The reconfiguration of the Diving Bell is conceived as being the first of a series of ‘distributed museums’ aimed to articulate and communicate port and city connections. The resolution of the design brief involved elevating the 90-ton bell to allow public access below the object, along a gently sloping route, to a chamber with a water feature evoking the river bed and tidal movement. The route, defined by metallic panels, serves as a medium to present the bell’s historical, social and engineering significance to the public. On the panels the words ‘diving bell’, are spelled out at human scale in perforations in stainless steel – an unambiguous calling card to the city. The story-board on the back-lit glass panels, has links by phone app to a rich repository of related history. The selection and specification of the materials reflect the challenges of maintenance and sustainability over time.