Location: London, UK

Status: Completed, June 2023

Collaborators: Msoma Architects, Design Museum & Ebuki

Islands – an exhibition from the Design Museum’s Future Observatory Design Researchers in Residence programme – addresses the waste often associated with temporary exhibitions. The 3D design of the exhibition was developed by MSOMA Architects, focussing on using naturally biodegradable materials instead of painted MDF plinths and single-use vitrines for the display. Its primary material is unstabilised rammed earth, used in varying configurations with hemp surfaces and constructed using low-tech processes. The environmentally minded design reflects the curatorial framework, which sees each of the programme’s four design researchers in residence explore issues relating to the climate crisis. 121 Collective was commissioned to develop and fabricate the unstabilised rammed earth plinths, made only from natural and locally sourced London clay, misfired red brick and sand. Since the show ended in October 2023, the materials were relocated back to 121 Collective’s headquarters and community workshop at the Tolworth Main Allotments to be reused and for the remainder to return naturally to the earth from which they came.

Photos by Felix Speller