Open House and The Recovery: Our Plan

Now is the time to act.

If London had never staged the Open House festival before, this would be the perfect year to start!

In September the Open House weekend will take place, more ambitious and varied than ever before reconnecting Londoners with a city they’ve been locked out of for months while helping to rebuild local economies, wellbeing and public life.

Here’s our plan to do it.

Open House and the Recovery

Recovering from the impact of Covid-19 will be a profound challenge for all civil society. Business, citizens, cultural organisations and public authorities all have important roles. With 365,000 visits in a single weekend, Open House is the largest festival of architecture and the urban landscape in the world and has a big part to play this year in supporting London’s recovery effort. The festival is all about people getting out into their city, exploring its remarkable mix of unique buildings and public spaces both close to home and all across town. This year, Open House will be a festival of rediscovering the richness of the city after months stuck inside — a jump-start for local economics and celebration of the buildings, parks and places that we’ve all been missing.

Health and Wellbeing

The lockdown has been essential for fighting the virus, but being cooped up for so long has had a knock-on impact on the health and wellbeing of many Londoners. Open House 2020 will help rebuild a healthy city with a special programme built around safe ways to explore the streets of London on foot and bike with sociable, active ways to participate in the festival from home too.

Boosting Local Economies

The economic impact of Covid-19 on London will be huge. It is essential for boroughs and businesses to rebuild local economies. Open House is a free festival but will nonetheless generate a significant amount of economic activity in September helping to support local businesses across the city get back on their feet. Last year Open House visitors spent an average of £24 each during their visit to the festival, creating a total of £6 million of spending largely in small shops and cafes near Open House sites. 

Supporting boroughs and the built environment

Construction in London alone is a £17 billion economy which has been hit hard by the virus. Open House 2020 will celebrate the work of London’s local authorities and construction sector in shaping and cultivating the city. From shining a light on new community-led developments to showcasing the most ambitious infrastructure projects and regeneration projects, the festival will support and promote those who are improving the city for everyone. 

Public Space and Landscape

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 architecture. Not all key workers wear scrubs — some push wheelbarrows!

Click here to read about the plans for the festival.