Tuesday 17 September 2013

4 days to Open House London weekend!

Join in the Open Debate this evening: Is London Building a Sterile City?This evening sees Open-City's inaugural Open Debate as the spotlight event to the Open House London Weekend programme giving a voice to the citizens of London, both public user and design professional, on the kind of city we are creating. Chaired by BBC correspondent Razia Iqbal, the panel includes Bob Allies, Partner at Allies & Morrison, Stephen Howlett, CEO Peabody Trust, Sue Illman, President of Landscape Institute. Join in the debate on Twitter #opendebate

Open House London long-term star buildings...
Lloyd's of LondonHome of the world's leading insurance market and one of the City's most celebrated buildings, this is - like Rogers' Pompidou Centre in Paris - a key example of British High-Tech architecture. RIBA Award Winner. Sustainable features include many ahead of their time with new initiatives introduced in recent years to further improve energy efficiency. 


Foreign & Commonwealth OfficeGrade I listed Victorian government office buildings. Former India Office includes the magnificently decorated Durbar Court.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has been featured in Open House London since 1997 and also makes a stop-off point on the Maggie's Culture Crawl on Friday 20th!


Education building of the day...
Hayes Primary School, Hayhurst and Co. LB Croydon2013 RIBA National Award winning school extension. Cross-laminated timber construction, clad with timber shingle and with a 55m long mirrored facade that flickers with the reflection of trees.

Transformation of the day...
Rainham Village and Marshes, LB Havering

Rainham Village, a conservation area, is the site of an important new masterplan for London. The regeneration programme is enhancing the characteristics of the historic street pattern and the surrounding marshland with nature reserve incorporating Trackway.


Industrial building of the day...
Old Ford Waste Water Recycling Facility, LB Newham
The largest community wastewater recycling facility in the UK using membrane technology to convert raw sewage to non potable water to supply Olympic Park venues. Clad in timber, gabion baskets and corten steel to blend within the Old Ford Nature Reserve (a site of SWCI Conservation Importance). Sustainable features include sedum roofs.Book now by emailing christopher.james@thameswater.co.uk


Housing of the day...
Balfron Tower, Erno Goldfinger, LB Tower Hamlets 
Trellick Tower's older, shorter, and lesser known sister. Grade II listed 27-storey block designed in the brutalist style for the London County Council.

Book now! Last places remaining:
Old Water Tower, LB Hillingdon21m-high brick water tower, built 1905 in institutional Gothic style to improve the water supply to expanding Uxbridge following the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway. Residentially converted 1980. Access (by internal fixed safety ladder) to tank and roof for views over London Basin, weather permitting. Book now on 01895 253658
Shepheard Epstein Hunter OfficesThe practice's own studio - former workshop/brewery and possibly Nell Gwynne's house - now converted and stripped back to reveal the original timber, iron and steel structure. A rare example of an early industrial building. Emailopenhouse@seh.co.uk



About Open-City: Open-City is London's leading architecture organisation. Over the last 20 years it has grown from showcasing the capital’s architecture annually to research, training, advice and campaigns that impact on the whole city.