Festival of Britain: Cabinet of Curiosities – London, UK

The Cabinet of Curiosities is a collection of everyday objects contributed by residents of the Lansbury Estate in Poplar, London. Designed and built by Delvendahl Martin Architects, commissioned by Poplar HARCA and made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project celebrates the personal stories, collective memories and cultural heritage of the local community. Referencing the 1951 Festival of Britain and its vision of optimism, social progress and civic pride, the project reflects on the history of the Lansbury Estate and its continuing evolution. Through objects generously shared by local residents, speaking of home, arrival, care, work, play and change, the cabinet offers a portrait of everyday life and the people who shape it. The collection is organised around three themes: Personal Memory, Community Life, and Festival, Heritage & Future Legacy. The objects were 3D scanned and 3D printed by Yasmin Lennon-Chong, introducing a contemporary process of documentation and reproduction to the collection. Together, they create a shared repository of stories, connecting past and present while inviting reflection on what is remembered and passed on to future generations.

The project forms part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Festival of Britain.

Project Team Daniel Saars, Sean Dale, Jerome Lefteri, Nikolai Delvendahl, German Nieva ‍Objects Yasmin Lennon-Chong Photos Ronghai Zhang