Past Made Present

Past Made Present spotlights the next generation of design practitioners from Kingston University's MA Product & Furniture Design programme, presenting a dynamic exhibition of projects and prototypes developed in collaboration with Kingston University’s interdisciplinary alumni group, The Storybox Collective, and the National Trust. Inspired by Ham House and Gardens's remarkable seventeenth-century interiors and gardens, this exhibition showcases a series of material explorations and speculative interventions displayed throughout the historic spaces. With a focus on accessibility, materials and narrative, this project proposes new ways of engaging with one of Britain’s most intriguing historic houses, creating a dialogue between contemporary design practice and a site shaped by more than 400 years of cultural history. Developed in response to the National Trust's mission to care for and share the nation's natural and cultural heritage with all audiences, Past Made Present connects archival research, material experimentation and future-focused thinking to share fresh perspectives and invite audiences to explore how design can reveal new connections between people, place and history. Past Made Present is exhibited in the National Trust Property Ham House and Garden. Property admission applies to non-members. The gardens are open from 10am-5pm, the house is accessible from 11:30-3:30pm.