|

Discover the collections of the V&A and the RIBA; together they form the world's most comprehensive architectural resource.
 
The RIBA collections include:

• over 750,000 drawings
• over 750,000 archives including architectural diaries, travel journals, letters, notebooks, essays, papers and office archives
• over 1.5 million photographs of architecture worldwide, housed at the RIBA

 

The V&A collections include magnificent large scale architectural objects, including:

• the eighteenth century Norfolk House Music Room
• a colonnade from the fort at Agra
• casts of antique and medieval building details
• prints and drawings

In addition to the collection of architectural drawings, there are designs for interior decoration, textiles, furniture and other objects relating to interiors.
 

Access

You can access the collections in a number of ways - by visiting exhibitions, study rooms and libraries, and by using the extensive resources of the V&A and RIBA websites.  

Exhibitions

You can view the collections on display at:

• the Architecture Gallery at the V&A, including the temporary gallery
• occasional exhibitions at the RIBA.

 

Study rooms

You can examine RIBA drawings, prints and archives in the RIBA Architecture Study Rooms, based at the V&A. You can view the V&A's prints and drawings in the Prints and Drawings Study Room. Teaching rooms are also available.
 

Libraries

Visit the RIBA British Architectural Library at 66, Portland Place, London to access:

• printed books
• periodicals
• biographical files on architects 
• the RIBA Photographs Collection

Access is free to non-RIBA members on production of proof of identity e.g. passport, driving license, student ID. Members should show their RIBA membership card.
 
 
Visit the National Art Library, based at the V&A, to access:

• books
• magazines
• the Archive of Art and Design

Online resources

You can find out more about the collections of the RIBA and the V&A online via the following links:

The National Art Library| - books, magazines and Archive of Art and Design
RIBA Archives Collection|
RIBA Drawings Collection |
RIBA online catalogue| - books, periodicals, early works, drawings, archives and photographs 
V&A Architecture Collections|
V&A Paintings & Drawings|
V&A Photography Collections|

Loans and licences

RIBA collections

Items from the RIBA collections may be borrowed by institutions for temporary exhibitions, and images may be used for commercial purposes. 
 
For information about borrowing objects for exhibitions, contact the appropriate curator:

The Curator of Drawings Collection, tel +44 (0) 20 7307 3698
The Archivist, tel +44 (0) 20 7307 3615
Email drawings&archives@inst.riba.org|

Postal address:

RIBA British Architectural Library Drawings and Archives Collections
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
South Kensington
London
SW7 2RL

For information about licences for the use of images, contact the Photographs Collection.
Tel +44 (0) 20 7307 3642/3627. 

V&A collections

Items from the V&A collections may be borrowed by institutions for temporary exhibitions, and images may be used for commercial purposes.
 
Borrowing: Applications must be made in writing by letter only to the following address: 

Mark Jones, Director
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
South Kensington
London
SW7 2RL 
 

Images for commercial purposes: 

V&A Images 
Address as above
 
Tel +44 (0) 20 7942 2966
Fax +44 (0)20 7942 2482
Commercial website: www.vandaimages.com| 

Academic research enquiries (for public enquiries and publications with a print run of less than 5,000 copies) email vandaimages.com|

Contact us

RIBA - for general enquiries telephone +44 (0) 207 580 5533
V&A - contact the V&A|