The Atterbury Flat is a living, live-in archive at Chelsea College of Arts. It's a space where pieces aren’t just showcased or exhibited but lived with. The two-bedroom flat is nestled in the grounds of the former naval college and military hospital that is now home to Chelsea College of Arts.
As part of a pilot project, the flat and almost everything in it has been reimagined. It is filled with items designed by students and graduates from across UAL’s 6 Colleges. These objects and works have grown out of live briefs, commissions, competitions and open calls. Together, they have formed a collection that represents the diverse approaches and disciplines our students and graduates explore.
Expect 3D-printed botanical lamps, thermochromic furniture, beautifully crafted ceramics and textiles, and everything in between. Every inch of the space has been considered. You will find touches such as bath salts in the bathroom and eye masks beside the bed. Throughout the space, there are bespoke door handles, furniture, fittings, lighting and wallpaper. These all sit alongside a growing library of artists' books and publications.
Designed to be a storyteller and an archive, the flat is also a comment on what we choose to collect, who decides and who has access. At its core, the flat is the outcome of a deeply collaborative approach. Some contributors have used the opportunity to continue developing their own practice. Others have used it as a chance to try something new. There’s something quite special in that mix, ideas meeting, shifting and growing together. We like to think of this project as something that changes over time, much like a home would, shaped by the people who contribute to it.
The Atterbury Flat will be presented as part of London Design Festival 2026. Expect a programme of events, collaborations and public moments. These will be choreographed, proposed and executed by students and graduates. And after the party, the flat will remain, continuing to grow and evolve as part of the fabric of Chelsea.
Meet the team
The portraits below have been illustrated by Lily Kong, who has also captured many of the artists and designers you’ll meet throughout the project.
Zoë Tynan-Campbell
Hi, I’m Zoë an academic, activist, collector, curator, designer- maker, researcher, overthinker and aspiring overachiever.
I’ve made it my business and job to upset the status quo and fiercely advocate for students and graduates. Helping them figure out what they value, what they want to do and how to make that a sustainable creative practice. I came up with this slightly wild idea - The Atterbury flat, and here we are!
The portraits below have been illustrated by Lily Kong, who has also captured many of the artists and designers you’ll meet throughout the project.
Abigail Rigby
I’m an art director with a drive for increasing access to the arts.
My work spans from community events to 3D digital design, podcasting to curating. Whatever the medium, I always come back questioning creative landscapes and how we can come together to break down barriers.
Working on this project has been really inspiring and thought provoking. I can’t wait for you to get a slice of the talent UAL students and alumni have to offer!
Bhairavi Yogasivam
Hi, I’m Bhairavi a designer and curator. I trained in architecture, but my practice has always wandered a little further, into exhibitions, installations, research and storytelling. I’m interested in how people, objects and ideas come together, and in using design to think about community, place and what comes next.
Working on the Atterbury Flat has meant designing, writing, researching, making and plenty of problem-solving along the way. The best part has been collaborating with so many artists and designers to bring it to life as a playful, lived-in space for people to explore and enjoy.