Eames Inspired Installation at World Architecture Festival
London based practice Populous was chosen to design this year’s exhibition for the World Architecture Festival(WAF) held from June 24th to 27th by the University of Westminster. Held in collaboration with the London Festival of Architecture, the Festival showcased 350 of some of the best projects from around the world. Inspired by the House of Cards by Charles and Ray Eames, Populous created hundreds of supersized ‘W’ shaped cards for an inter-lockable structure which became their installation and the centrepiece for the Festival.
© Hufton + Crow
Standing 7-metre tall, it formed not only the central attraction but also created a new brand identity for the WAF, being easy to take down and reassemble at any part of the world. While the installation went well with the monochrome setting of the exhibition and did not draw much attention away from the exhibits, it stood merely as a 2-sided wall of cards semi-enclosing a space for discussion and interaction amongst people. I wish the installation had been a bit more playful and interactive in itself, as the House of Cards are – but all in all a great job done by Populous.
Shamita Chaudhary is a former assistant editor at Arch2O and the driving force behind India’s sustainable construction movement. An architect and circular economy expert, she founded the Malba Project in 2021 to combat construction and demolition (C&D) waste in Indian cities through research, advocacy, and practical action—an effort born during a striking 2018 trip to Manali . Over at Arch2O, Shamita leveraged her editorial acumen to spotlight circular design strategies and environmental stewardship. Her writing and insights challenge architects to rethink not only how we build, but how we dismantle—and rebuild—toward a more regenerative future.