Designs for the new £80 million Design Museum, produced by two of the world’s most innovative architectural practices, have been unveiled.

The Design Museum plans to relocate from its current home at Shad Thames, with the new building scheduled to open to the public in 2014 at the currently dormant Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington, London.

John Pawson has redesigned the interior of the Grade 2* listed building and OMA has planned the surrounding residential development. The plans will give the Design Museum three times more space to showcase its unique collection with an aim to double visitor numbers to 500,000 a year.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, said: “It is immensely exciting to see the plans for the new Design Museum at the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington.

“The UK leads the world in design and architecture and it is entirely appropriate that we should be creating the world’s greatest Design Museum at this iconic London landmark.”

“The new Design Museum will be a truly outstanding visitor attraction, learning resource and celebration of the best of British creativity. It is only through the generosity of others that this has become possible and I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who have made this possible.”

Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, said: ‘This is an important step forward for the Design Museum. We are very excited by all the work that John Pawson and the rest of the design team have done.

“They have put forward a brilliant strategy to bring the former Commonwealth Institute back to life, which will allow the public to see the essential qualities of this historic listed building, and make a wonderful new home for the Design Museum.

John Pawson said: ‘The most exciting thing about the project is that, at the end of it all, London will have a world-class museum of design, with galleries for permanent and temporary exhibitions, education spaces and a library.

"There is particularly nice symbolism in the fact that in making this legacy for future generations, we are saving a work of iconic architecture. I hope the result will demonstrate that you don’t need to demolish old buildings to make wonderful new public space."

The New Design Museum from Design Museum on Vimeo.

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