Double Space for BMW – Precision & Poetry in Motion | Barber & Osgerby

Sharing a fascination with the aesthetics of motion and the idea of an experiential installation, Barber & Osgerby have designed ‘Double Space for BMW’, a kinetic sculpture that creates an immersive experience for the viewer.

Designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby have collaborated with BMW to create a remarkable and memorable experience in the V&A’s Raphael Gallery. Sharing a fascination with the aesthetics of motion and the idea of an experiential installation, Barber & Osgerby have designed ‘Double Space for BMW’, a kinetic sculpture that creates an immersive experience for the viewer.

Barber & Osgerby have long been fascinated by aerospace, automotive and maritime engineering and their V&A project reflects this interest. Two mirrored silver structures will be suspended in the centre of the gallery and will epitomise BMW’s own technological innovation and precision. The choreographed movement of the giant structures will distort the view of the Raphael cartoons on display, the architecture of the room and the viewer’s perception of the space.

Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby comment:
“The dramatic scale and complexity of this commission makes it a real challenge and is an amazing opportunity for us to further explore themes of movement and performance. We believe this collaboration with BMW will celebrate the paintings and the architecture by creating an immersive and memorable experience, offering a totally new perspective on the world famous Raphael Gallery.”

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design:
“For BMW Group customers, design is the number one reason for buying a vehicle. On that basis, we promote an active design culture and are involved in high-profile events such as the London Design Festival. We are delighted to be actively supporting this year’s Festival. Our partnerships with internationally renowned designers are always an inspirational experience for the entire BMW Group design team. And that goes for this year in particular, which sees us displaying the installation Double Space for BMW designed by Barber & Osgerby in what promises to be an extraordinary experience.”

Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles:
“We are passionate about the aesthetics of motion, an experience which BMW Design translates into technical precision and poetic meaning. Barber & Osgerby reflect the design philosophy of the BMW brand in a kinetic installation: with its unusual dimensions, Double Space for BMW opens up new perspectives within the V&A’s Raphael Gallery while at the same time forging an alluring union of past and present.”

Facts & Figures

What is it made of? Two vast elements made of reflective aluminium

How big is it? Each element is 15metres x 10metres x 1.8metres (thick). The two elements are spaced 1.5metres apart, so the complete installation is just under 31.5metres long, not including all the support structure of course

How big is that really? The length of a Boeing 737-700; three Learjets side by side; or three London buses end to end

How does it move? A choreographed sequence of rotations moves the two elements separately, and together

How fast does it go? The speed of rotations varies, up to a maximum of 0.5 RPM – as fast as the second hand on a clock

BMW and Barber & Osgerby – a creative partnership

BMW and Barber & Osgerby share a passion for technical innovations and cutting-edge materials. Precision and aesthetics are key to both partners in this collaboration. With Barber & Osgerby – as with the technically advanced and forward-looking vehicles from BMW – this spawns structures that evince ingenuity but never appear complex or complicated. Rather, they are simultaneously minimalist and emotionally charged.

“I’ve been observing Edward and Jay’s works for some time and was intrigued as to how they would interpret the BMW brand,” says Karim Habib, Head of BMW Design. “At our very first meeting they instantly understood the core of our design philosophy. They introduced their own conceptual approach to create this new interpretation for themselves and for us.”

Project Credits:
Designed by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby
Supported by BMW Group
Manufactured by Millimetre
Engineered by ARUP
Lighting Design by SEAM
Lighting by ETC