When you walk along the streets of London, how many of us look up at the buildings we’re walking past? Look beyond the skyscrapers, the tower blocks, the modernity of today’s buildings and you may well be surprised at the feats of building genius that still exists in this international capital of our country. And once you’ve looked up and discovered this beautiful architecture, you may well want to learn more; and you can, at the London Festival of Architecture that’s taking place throughout June.
This great event started life in 2004 and focused on Clerkenwell, the home of more architects per square metre than any other place worldwide (now that’s a statistic for any quiz question!). Originally known as the London Architecture Biennale (LAB) and planned to be just a one-off event that would celebrate the architectural delights of historical London, it has since grown. 15,000 people turned up to watch the opening event, and that was a sight to behold in itself as a herd of long horn cows were driven down St John Street to Smithfield market, representing the movement of livestock that was prevalent up until the 17th century. But many of the those 15,000 people didn’t just stay and watch the cows, they also went on to view the exhibitions on contemporary architecture, the tour walks of great landmarks, and the talks that took place on that day.
In 2006, the animal theme continued… a sheep drive across the Millennium Bridge and meant to represent the impact the building of the new bridge had on the capital’s economy and the area. Again, the public turned out in force including enjoying the added open studios and bicycle rides. Plus, the Student Architecture Festival joined in!
In 2008, five key areas, known as ‘Hubs’, were created, all of which held large scale public events each weekend. Well-known, international architects stood in front of crowds to deliver talks on architecture – David Chipperfield, Cesar Pelli, Rem Koolhaas and Daruel Libeskind. And then there were the specially commissioned pavilions that became platforms for debate and performance.
Last year, this great festival became an annual event with highlights that included installations like Dalston House, and Luke’s Café, an installation at the Southbank Centre. This year’s event is going to be as inspiring as past festivals with the headline event asking, “Does the city need more tall towers and, if so, how can we make sure they’re done right?”
And if you enjoy having a good nose around buildings, tour some the famous towers in the city including The Gherkin and Centre Point. Or why not try something different and tour some of London’s ugliest buildings on board an architectural Routemaster? Other highlights include films on How We used to Live and The Barbican; talks by Will Self, Ian Martin, Yinka Shonibare, Lisa Jardine and Patrick Keiller give their view on London’s buildings; Peter Rees discusses Sir Christopher Wren, whilst Joanna Lumley with guests discuss the Garden Bridge. This really is a festival that you shouldn’t miss.