Dream city: London Festival of Architecture
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London Festival of Architecture will bring an explosion of architectural activity to the capital through lectures, debates, exhibitions and temporary transformations of spaces. This year it runs over three consecutive weekends and centres around different geographical “hubs”.
The theme is The Playful City, responding to the presence of the Olympics, but few of the hundreds of events explicitly reference the Games. Think less focused cultural event, more village fête, with optimistic artistic installations, picnics, concerts and open studios. There’s no politics here, no protest, just jolly, worthy architectural thinking.
For the three weekends of its run, the festival shifts geographical focus. This weekend, the City of London, Southwark and the London Pleasure Gardens (a site in the Royal Docks) are in the frame. On June 30 and July 1, events revolve around hubs in Fitzrovia and Victoria, and the final weekend (July 7 and 8) looks at King’s Cross and Hoxton.
Some of the events are clearly aimed at initiates: perhaps to give London’s underemployed architects something to do. But there are plenty of activities, reaching a wider audience, that should offer a great opportunity to get a taste of our architectural culture while letting your imagination run wild. Here are my highlights:
THE REUNION PUBLIC HOUSE
An array of self-built installations and amenities on a vacant site in Southwark, masterminded by funloving French architect EXYZT (previously responsible for designing the Southwark Lido in 2008 and Dalston Barn). The site includes a pub, a garden for events and gigs, a secret cinema, pop-up hotel rooms for rent, designed by five young architects, and a spa complete with sauna, which can be booked in advance.
Saturday until July 29, 100 Union Street, SE1 (the-reunion.org.uk)
KING’S CROSS FOCUS WEEKEND
An opportunity to spend time in some of the new spaces around the King’s Cross Central redevelopment and gain a unique insight into the massive change happening in the area right now. The Big Dance festival will occupy Granary Square on July 7, a garden will pop up in a skip on Handyside Street, next to the new Central St Martins building, and walking tours of the King’s Cross Central regeneration site will be held on July 8.
July 7 and 8, various locations (lfa2012.org)
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN SHOWCASE
The British Council co-ordinates an ambitious series of exhibitions in 50 national embassies across London, showcasing the architecture and design of those countries. The quality and extent of the exhibitions is likely to vary, so shop around. But not to be missed is ambitious group show Architecture of Change: Four Continents, Five Perspectives, opening June 28 at the Ambika P3 space on Marylebone Road, which will bring together award-winning exhibitions from the Caribbean, Namibia, Serbia, South Africa and Taiwan.
Saturday until September 23, various locations (britishcouncil.org)
THE LONDON PLEASURE GARDENS
The opening of the London Pleasure Gardens is an opportunity to see how the Royal Docks regeneration effort is being framed and primed by pop-up events and temporary projects. A special preview of the site will take place this weekend, with experiences like the Oyster Grotto, a bar and oyster restaurant; a light installation by artist Kristy Gosling and architect Foster Lomas and 35 benches designed by students. More importantly, it’s a chance to see a huge empty site by the docks, formerly known as the Silvertown Quays regeneration site, that now lies compellingly and overwhelmingly empty.
Saturday and Sunday, Pontoon Dock, E16 (londonpleasuregardens.com)
JUNIOR OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL
This two-day event promises to turn children into architectural detectives, searching the Square Mile of the City of London for great architecture. From kite clubs to scooter trails, a range of 17 activities, suitable for all ages, are on the bill.
Saturday and Sunday, Leadenhall Market, EC3 (open-city.org.uk)
THE DEVELOPING CITY
An exhibition in the City of London, so don’t expect any subversion but it is of interest because it will show the near future of the area through the eyes of those who may get to build it. In addition to 40 models of recent and proposed buildings in the City, teams of architects (most of whom are sponsoring the exhibition too) have imagined how it will look in 2050, proposing new parks, taller buildings and so on. A vision of a future London that could happen if the people who currently hold sway get their way.
Tomorrow until September 9, the Walbrook Building, EC2 (lfa2012.org)
DESIGN STORIES: THE ARCHITECTURE BEHIND 2012
The RIBA is holding a free exhibition of the architectural stories behind the Olympic venues. It might seem a little boosterish, but they are rightly commemorating some really good buildings with an exhibition of drawings, models, and a 14m-long graphic mural as a centrepiece. The show will remain until September 25, and live screenings will take place in the space during the games.
July 25 to September 25, 66 Portland Place, W1 (architecture.com)
London Festival of Architecture runs from Saturday until July 8 at various locations (lfa2012.org)