Case Studies: Bespoke Glass Display Cabinets for Heritage, Education & Culture

Case Study

Access Displays designs and manufactures bespoke glass display cabinets for heritage, education and cultural institutions across the UK. These case studies show how carefully engineered display solutions protect valuable items while helping organisations tell their stories clearly and engagingly.

Classic Team Lotus: safeguarding a family mystery

Classic Team Lotus commissioned a bespoke cabinet to house a sealed envelope left by Hazel Chapman, co-founder of Lotus. The envelope, believed to contain the origin story of the Lotus name, will remain unopened until her 100th birthday in 2027. The cabinet uses toughened glass, long-life conservation-friendly lighting and triple-lock security. Surrounded by historic Lotus cars, it helps visitors connect with an important part of motorsport history.

Classic Team Lotus bespoke glass display cabinet on an oak base with white LED spotlights, housing Hazel Chapman’s sealed envelope in a paper bag, beside black and gold John Player Special Lotus F1 cars

Richmond upon Thames School: presenting student achievements

Access Displays created a tailored, secure trophy cabinet designed to suit a busy school environment. The cabinet combines durability with a refined aesthetic, giving students and visitors a clear view of awards while ensuring they remain protected.

Radley College: a coordinated multi-case approach

Working with RIBA-member CBS Architects of Oxford on a £3.1 million redevelopment, Access Displays supplied a suite of display cases designed specifically for each location within the project. Consistent materials and finishes ensure a cohesive, museum-quality experience across the site.

Bespoke glass display cabinet at Radley College with a black base, dark wood-grain interior and warm LED strip lighting, in a library with exposed timber roof beams and carved oak panelling

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig: protecting Gaelic manuscripts

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, required secure and stable environments for fragile manuscripts. Access Displays supplied high-quality cases that allow visitors and students to engage closely with invaluable cultural material while keeping it safely preserved.

Glass-topped display table with navy blue velvet lining at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, showing a wooden box of instrument-like artefacts and a black and white photograph, beside light oak glazed bookcases and blue chairs in the library
Glass-topped table display case at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig with navy blue velvet lining, showing an open book with a black and white portrait and a wooden box of historic artefacts, in front of library bookshelves
Free-standing glass-topped display table with a silver metal frame and navy blue velvet lining at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, displaying an open book and artefacts in front of library windows overlooking a loch and hills

Bath Central Library: enhancing cultural displays

At Bath Central Library, bespoke display cabinets were supplied to support the presentation of cultural and historical items. The design provides a clear balance of accessibility, security and visibility, ensuring the public can appreciate the objects with confidence.

Why bespoke cabinets matter

Across heritage, education and cultural settings, well-designed display cabinets protect important items while enriching the way people experience them. Good design improves visibility, enhances storytelling and ensures collections are shared safely with the public.