Located just inside the main gate of the Garden of Unearthly Delights, the 1000 Doors structure is large yet unimposing; a bland building tucked away on its own like a forgotten granny flat.

Inside however, is another story. Many other stories, in fact. Created by Christian Wagstaff & Keith Courtney, 1000 Doors is a walk-through installation of sight, sound and touch. Each dilapidated room takes you through a sensory experience where you are invited to play, explore, and wonder. From grimy, litter-filled spaces, to long corridors with a single lamp, there’s mystery to be found in some form or another as you pass through each door.

Music, soundscapes, hammering and other sounds fill the void, sometimes attacking it, while cracks of daylight and even one roofless space offer glimpses of the sky in daylight hours, stars at night. The contradiction between the squalor and an open sky is extraordinary.

A telephone rings, an organ waits to be played, closed drawers tempt you to open them. Curiosities such as these share the spaces with black and white photos, a discarded first aid box, broken furniture, and a lonesome crucifix. The experience invites you to question what you hold dear: memories, environment, relics from the past, even nature itself.

Punters are spaced about a minute apart but there is no rush to leave a room. Crossing paths with an occasional other lets you share your stories and the simple childlike joy of discovery. 1000 Doors is a truly unique experience for those who want to remember when everything found was something new to explore.