Middlesex University showcases theatre for migrants and adaptive reuse projects
Middlesex University London presented a variety of student projects from its BA (Hons) Interior Architecture, BA (Hons) Interior Design, and MA Interiors courses. Among the standout works was 'Theatre for Migrants by Migrants' created by Maria Balaban, a hybrid theatre concept aimed at migrants. Nicoleta Mereuta's 'Discreet Communities' received the Progressing Students Award for Interior Educators Conference Award 2026. Other notable projects included 'The Care Exchange' by Rachel Koh, 'Loneliness in Resonance' by Jaden Siew, 'Lost Places: Homes' by Yui Shiroyama, 'The Reference Room' by Bridget Loftus, 'Diffusing Social Barriers through Music' by Bryony Johnson, and 'Between Presence' by Arina Bielikova. Additionally, a collaborative effort revamped the foyer of East Finchley's Phoenix Cinema. This exhibition is a collaboration between Dezeen and Middlesex University.
Key facts
- Middlesex University London showcased student projects from interior architecture and design programmes.
- Maria Balaban's 'Theatre for Migrants by Migrants' targets international students, refugees, asylum seekers, early-career workers, and first-generation migrants.
- Nicoleta Mereuta's 'Discreet Communities' won the Progressing Students Award for Interior Educators Conference Award 2026.
- The project reimagines the London Canal Museum with seasonally controlled water levels for the bargees community.
- Jaden Siew's 'Loneliness in Resonance' was developed with A Space for Us: The People's Museum in Somers Town, London.
- Yui Shiroyama's 'Lost Places: Homes' examines displacement in Pripyat, Torre David, and Kiruna.
- A group project redesigned the foyer of East Finchley's Phoenix Cinema, one of the UK's oldest continuously running cinemas.
- Methmi Dankoluwage's 'Open Frameworks' adapts the Pentland commercial campus in North London.
Entities
Artists
- Nicoleta Mereuta
- Rachel Koh
- Jaden Siew
- Yui Shiroyama
- Bridget Loftus
- Bryony Johnson
- Arina Bielikova
- Maria Balaban
- Abyudh Gajja
- Marco Leung
- Alex Smith
- Niloofar Toutounchi
- Sharnagati Bhosale
- Parisa Naserbakht
- Hibah Sadiq
- Glehan Segera
- Ammarah Ismath
- Joanne Lai
- Shaun Yow
- Sava Alam
- Yee Mon Aung
- Methmi Dankoluwage
- Tehreem Kashif
- Nasrin Najafabadi
- Rebecca Disney
- Jason Scoot
- Naomi House
- Alex Tzortzis
- Jon Mortimer
- Michael Westthorp
- Francesca Murialdo
Institutions
- Middlesex University
- London Canal Museum
- A Space for Us: The People's Museum
- St Mary's Church
- Phoenix Cinema
- Sirlute
- Dezeen
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Somers Town
- East Finchley
- Pripyat
- Ukraine
- Torre David
- Venezuela
- Kiruna
- Sweden
- North London
Sources
- Dezeen —