Unusual Projects Ltd

30/04/2026

From the secret basement of Churchill War Rooms to the rolling hills of Kent, we’ve been hard at work bringing a piece of history to life.

We recently collaborated with IWM Churchill War Rooms to replace an outdated model of Chartwell House with a cutting-edge, interactive 1:12 scale masterpiece. While the original model had served its time, the new installation is designed to tell a much deeper story.
In the 1930s, Chartwell wasn't just a home; it was a hub for gathering intelligence. Our new model focuses on a pivotal moment in July 1933: the visit of Albert Einstein.

This wasn't just about joinery and scale—it was about seamless integration:
• We built scale-model room sets of the Drawing Room, Dining Room, and Study. Working with Clay Interactives, we ensured the AV projection aligned perfectly with our physical models to create lifelike, ghostly figures of Churchill and Einstein using a Peppers Ghost effect.
• From the architectural structure down to the specific fabric patterns on the tiny chairs, every element was crafted for historical accuracy.
• As the War Rooms are in a historic basement, we engineered the model to be fabricated in sections that could navigate tight corridors without compromising the final structure.

The result? A "portal" into the past that balances the historical narrative of the museum with the personal, intellectual world Churchill built at home.

Next time you’re at Churchill War Rooms, step inside the world of Chartwell!



Images credited to IWM.

22/04/2026

We recently had the privilege of collaborating with the Ulster American Folk Park to create a series of bespoke interactive installations that bridge the gap between the past and the present.
History isn’t just something you see; it’s something you feel—and in this case, something you smell! Our latest work includes:
• The "Cures and Remedies" Interactive: A custom-built furniture piece featuring scent diffusers that allow visitors to identify traditional folk plants through aroma, hidden beneath hand-illustrated "lift-and-reveal" panels.
• The Potato Reliance Interactive: A thought-provoking wall installation exploring the harsh realities of the Irish diet and the impact of the Famine through interactive graphic flaps.
• The "What would you take?" Interactive: A unique, sculpted "model blanket" plinth where visitors choose which essential items they would carry on a cross-country journey, using tactile object cards.
• Authentic Set Dressing: Including custom barrel work to complete the immersive atmosphere.

‘Working with Unusual Projects on our Under the Hawthorn Tree exhibition at the Ulster American Folk Park was a fantastic experience. Their attention to detail and the quality of their work was incredibly impressive throughout the project. Most importantly, they were attentive to our specific needs – ensuring that the items they produced were suitable for use around collection items, easily maintainable by museum staff, and robust enough to stand up to regular use by visitors. We’re absolutely delighted with the results, and I would happily recommend them to any other museum working on a similar project!’
Stefan McKee, Design and Interpretation Lead, National Museums Northern Ireland

Projects like these allow us to combine precision engineering with creative education. A huge thank you to the team at Ulster American Folk Park for letting us help tell these important stories.

Photo credit to Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh.
American Folk Park

16/04/2026

Did you know the iconic "Parseltongue" enclosure that was used in the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has found a new home?

When it came time to update the interior space at London Zoo, for the brilliant new ZooTown, we couldn't let this piece of movie magic disappear. Our team carefully dismantled and stored the original enclosure, bringing it back to our workshops for a little TLC.
We’ve now reinstalled it as a bespoke outdoor photo op outside the Reptile House! Now, visitors can relive this movie moment while visiting the Zoo’s real-life residents.

We love creating these scenic, shareable moments with for zoos and visitor attractions. Whether it’s a film relic or a brand-new themed environment, we bring the wow factor to life.

14/04/2026

Is your exhibition a World Class experience for every visitor?

At Unusual Projects, we don’t just build the extraordinary—we ensure it stays that way.
From the Tower of London to the Rampion Wind Farm, we’ve spent years maintaining the interactive heartbeat of the UK’s favourite attractions and risk-based learning centres.

A lagging screen or a worn-out sensor does more than just fail—it shatters the visitor’s illusion. Our preventative maintenance ensures:
 Quality Perception: Keep your site looking high value.
 Extended Lifespan: Protect custom components.
 Total Safety: Documented H&S compliance for your toolkit.

Ready to protect your investment? Download our full-service leaflet and see how we can support your team.

#

07/04/2026

Springing Into the Busy Season!

As the days get longer and the crowds get larger, there’s nothing like the buzz of the spring season for museums, zoos, and visitor attractions.

At Unusual Projects we’ve been hard at work helping our partners get visitor-ready with some exciting refurbishment projects. We believe that great exhibits aren’t just built—they’re well maintained.

Recent Project Highlights:
• London Zoo: We’ve given the iconic Land of the Lions Tuk Tuks a fresh lease on life! It was a joy to return to these vehicles, as our team members worked on the original installation.
• National STEM Learning Centre: We recently returned to give our 2020 Replica Sokol Space Suits in microgravity display a full refurbishment.

The best part of these projects? Seeing our original work stand the test of time. It’s a testament to the fact that with regular care and attention, high-traffic exhibits can stay vibrant and functional for years.

Is your attraction ready for the summer rush? If your exhibits are looking a little tired or need a seasonal refresh, let’s chat! Our team specializes in making the old feel brand new again.
Give us a call today to discuss your refurbishment!

