British modernism pioneer Hopkins Architects, famed for its diverse portfolio of stylish public buildings from the Olympic Velodrome to Portcullis House, is joining our Open House London central London Thames tour in February
Portcullis House © Richard Davies
This afternoon boat tour along the River Thames will see Hopkins Director Patrick Nee bring a fresh perspective to the capitals riverside architecture. Patrick will speak alongside our regular guide Benedict O'Looney, a practicing architect and teacher at the Architectural Association, whose deep insight and thoughtful commentary on all aspects of London’s architecture is widely admired amongst his fellow professionals.
While Benedict will survey the landmark architecture of central London’s embankments and the skyline beyond, Patrick will focus on Hopkins’ key Thames-side projects. Portcullis House integrates a number of buildings of the parliamentary estate including accommodation for over 200 MPs around a central light-filled courtyard. Directly below it sits the vast Piranesi-like Westminster Underground Station.
Patrick has been with the Practice for over 30 years, and, as the Project Director in charge of Portcullis House, he will give a behind-the-scenes account of designing the imposing building that was to become a focus for parliamentary life.
Find out more about Hopkins
Find out more about Hopkins
GROUP DISCOUNT CODE: Enter GROUP at the checkout on purchases of 3 or more tickets to receive a 15% discount
Departing and returning to Crown Pier, Victoria Embankment EC4Y. Duration 2.45hrs approx. Regretfully no children under 7. Cost £35.50. Booked only for capacity for the inside covered deck in case of rain. Pre-order bagels can be purchased here
Portcullis House © Richard Davies
With Open House photography tours you will discover different ways of observing and photographing London. Our
introductory tours are led by acclaimed architectural photographers and members of the architectural photography agency VIEW Pictures.
Photography Tour - From Wren to Rogers - Saturday 15 February 10am
© Grant Smith
Explore the architecture of the City of London from Wren to Rogers with this photographic walking tour looking at how to effectively photograph the City, a hugely impressive mix of history and modernity, where new vistas are continually opening of this ever-changing cityscape.
The tour will cover optimum time of day to photograph the City’s buildings. By the end of this tour you should be able to identify differing architectural styles in the City and different approaches to architectural photography.
Meet: City of London Information Centre, St Paul's Churchyard EC4M 8BX. Cost £35.50. Duration 2.5hrs. Tour ends near to Liverpool Street station.
Meet: City of London Information Centre, St Paul's Churchyard EC4M 8BX. Cost £35.50. Duration 2.5hrs. Tour ends near to Liverpool Street station.
Architecture by Night - Tuesday 18 February/Wednesday 11 March 6pm
© Richard Chivers
Photographing the City’s iconic structures, the tour includes Lloyd’s Building, Bank and Tower Bridge where lighting dramatically re-enforces their night time presence.
Your guide will be on hand to answer any questions as you discover the techniques of night photography.
The tour will cover:
- Illumination of the City’s buildings and how to photograph them
- Using long shutter speeds to render light trails
- Optimum time to take night photographs
- Selection of aperture, shutter and ISO to produce best results
- Your rights to photograph in public
- Illumination of the City’s buildings and how to photograph them
- Using long shutter speeds to render light trails
- Optimum time to take night photographs
- Selection of aperture, shutter and ISO to produce best results
- Your rights to photograph in public
Meet: At the post boxes, opposite Lloyd’s of London, One Lime Street EC3M 7HA. Cost £35.50. Duration 2hrs. Tour ends at Tower Pier.
Mostly PoMo Walking Tour - Saturday 29 February 10am
No 1 Poultry © Richard Bryant
When James Stirling’s final British building, No1 Poultry, was unveiled - and greeted with mixed reviews - in the mid-nineties, few would have thought the Postmodern icon would be Grade A-listed some twenty years later.
Yet in recent years the controversial style has been recognised as crucial to our built heritage with 20 such examples of Postmodernism – or PoMo - in London now officially listed. This walking tour takes in some of London’s most well-known and hard-to-find pieces of PoMo as well as key modern buildings along the way.
Your guide is a heritage consultant with the renowned conservation Architecture practice, Purcell and has written widely on 20th Century and contemporary architecture.
Meet: Exchange Square - Outside Piccolino restaurant, London EC2A 2BR. Cost £25.50. Tour duration 2.5-3hrs. Tour ends at Tower Bridge.
Open House London 2020
Where do you want to visit?
© Luke O'Donovan
Have you ever walked past a building in London and always thought 'I wonder what it looks like inside?' or 'what is that building and what goes on inside?'.
Well, let us help you with that.
We want to hear what new buildings you want in Open House 2020 and we will try out best to get that building on the programme. After all, this is a public event so we want to ensure the public get to see what they want to see.
Email your suggestions to openhouse@open-city.org.uk
+
