Rim Kalsoum, Visiting Lecturer at the School of Architecture + Cities, and Westminster alumni Zahra Mansoor, Sarah Daoudi and Tahin Khan from the Muslim Women in Architecture (MWA) group have won the Curating Concourses competition for their winning concept ‘As you’re passing by’, which looks to transform people’s experience of Euston Station’s concourse.
Open to all emerging architects, designers, artists and curators, the competition invited imaginative proposals for a prototype exhibition concept that can enhance station user experience, encourage people to engage with displayed content and test the future of exhibitions in stations.
As winners of the Curating Concourses competition with the London Festival of Architecture and Network Rail, the MWA group have been invited to fabricate and build an exhibition at Euston Station. For their winning concept, the group have created a bold and engaging installation that brings different communities together through the use of interactive design, creating content that is accessible to all. The installation is part of the London Festival of Architecture which will take place in June.
MWA’s modular installation will display Network Rail’s Design Guidance Series, reimagining how the 29 printed documents can be exhibited in a more approachable and interactive way. Their concept is split across a number of separate mobile ‘suitcase’ modules, and each features two double-sided hinged display panels.
Building on stations being one of the most diverse ‘meeting points’ in cities, ‘As you’re passing by’ considers how stations can offer a more inclusive and accessible environment, informed by MWA’s experience of exclusion and empathy that shapes the collective’s approach to design as a result. The exhibition makes use of simple, eye-catching elements to break down key information, making it easy to see and understand when passing by from a distance. Using tactile surfaces as well as contrasting tones and materiality, the panels illustrate the images and graphics from the printed documents while also bringing attention to Network Rail’s subtle design intent.
To create an engaging experience for all, the exhibition display also includes interactive and engaging elements such as mirrored panels, a cog mechanism, movement and QR technology. By employing a range of tactile and tech features, the exhibition hopes to appeal to a broad audience, creating a space that feels accessible and comfortable to visitors, locals and passengers of all ages and backgrounds. In turn, it aims to maximise the learning opportunities presented by the exhibition helping to introduce a shared space for all.
‘As you’re passing by’ was selected by a panel of expert judges and overcame strong competition from up-and-coming architects and designers. MWA are currently working with Network Rail and local stakeholders to develop and finalise their design concept ahead of the manufacture and installation at London Euston as part of the London Festival of Architecture in June.
Talking about their project, Rim Kalsoum said: “We are really honoured to have competed with great practices and are really happy that the judging panel chose our proposal as the winning design. Many thanks to Rosa and Hannah for being so incredibly supportive and helpful from the very beginning of this competition.”
Find out more about the exhibition on the London Festival of Architecture website.
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