A pop up installation aiming to distil the architectural process has opened in Harrow.

The RIBA Chartered Practice Milligan Knight in Canons Park has created the exhibition from within the window of a vacant shop opposite Harrow and Wealdstone tube station, but has blocked out the window so that the public has to peer through small holes to take a look.

The display leads you through the architectural working process, from initial briefing and concept design through to planning and construction, and eventually the finished building.

Director Simon Knight explains: “It is an architectural exhibition that showcases models, drawings and photographs of various projects we have been involved in as a young practice. 

“We designed and installed the exhibition to try and be engaging with the public by creating these peepholes that cause intrigue and have a sense of humour about them. 

“From the street you see very little of the exhibition and it is only once you look through the peepholes that you see the models and drawings.  We hope it educates people about how buildings are designed.”

The exhibition is part of the Start Here programme run by Meanwhile Space, in association with Harrow Council.

Meanwhile Space are a community interest company who take on unused commercial properties and allow people or organisations to use the space free of charge for an allocated amount of time until the location is sold or rented permanently.

In this case Milligan Knight chose to use the space for an exhibit, but for others it allows them to create a pop up business, perhaps as a test run for a future venture.

The current exhibit will run until February 5, viewable externally at any time of any day.

Details: milliganknight.com, meanwhilespace.com.