This is a remarkable example of post-war modernism - a 1962 building covered with a hypar roof. This project of the RMJM bureau now has a high protection status II *, however, this did not become an obstacle for the reconstruction plans. The situation with the building is twofold: the institute was disbanded in 2000, and the building was restored in 2001 and left empty; later they even tried to deprive him of the status of a monument. By the end of the 2000s, the building and the adjacent garden were acquired by a developer. As a result of the competition he held, the project of Rem Koolhaas and OMA was selected, according to which the building of the institute was reconstructed, and residential buildings were erected around.
Later, the Design Museum, which received the rights to the building of the Institute, held its own competition: this is how John Pawson became the architect of the upcoming restructuring. According to its plan, developed under the supervision of the authors of the original project, only the unique roof of the building and its supporting structure will remain intact. During construction, when the external walls and interfloor floors will be completely replaced, the foundation will be strengthened, they will be supported by temporary supports.
The appearance of the building will change little. Outside, it will become more "accessible": the blue frosted glass will be partially replaced by transparent glass, and glazed entrances to the lobby will appear on the ground floor. Inside, the interfloor ceilings will receive two additional openings (not counting one more, which was originally), creating perspectives between the levels and allowing you to see the roof from the inside from different points of the museum.
The ground floor and basement floors will be covered with terrazzo, the rest - with hardwood; wood will also cover the walls. Five levels will provide 10,000 m2 of floor space: twice as much as the Design Museum has today. The ground floor will be dedicated to the main exhibition space, lobby, café, bookshop and design store. Another showroom, auditorium, workshops and utility rooms will occupy the basement. The second floor will house the administration, education department, library and open storage. The upper level is devoted to a permanent exhibition, a restaurant, a hall for various events; there will be a panoramic view of the nearby Holland Park. A special role is assigned to the mezzanine floor between the 1st and 2nd levels: from there it will be possible to take a look at the entire interior of the museum; it is also planned to exhibit one masterpiece - from a temporary exhibition or a permanent exhibition.
