The House of MinaLima, an exhibition and shop in London that hosts props and posters from the Harry Potter film series by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, opened this Friday to the public (free admission), but SnitchSeeker got an early preview this week of the four-story display. Those photos and a walkthrough, from correspondent Milo, can be read here.

On Wednesday morning we were treated to a special preview of ‘House of MinaLima’, the graphic studio from Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina. Harry Potter fans will by now, be very familiar with their work, or at least subconsciously they will have seen it throughout the Harry Potter film series.

The dynamic duo of MinaLima has been creating designs and graphic art for many years, bringing a unique visual style to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. If you have been to either of the Wizarding World theme parks, or the Studio Tour, you will have seen the wonderful displays and artistry that they have created, but now for the first time, a true embodiment and home has been created to showcase their works, and it is quite special.

In a quirky Soho street in central London, the House of MinaLima stands brightly, in an almost Umbridge shade of pink. Weirdly enough you don’t notice this immediately, but you are taken in by the elaborate window display from the outside, and this is sure to turn many heads of casual passers by.

The building from the outside has a sort of Grimmauld Place vibe to it. It is tall and slim, and the pink colours contrast greatly with the brickwork on either side to give it the kind of effect that it has been wedged in between two buildings, or has appeared out of nowhere.

Once you are inside, you feel you have stepped into a reimagining of sets from the Harry Potter Films. There are 4 floors each themed to the different graphic design style that MinaLima have created. The top floor boasts graphical prints and props from the films, a fireplace with Hogwarts letters spewing out from it, and lots of intricate small details adorning the walls.

The next floor down brings you to a printorium, with displays of Daily Prophet newspapers adorning the walls, and actual props from the films again including fresh and aged dyed editions of the paper. Down the narrow, Burrow-like staircase again, brings you to the bright and colourful room with everything Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.The room is decorated top to bottom and there is just so much to look at, you can tell how much work they have put into every aspect of it.

Down again will bring you to a non-Potter themed room, but this time it displays the unique works of MinaLima with their collective nouns series of art prints. (You’ll want to buy them all).

Back to the ground floor, and here is the shop where you can buy Hogwarts stationery, posters, books and much more. The staff are quirky, friendly and helpful, and of course massive Potter fans. Having the chance to talk briefly with Eduardo and Mira, I asked when could we expect to see work from Fantastic Beasts in the shop, and I was told that it was still being worked out, so a little while longer for that one, and also whether or not J.K. Rowling would pop in; they said maybe she’d secretly come in unannounced one day…

The House of MinaLima is a stone's throw from the Palace Theatre where the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play is now just days away from its first public preview, it will no doubt attract Potter fans and be a great success. I’m also pretty sure Jo will pop in, and may even surprise a few Potter fans, too.

The exhibition and shop are open every day from: Friday 3rd June 2016 until the 4th February 2017 inclusive. Free entry.

Visit MinaLima for opening hours.
‘House of MinaLima’, 26 Greek Street, Soho, London, W1D 5DE