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

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Classic Team Lotus: Preserving a Motorsport Mystery

Access Displays was honoured to support Classic Team Lotus with a truly unique and meaningful display project. Clive Chapman approached our team to design a bespoke glass display cabinet to house a sealed envelope left by his mother, Hazel Chapman, co-founder of Lotus.

The envelope bears the handwritten message, “Upon my demise… all is revealed.” Believed to contain the origin story behind the Lotus name, the envelope is to remain sealed until Hazel Chapman’s 100th birthday in 2027.

To protect this irreplaceable artefact, we designed a custom display cabinet featuring:

  • Toughened glass construction for long-term protection
  • A discreet, conservation-conscious lighting system engineered for a 27-year lifespan
  • Integrated storage for spare lighting components
  • Triple-lock security, symbolising the shared legacy of the Chapman family

Installed in the Classic Team Lotus showroom and surrounded by iconic Lotus cars, the cabinet invites visitors into a story of family, mystery, and motorsport heritage. It is a privilege to play a role in preserving this legacy for future generations.

The Richmond Upon Thames School: Bespoke Trophy Cabinet

For The Richmond Upon Thames School, Access Displays designed and manufactured a bespoke glass trophy cabinet to showcase student achievements and awards.

The cabinet was tailored to the school’s interior, combining durability with a refined appearance suitable for a high-traffic educational environment. Clear sightlines, secure glazing, and a clean architectural finish ensure trophies are presented with pride while remaining protected.

Radley College: Multi-Case Display Solution

Working alongside award-winning, RIBA-member CBS Architects of Oxford, Access Displays was appointed as the sole supplier of bespoke glass display cases as part of a £3.1 million development project at Radley College.

The brief required a coordinated suite of display solutions that aligned with the architectural vision of the redevelopment. Each cabinet was designed specifically for its location, ensuring consistency of materials, proportions, and finishes across the site while providing secure, museum-quality display environments.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig: Displaying Gaelic Manuscripts

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, is based in Sleat on the Isle of Skye and is the only higher and further education institution in the world to deliver its programmes entirely through the medium of Gaelic.

Access Displays supplied a range of high-quality glass display cases designed to house ancient Gaelic manuscripts. These cases were specified to provide secure, stable environments suitable for fragile historical documents while allowing visitors and students to engage closely with the centre’s cultural heritage.

Bath Central Library: Cultural Display Solutions

At Bath Central Library, Access Displays delivered bespoke glass display cabinets to support the presentation of cultural and historical materials within a public library setting.

The cabinets were designed to balance accessibility, security, and visual clarity, ensuring valuable items could be safely displayed while remaining approachable for the public.

Conclusion

Across heritage, education, motorsport, and cultural environments, these projects demonstrate how bespoke glass display cabinets can be tailored to protect irreplaceable objects while enhancing storytelling and public engagement.

Whether preserving a historic secret, celebrating academic achievement, or safeguarding rare manuscripts, thoughtful display case design plays a vital role in how collections are experienced and remembered.

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