The site is tucked away behind Marchmont High Street in Bloomsbury, London. A narrow gap between the buildings offers the first glimpse into the hidden world beyond. Here, a row of Victorian terraces on the high street intersects with a similar row along Tavistock Place, forming a dense urban block rich with architectural character.
A close survey of the exposed pipework at the rear of these houses begins to reveal the logic of their internal layouts—subtle indicators of the structures’ vertical organization. To the public, however, the site remains largely inaccessible; the clearest views come not from the street but through neighbouring sash windows. These framed, voyeuristic perspectives informed the choice of materials for the proposed intervention.
During the Victorian era, it was fashionable to display prized possessions—scientific instruments, botanical specimens, or decorative objects—under glass domes known as “bell jars.” These display vessels inspired both the geometry and transparency of the structure, reframing the site as a place of quiet exhibition and discovery.
