Discover the history, architecture and planning of central London's largest regeneration zone
Join Open City for a walking tour exploring King’s Cross — London’s newest showcase of contemporary architecture and design
This insightful walking tour around King’s Cross Central — led by expert guide Nick Edwards — tells the story of the multi-billion regeneration project which has transformed 27 hectares of former railway land in the centre of the capital.
The walk will cover the planning, design and delivery of this new large-scale mixed-use district which is now home to Central St Martins College of Art and Aga Khan Development Network along with big tech media companies such as Facebook, Google and Universal Music.
Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city in our pandemic era, this walking tour is part of a new series responding to the core themes of the Open House festival and wider Open City programme.
Masterplanned by Allies and Morrison, Porphyrios Associates, and Townshend Landscape Architects — the district features an extraordinary variety of contemporary architectural talents including Niall McLaughlin Architects, David Chipperfield Architects, Coffey Architects, Eric Parry Architects, dRMM and Mossessian Architecture.
Landmark buildings featuring on the tour include Stanton Williams’ Granary Building, the Aga Khan Centre by Fumihiko Maki, Wilkinson Eyre’s Gasholders London, R7 office block by Duggan Morris, Bell Phillips’ competition-winning Gasholder Park and Heatherwick Studio’s iconic Coal Drops Yard.
Participants will examine the success of the project to date while also looking ahead to what the future for King’s Cross might hold.
Meet: Outside German Gymnasium Grand Café 1 King's Blvd, London N1C 4BU.
End: In King’s Cross.
Duration: 2.45 hours approx
Cost: £19.50 / £14.50 / £9.50
Tickets are non refundable. Tours go ahead rain or shine… Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
MEET THE TOUR GUIDE
Nick Edwards is an architectural educator and change driver with 20 years experience creating innovative participation opportunities which encourage greater understanding of architecture, regeneration, planning, placemaking, active citizenship and sustainability.
Since studying architecture, Nick has spent most of his career working in formal and informal education demystifying built environment processes, changing perceptions and advocating for the role that communities can play in shaping and caring for their neighbourhoods.
Much of Nick’s professional experience has focused on East London and specifically the 2012 Games and its
Legacy. This included co-founding Fundamental Architectural Inclusion
funded by CABE; establishing the
Architecture Crew, Britain’s first youth architecture forum and setting up the Legacy Youth
Panel on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation to facilitate young people’s
response to the Legacy Masterplanning Framework for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
and surrounding area and feeding directly into the Legacy Community Strategy; bringing
young people to the forefront of influencing and shaping socio economic and community
engagement policy at the London Legacy Development Corporation.
He joined the Open City team in February 2021.