The 30th Open House Festival is being extended
The 30th edition of the much-loved city-wide celebration of architecture and landscape, will be extended once again, beginning on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of September 2021, extending through the working week and ending on the weekend of the 11th and 12th September 2021.
The Londown | 20 May | with Hettie O’Brien
Journalist Hettie O’Brien discusses her investigations into the contentious Whitechapel Bell Foundry redevelopment.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
To truly understand the city, and to act in making it more open, accessible and equitable for all, it is essential to understand the history, politics and power imbalances behind it.
Public House: A Cultural and Social History of the London Pub
A new book to coincide with the 2021 Open House Festival all about London’s incredible pubs. Support the crowdfunder to get your hardback copy.
The Londown | 13 May | with Maddie Kessler
Curator Maddie Kessler talks about The Garden of Privatised Delights, Britain’s Venice pavilion opening next week.
Job opportunity: Open City seeks Head of Accelerate
Open City is looking for a new member of staff to take its Accelerate programme to new heights.
The Londown | 6 May | With Owen Hatherley
Our London mayoral election coverage concludes with journalist and author Owen Hatherley and Open City’s Zoe Cave
The Alternative Mayoral Election
"It’s the biggest job in London, don’t give it to a politician"
Job Opportunity: Open City seeks Partnership Coordinator
Open City is recruiting for a new member of staff
The Londown: April 29 with Will Ing
Far more towers for central London, Silvertown Tunnel controversy, LFA boss leaves London for Scotland, and the next generation of British architects.
The Londown | 22 April | With Dave Hill
An in-depth comparison of the election manifestos of London's mayoral election candidates, NLA survey shows no slowdown in skyscraper approvals despite the pandemic, and why drivers so often seem grumpy – could it be down to how cars taint perceptions of the environment around us?
Charter for Open and Equitable Urban Tours
A charter for open urban tour guiding. Sign the pledge to keep architectural exploration inclusive to all.
Slavery and the City Episode 3: The Jamaica Wine House
In this series of the Open City Podcast, we confront the City of London’s historical links with the transatlantic slave trade.
Southwark sketching competition winner announced
We challenged young people to think about what a future River Thames might look like and how their vision contrasted with the River in its present and past states.
Slavery and the City Episode 2: London’s Guildhall and the Zong massacre
In this series of the Open City Podcast, we confront the City of London’s historical links with the transatlantic slave trade.
The Londown | 15 April | With Amanda Baillieu
National Gallery shortlist, Antepavilion winners, Ealing council 26-storey tower controversy and the future of night clubs — special guest Amanda Baillieu joins the show.
The Londown | 7 April | With Phineas Harper
London architect hit with online abuse for criticising Georgian new builds, Square Mile skyscraper set for record £1.8bn sale despite the Work from Home boom, architecture organisations left with slim pickings from the Government’s cultural recovery fund, the Barbican Centre announces a new exhibition on radical 1980s feminist architecture cooperative Matrix, and a new National Covid Memorial takes shape on the Southbank. Zoe Cave and special guest Phineas Harper round up this week’s top London architecture news.
Accelerate Design and Construct Challenge
Accelerate students gathered at the architecture studios of London South Bank University to undertake a collaborative design construct challenge.
Slavery and the City Episode 1: The Royal Exchange
In this series of the Open City Podcast, we confront the City of London’s historical links with the transatlantic slave trade.
The Londown | 1 April | With Ewa Effiom
Parliament launches a major inquiry into whole life carbon, the slavery links of City landmarks explored in a new Open City Podcast, Stirling Prize winner Haworth Tompkins designs an industrial estate, and reflecting on Zaha Hadid’s legacy five years since she died. Merlin Fulcher and special guest Ewa Effiom round up this week’s top London architecture news.
Open City Programmes
Accelerate
For over a decade, Open City has run Accelerate, a free programme supporting young people from under-represented communities to pursue creative careers in engineering, architecture, design and city-making.
Tours and events
Open City runs an adventurous programme of year-round walking, cycling and boat tours, debates and lectures.
Open House London Festival
With thousands of visitors across all 33 London Boroughs, Open House London Festival is the largest and most inclusive festival of architecture and neighbourhoods in the world.
Open House Worldwide
Open City is part of a global network of festivals dedicated opening up and celebrating special buildings and places from New York to Maputo and beyond.