Core themes of the 2020 Open House Festival
For three decades, the Open House Festival has been welcoming people of all backgrounds to share the history, spaces and fabric of our city. These were the core themes of the 2020 Open House Festival.
Open House festival core themes for 2020
Radical Housing
Covid-19 has confined many Londoners to claustrophobic flats with no outdoor space. Yet for others, the struggle of life under lockdown has been softened by well-designed, generous and sometimes ingenious housing. This Open House festival, we will celebrate outstanding housing architecture which has helped many stay comfortable and convivial during the stress of the pandemic.
Architecture for a Climate Emergency
No one industry contributes more to global warming than construction. Any efforts to fight climate change will fail without radical reform of how buildings and cities are designed - with profound implications for the architecture of London. In 2019 protest movements swept the world calling for action to address the climate emergency. For 2020, Open House will highlight buildings and landscapes which reveal bold strategies for bringing construction and architecture in line with planetary limits.
Colonial Histories
All buildings tell stories. Stories about the values and aspirations of the societies which created them are etched into the facades of our streets. Yet some stories are harder to read than others. Hidden beneath the surface of many buildings in London are incredible and sometimes bitter stories of Britain's colonial history. For Open House 2020, we're embarking on a long term project to tease out and reveal the hidden colonial histories of the architecture we celebrate in the festival.
Buildings of Importance to London’s Black Community
The history of London is deeply intertwined with the history of black people in Britain. Some neighbourhoods in particular from Hackney, to Notting Hill, to Brixton have long been centres of cultural production, activism and struggles for racial equity led by the black community. For Open House 2020 we hope to celebrate the importance of this history, the architecture which has housed it, and the black community that continue to enrich London.
Landscape and Landscape Workers
Throughout the pandemic, landscapes from the simplest flower bed to the grandest civic park, and the people who make and maintain them, have been crucial allies in the fight to keep Londoners healthy and active. Public space and urban landscapes will be a huge part of what we will celebrate in the next Open House festival with activities in parks and gardens as well as buildings. Not all key workers wear scrubs — some push wheelbarrows!
Hidden Infrastructure
Whilst many of us felt like the city stopped during lockdown, in reality key workers were keeping the city going by providing our essential services. As well as the doctors and nurses, it was the bin men, bus drivers, warehouse workers, cleaners and shopkeepers, that were all on the front line. This year, Open House hopes to celebrate the individuals and the architecture of the hidden infrastructure of our city — highlighting the hospitals, bus depots, warehouses, distribution centres, control rooms and corner shops that kept London going.
Cultural Spaces at Risk
Many sectors have been hard hit by the virus, but few more so than cultural industries. Numerous theatres, clubs and concert halls have closed their doors for good due to covid-19 with many more still on the brink. This Open House festival, we are trying to focus on cultural architecture at risk with socially-distanced tours of theatres, night clubs and other cultural venues raising awareness and funds to help cultural workers and their institutions get back on their feet.
Pubs
London has an incredibly rich tapestry of pubs of all eras from grand gin palaces to cosy taverns. We don’t normally include pubs in Open House but this year it feels right to celebrate the institution of the humble London pub, which has been much missed by many and faces a tricky road to recovery ahead. We’re inviting pubs across the city to take part in Open House festival this year with pub tours, special events and, of course, pub quizzes!
Buildings by architects from under-represented communities
There are many architects from diverse backgrounds living and working in London who shape the city every day, but whose work does not always get the attention it deserves. This year, we're hoping to spotlight more buildings by black and ethnic minority designers at all scales.
Local Discoveries
When thinking about architecture and the city we often overlook the seemingly ordinary neighbourhoods and public buildings that make up our local environment. This year Open House is putting special emphasis on celebrating the hidden gems that lie round the corner — that clock tower you’ve never been up, the park that was a lifeline during lockdown. The school with the interesting roof you walk past every day but have never visited. As many re-discover the city, we would like to offer tours, film screenings and more to highlight the beauty of our local communities.
Religious Buildings
For many, one of the hardest aspects of lockdown was the loss of community and spirituality with the closure of places of worship. Open House has always tried to reflect the architecturally rich landscape of London’s religious communities, and this year we are putting special emphasis on opening religious buildings which have been closed over summer.
We would love to hear your ideas on talks, tours, films and more to add to the 2020 programme. If you would like to make an initial proposal please fill in the relevant proposal form. The deadline is 10am, Monday the 3rd of August.
How to submit a proposal
Buildings
If you are a building or garden owner or manager and want to open up a building or garden for the 2020 Open House festival, you will need to create a login for the Open House database using the button below and then will be able to submit a proposal. You can propose special events at that building like talks and exhibitions using this button provided the building itself will be open for the festival.
Walks and tours
If you want to propose a walk or tour, either of a building you have access to or of an area looking at multiple buildings and public spaces, you will need to create a login for the Open House database using the button below and then will be able to submit a proposal for walk or tour.
Events, exhibitions, children’s activities and other programme.
If you want to propose any other kind of programme, for example a lecture, online event, pop-up exhibition, film screening or supper club, you can do so using the button below.
Open House Families
This year, we’re also staging Open House families, an architecture festival for children as part of the wider Open House festival. If you’re interested in hosting a workshop or activity to allow children to explore their city through play contact the Open House Families Team at education@open-city.org.uk