31/03/2026

At RHS Garden Wisley, we’ve just unveiled our new "call to action" interactive installation for the incredible Greener Skills Garden. We were commissioned to design, engineer, and build the RHS Pledge Wall—a bespoke, high-impact interactive installation where visitors are invited to pledge to undertake sustainable gardening actions.
Working as the appointed designer-maker, we translated the RHS’s conceptual vision into a robust, "visitor-ready" reality.

What makes a "Wildly Immersive" Pledge Wall?
• We engineered interpretation which makes the act of pledging a physical, memorable experience for everyone from secondary students to seasoned gardeners.
• Like much of our heavy-duty work, this unit is designed for "unsupervised reliability", weatherproof, and ready for thousands of interactions in a busy outdoor environment.
• In line with the garden’s mission of inclusivity, the wall is fully accessible, ensuring every visitor can participate.
• From material selection to visual integration, the wall feels right at home within the professional scientific setting of Wisley.

The Pledge Wall isn't just an exhibit; it’s a tool for change. It encourages visitors to employ "Greener Skills" when they garden back at home or in their communities.

16/03/2026

We’re planting trees in Yorkshire with Make it Wild. They absorb carbon, produce oxygen and support insects, birds and small mammals—and will do so for decades to come!
We are thrilled to share our new partnership with Make It Wild, an organization dedicated to restoring the British countryside. As part of our commitment to sustainability, Unusual Projects Ltd is now annually offsetting 130 tonnes of CO2e.
📍 Where: Bank Woods, North Yorkshire
🌳The Project: 36 recently planted trees dedicated to nature restoration.

As Lesley Coleman, Projects Manager at Make It Wild, puts it: “Make It Wild are delighted to be able to partner with Unusual Projects, to support their sustainability goals. Their contribution towards our nature restoration work will make a tangible difference to the biodiversity in the vicinity of our projects. It will also help more generally, to spread the important message of the increased need for wildlife conservation here in the UK.”

We’re proud to be doing our part for the planet and our local Yorkshire landscape. Stay tuned for more updates on our green initiatives!

10/03/2026

If you thought the London Zoo transformation was a wild ride, wait until you see what else we’ve been up to.

From the heart of the Himalayas to the depths of the ocean and the heart of historic estates, we are creating wildly immersive worlds that educate and inspire.

Our mission is to merge conservation with world-class interpretation. Our latest newsletter dives deep into our work across some of the UK’s most iconic Zoo and Aquarium destinations:

• Flamingo Land: Creating engaging interactive interpretation

• The Deep: Navigating the technical complexities of a spectacular sub-aquarium experience.

• Tower of London: Bringing a touch of the "wild" to historic royal grounds.

Ready to see how we turn a vision into a living, breathing reality? Our brand-new newsletter is officially live and ready for download.

👇 Head to our website to grab your copy and explore the wild side of design and build projects.

Land

Ready to push the boundaries of what’s possible in animal habitats and visitor experiences? Our latest newsletter pulls back the curtain on our most ambitious recent projects, showcasing how we’ve tackled unique architectural and interpretative challenges for world-class zoos and aquariums.

27/02/2026

Partnership in action: Bringing ZooTown to life at Zoo.

We are incredibly proud to share London Zoos video of one of our most collaborative journeys to date. Transforming the historic Reptile House into ZooTown was more than a design-and-build project; it was a masterclass in teamwork.

Working alongside London Zoo, Lima Studios, and the in-house design team, we translated the complex, real-world workflows of vets and keepers into an authentic role-play world for the next generation of conservationists.

It wasn't always easy, navigating a historic building comes with surprises but true collaboration meant coordinating closely with the base build teams to keep the vision moving forward.

In the words of Beth Grainger, Interpretation Developer at London Zoo:
"Unusual Projects brought energy, creativity, and attention to detail... It’s been a pleasure to work alongside a team we could trust to deliver our vision."

The Journey Continues... Our work with the incredible team at London Zoo doesn't stop at the ZooTown gates. This partnership is built on a shared passion for storytelling and conservation, and we are already deep into the next chapter.

Stay tuned, as we look forward to releasing more "behind-the-scenes" images and exclusive updates on our latest projects with London Zoo very soon. The future of immersive learning is looking bright (and a little bit unusual!).

Thank you, London Zoo, for trusting us with this historic space. We couldn't be prouder of the "vibrant second life" we've created together.

24/02/2026

It’s official! The Moray STEM Starts Centre is complete!

Unusual Projects is proud to have served as the Principal Contractor for this incredible new space at Elgin Library.

From technical design to the final installation of hands-on interactives, we’ve loved bringing this vision to life over the last two years.

This is Moray’s first specialist STEM facility! It’s designed to spark curiosity and build confidence in Early Years and Primary students, potentially inspiring the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.

We partnered once again with the in-house design team at (GSC) for the early-stage concept work to design the exhibits and space. As we like to say: Who knows what a science centre needs more than another science centre?

Funded as part of Moray’s £100m Growth Deal, this is the region's first specialist STEM facility. It is now ready to inspire Early Years and Primary School children, building confidence and nurturing a lifelong interest in STEM careers.

A huge thank you to our partners at GSC, the team at Moray Council, the amazing team at Four Agency and the young co-designers who helped shape this vision.