The Prefab Museum

The Prefab Museum is a pop-up exhibition in South East London, in a real prefab, one of 186 soon to be demolished on the Excalibur Estate, Catford.

These council houses were built after Second World War to help overcome the housing shortage, built for returning troops and those who had lost their homes in the bombing.

 They were built to last 10 years but ended up providing family homes for nearly 70 years.

These modern, new 2 bedroom houses had... 

built-in cupboards,

 immersion heaters, indoor bathrooms,

refrigerators,

and spacious gardens.

 "An unheard of luxury for many!"

Before the estate is demolished you can visit the Prefab Museum, a pop-up exhibition curated by Elizabeth Blanchet, bringing different artists together who all share her fascination with prefabs and the communities who live in them. The exhibition includes photographs, drawings, installations, film, and memorabilia, all celebrating life in a prefab.

These photos show work by Jo Cooper, Harriet Mcdougall, Sarah Gregory & Jane Hearn.

I have to thank Wendy for sharing her i-phone photos of Jo Cooper's work. My camera just wasn't up to it, taking photos through the tiny viewing holes in her installation.

Visitors are asked to get involved too, pinning prefabs you know of. Red for those no longer standing, blue where there were some, and green where there are still some standing. Looks like red is winning, the prefabs are losing their battle. All the more reason to have events like this, to celebrate them and their communities. 

In the Excalibur Estate, Catford, six prefabs have had a reprieve from demolition, they have been awarded a grade 2 listing and are set to stay.   

You can see this exhibition at number 17 Meliot Road, Catford, SE6 1RY. Open until 1st April 2014. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10.00-16.00. Saturdays, 10.00-18,00.

More information is on their Facebook page here.

NB- *The exhibition has now been extended until end of Septmeber 2014*