting was employed to imbue life to Bowie’s body of work, capable of resonating with audiences in different ways over time. The lit scheme speaks to the language of museum archive collections, but with an injection of dynamism and a performative nature not dissimilar to that of theatre or live music shows. This combination of technical expertise with theatrics is a nod to the Storehouse’s ambition to encourage a broader demographic, and increase engagement with younger audiences.

Bespoke lighting control systems allow for adaptability and future proofing. The design delivers precise, layered lighting that highlights specific objects while adhering to strict conservation standards. It creates a dynamic environmental layer that transforms the previously black box space, into a multi dimensional presentation that can adapt in synchronisation with the video wall which showcases the breadth of the artists’ spectacular catalogue.