A cluster of modular plywood boxes of various sizes stacked in the center of a red-walled industrial space or cargo container. Bright, warm sunlight streams from the left, casting sharp shadows, while a cool blue light glows from behind the structure. Each wooden box features a circular cutout.

U-Build X FLOTO London Installation. Photography by Vincent Dolman, Nov 2025.

The central stack of plywood modules, now captured in a soft, hazy atmosphere. The lighting is diffused, pink and warm, giving the scene a dreamy, monochromatic red and gold quality. The circular cutouts in the boxes align to create a sense of depth through the center of the stack.

U-Build X FLOTO London Installation. Photography by Vincent Dolman, Nov 2025.

A dramatic, low-light shot of the plywood structures rearranged into L-shaped pillars. The space is bathed in deep blue light with a bright white light source at the far end, creating a silhouette effect and a beam of light cutting through a thick haze or smoke.

U-Build X FLOTO London Installation. Photography by Vincent Dolman, Nov 2025.

The L-shaped wooden modular structures viewed under high-contrast lighting. The walls are a dark, textured red with visible graffiti. A plume of blue smoke rises in the background behind a central doorway-like structure, while harsh light from above highlights the wood grain and the industrial ribs of the red ceiling and exterior.

U-Build X FLOTO London Installation. Photography by Vincent Dolman, Nov 2025.

A behind-the-scenes wide shot of the industrial space. In the foreground, photographer Vincent looks toward the modular wooden stack in the distance. To the right, a laptop sits on a wooden crate displaying photo editing software, next to a large piece of plywood leaning against the wall covered in red and pink graffiti. The background features U-Build boxes illuminated by a cool blue light.

Behind-the-scenes: U-Build X FLOTO London Installation. U-Build, Nov 2025.

Black and white photo of an industrial interior houses a striking installation: stacked rectangular boxes with circular cut-outs. Sunlight streams through openings, casting geometric shadows across the floor in this floating gallery scene.

Modular geometry meets industrial grit. U-Build, Nov 2025.

A wide, interior perspective of the empty hull before the installation. The walls and arched ceiling are painted a matte, rustic red, with several small circular porthole windows and white graffiti on the far left. The floor is unfinished concrete with white tape markings, and a doorway at the far end opens to bright daylight and a glimpse of an outdoor setting.

Empty red interior of FLOTO, taken before the shoot. U-Build, Nov 2025.

All Aboard FLOTO: Our Installation for a New Floating Gallery

FLOTO London – Moving Art From East to West

In November 2025, we spent a day aboard FLOTO London, a new floating exhibition space for photographers, slowly navigating the rivers and canals between east and west London.

We joined photographer Vincent Dolman (see also Vyner Zine) for FLOTO’s first photoshoot, with boxes from our Box Library used to give a flavour of how the space might be used in future exhibitions.

The shoot provided another opportunity to explore the versatility and total reconfigurability of the Box Library’s inventory, and demonstrated how our modular components could define and transform the boat’s cavernous interior. 

We first mapped out the space using a hand-held lidar scan of the boat, and overlaid digital twins of our boxes to plan out the different concepts for the installation. On the day of the shoot, these were then iterated by eye to get things just right.

Digital rendering of canal boat's interior installation being converted into a living space, featuring wooden furniture, storage units, and visible construction elements with wireframe outlines. Part of the innovative Floating Gallery by FLOTO.

Hand-held lidar scan of the boat, with digital overlaid boxes. U-Build, 2025.

A digital point cloud rendering shows the exterior and interior structure of the canal boat, including stacked wooden U-Build boxes and partial outlines of walls and roof—evoking a floating gallery installation, with sparse vegetation left. The Li-Build logo appears in the corner.

Hand-held lidar scan of the boat, with digital overlaid boxes. U-Build, 2025.

The Shoot

Dolman introduced blue and pink-hued smoke that weaved through the many configurations of boxes we built during the day, emphasising the shifting nature of the space. The raw plywood of the boxes accentuated the ribs of the boat’s dark, red belly, while the haze softened the hard edges to create beautifully moody atmosphere.

Modular geometry paired with industrial grit. The photoshoot became a study in light, shadow and the endless possibilities of simple structural forms.

Once the gallery officially launches, the boxes will form sections of the interior fitout of the space, enabling it to be reconfigured for a range of sculptural and functional uses, from plinths and staging for photography displays, tables and stools for gallery visitors, and storage for workspace and equipment.

Rather than a static fit-out, this is a living installation designed to evolve with artists who step on board @flotolondon, by @vincentdolman

If you’re hoping to set up your own exhibition or event, you could pick up a small quantity of our boxes to help with your project, from our Box Library. You may need a car big enough to fit all the boxes in. Please note borrowing boxes is subject to availability. Get in touch via info@u-build.org