Discover West London’s iconic public housing by bike

Join Open House for a ‘ride out’ exploring the architecture of West London’s landmark public housing estates on a socially-distanced cycle tour

Led by up-and-coming architectural designers Aidan Hall and Rosalind Peebles, this socially-distanced bicycle tour will visit iconic residential developments from the golden era of public sector house building design.

Providing a safe and fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city in our post-pandemic era, the West London Architecture Cycle Tour is part of a new series celebrating the very best of public housing design across the four corners of the capital.

Focussing on the most visually-striking and memorable modernist achievements of progressive boroughs in north, south, east and west London – the cycle tours will show how spacious design, health and quality of life are once again in the spotlight as our city moves forward out of lockdown.

Highlights of the western tour will include an early example of LLC housing, the Arts and Crafts influenced Millbank Estate in Pimlico, the staggered terraces of Lillington Gardens, the brutalist towers of the Worlds End Estate in Kensington & Chelsea and Churchill Gardens - a pioneering example of a post-war mixed development in Britain.

Using live audio and image sharing, participants will use their smart phones to discover the extraordinary stories of celebrated architects – such as Powell & Moya, Eric Lyons, Darbourne & Darke, Roger Westman and H. T. Cadbury-Brown.

Meet: Behind Tate Britain at corner of Atterbury Street and John Islip Street, SW1P 4EA. Duration: 3 hours approx. Tour ends near Battersea Bridge SW10. Cost £12.50 / £9.50 concessions. (students/unemployed/furloughed etc)

 

Route: This route is flat, on central London streets. Participants must be competent riders; bring their own bicycle, a fully charged smart phone with internet connection, downloaded Zoom in advance of the tour, bring headphones; and remember to stay at least two metres apart from each other where required. Zoom joining info will be sent out to all bookers the week before the tour. Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.

Meet the tour guides …

West London Architecture Cycle Tour is led by up-and-coming architectural designers Aidan Hall and Rosalind Peebles, both actively involved in the creation of new sustainable public housing in the capital

Aidan Hall is a co-founder of social enterprise Okra where he leads projects in the fields of architecture, design, research and education. He has taught architecture at schools and universities across the UK and Europe and has led walking tours for the Architecture Foundation since 2017. He joined the Open House tours team in summer 2020.

Rosalind Peebles is an architect at alma-nac currently working on housing and community-oriented projects in London. She is a member of Okra where she collaborates in the fields of research and education, focussing on the social responsibility of architecture and housing in London. She has led tours for the Architecture Foundation since 2018 and joined the Open House tours team in summer 2020.