★★★★★
The Museum of the Home’s new Rooms Through Time: 1878-2049 installation walks you through a diverse history of London by focusing on the home. Different houses and flats throughout the decades epitomise decades and communities.
From a queer flat-share in 2005 to a Vietnamese family’s home in 2024, the exhibit cleverly evokes domestic life through the ages- different, but fundamentally the same.
The idiosyncratic homes also span different London boroughs. The 2005 Hackney flat fulfils the same purpose as the tenement flat home to a Jewish family in 1913. Its tenants return to it each day to eat, to sleep, to unwind in their own space.
The exhibit, which opens to the public on July 23, 2024, offers a unique glimpse into the past, present, and future of domestic life, showcasing how our living spaces have transformed over the centuries. Seven meticulously recreated period rooms, each represent a different era from 1878 to 2049.
The rooms are not just static displays; they reel you into an immersive environment. From the Victorian floral motifs of the 1870s to the futuristic designs of 2049, each room tells a story of the people who lived there and the societal changes that shaped their lives.
Each room is co-curated with community partners, ensuring that the stories told are authentic and representative of the diverse experiences of London’s residents.
The curation is beautiful, thoughtful, and a tribute to the rich tapestry that makes up London. First- and second-generation immigrants feature in the exhibit, and reminders of their ancestral homes tastefully and authentically punctuate their home furnishings.
The Vietnamese flat has a functional karaoke set-up. Vietnamese patrons at the exhibit’s private viewing (which I attended after being too unwell to attend the press view), some of whom had been involved with the development of this room, picked up the mics and did some impromptu karaoke. This level of engagement makes the history feel alive and relevant, bridging the gap between past and present.
The attention to detail is remarkable. A post-it note in the 2005 ex-council flat urges flatmates to “pls use a coaster 
.” 2000s nostalgia permeates the walls, from pamphlets and homages to queer bars of the era, to The Sims in all its pixelated glory.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a design aficionado, or simply curious about how people lived in different eras, this exhibit is a must-visit.
Rooms Through Time runs at Museum of the Home.
Photo: A High-rise Flat in 2005 by Museum of the Home
JADAR 