The former Museum of Childhood in east London has been transformed to create Young V&A, the UK’s first national museum built with and for young people. The 5,200sqm redeveloped Grade II* listed museum is a world-class centre for creativity. An essential and much loved public building for the community, over 20,000 people were involved in an ambitious co-design process.

The building has been stripped back, revealing its original form and celebrating its historic features. Natural light is reinstated through the main linear rooflight, returning this 19th century top-lit museum to its original state. New interventions redefine the visitor journey and enhance the original building’s character. Improved acoustics and enhanced environmental controls safeguard the heritage asset and collections.

A central ‘Town Square’ provides a generous civic interior, surrounded by three permanent galleries containing 2,000 world-class objects and a temporary exhibition gallery. A new, reflective Kaleidoscope stair, lift and accessible ramp transform the circulation, creating an inclusive experience. The historic monochromatic mosaic floor has been restored and fully revealed. The town square’s grandeur is tempered with a perimeter bench, a family of soft elements and new café furniture. The redeveloped foyer includes a buggy park, new shop and window seats. The lower ground floor has been restructured to provide community and learning spaces, improved back of house and a changing places facility.

Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Regeneration, said: “London is a youthful city and whether it is at the street, neighbourhood, or city level, we must embed the needs of children and young people in how we plan and design London’s urban environment and provide them with the opportunities to thrive. This year’s Mayor’s Prize shortlist demonstrates the very best in practice in inclusion, creative thinking and design quality, and local community engagement. The Young V&A, a project that sparks the imagination and curiosity of young people and provides fun and inspiration for all in the heart of London is a worthy winner of the Mayor’s Prize for Inclusion of Children and Young People.”