A large red banner reads “They wanna fight. We wanna dance!” above a crowd gathered outdoors in front of a stone monument. The lively scene reflects a spirit of unity, echoing the values of recycle and upcycle within a circular economy.

A wooden pavilion promoting sustainability with a mirrored sculpture at the top stands in Trafalgar Square, London. People walk and sit nearby; the National Gallery and colourful tents are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

A musician plays guitar and sings on a wooden stage with a geometric roof—crafted from upcycled materials—surrounded by an audience in an outdoor urban setting. Buildings and people are visible in the background.

Wooden structure with multiple circular holes and bright pink tape along the edges, resembling a play or exercise area for small animals or children, crafted from sustainably sourced materials.

People sit and gather on a wooden platform under a circular wooden shelter with a woven roof, showcasing upcycling and reuse principles, in a busy outdoor public square. Buildings and more people are visible in the background.

People sit and relax on wooden benches, made from upcycled materials, under a large wooden canopy in a busy outdoor public square, with a green marquee, fountain, and buildings visible in the background.

People wearing upcycled wicker animal masks and costumes dance and gather on a wooden stage with a woven canopy overhead during an outdoor event. A crowd watches in the background. The atmosphere appears festive and playful.

A pink book titled The Triumph of Art lies on a wooden surface made of square panels, showcasing visible screws and stains—hinting at reuse or the circular economy. A partial finger is visible at the bottom edge of the image.

The Triumph of Art – ‘Do Your Own Thing’ at National Gallery

We were thrilled to be part of The Triumph of Art – ‘Do Your Own Thing’ on Saturday 26 July in Trafalgar Square, celebrating 200 years of the National Gallery.

As part of our circular economy approach to solution providing, known as the box library, U-Build was asked to help supply part of the aesthetic using our stage box system.

We helped support the monumental community-led procession and the giant puppet Quingo Starlequinn – a collaborative build between Heart n Soul, Emergency Exit Arts, community artists, and volunteers.

We also provided hired modular staging for the hand-built Gorsedd structure – a powerful feat of collective assembly at the heart of the square.

Our lightweight, flat-pack timber system enabled rapid, demountable construction – ideal for this large-scale, inclusive, temporary intervention in public space.

This project was a reminder that architecture isn’t just about buildings – it’s about people, participation, and how we shape the spaces where we come together.

Thank you to all the partners, artists, and volunteers who brought it to life – especially @heart_n_soulart, @emergencyexitarts, @studioclaash, and @jeremydeller.

📷 @studioclaash

 

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