Second World War and Holocaust Galleries – IWM London

A six-year, £30m refurbishment of two of IWM’s most important and moving collections.

DHA won both galleries as part of RAA and Casson Mann’s design teams. The Second World War Gallery houses over 3,500 objects from 80 countries and DHA worked to create a sympathetic lighting scheme for all user groups, from the recreation of a 1940s interior to the Battle of Britain. For the Holocaust Gallery, DHA introduced a perimeter wallwash to reinforce the message that the atrocities were committed in daylight, not underground. These two powerful galleries won the prestigious 2022 Museum and Heritage Awards Permanent Exhibition of the Year prize.

Project Credits:

Client: IWM Group
Exhibition Design (Holocaust): Casson Mann
Exhibition Design (SWWG): RAAI
Photo Credits: IWM / Andrew Lee / Casson Mann