Note for Diary - Open House London Annual Event: 16 – 17 September 2006

Jeni Hoskin, Open House

3 August 2006

The Capital's biggest architectural event where London is turned into a living exhibition, gives thousands of Londoners the chance to experience buildings, and explore, debate and better understand architecture, engineering and design. The Greenwich Foundation, in partnership with the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music will be opening its doors to give visitors access to rarely seen areas of Wren's masterpiece buildings.

In celebration of the Capital’s design excellence, over 600 architectural activities are planned which also gives direct access to the teams that design, construct and regenerate Londoners’ environments. All access is free of charge.

Open House will present the unique opportunity to explore buildings, many for the first time. The public can experience private residences from slick contemporary homes to pre-fab and social housing, to Arts and Crafts gems and 20th Century Modernist classics, Livery Halls, government buildings including the Foreign Office and Hopkins' Portcullis House, Ambassadors' residences, private clubs, contemporary workspaces including the iconic 30 St Mary Axe, historical houses, City banks, medical centres, schools, RIBA award-winners and more. All access is completely free of charge.
In our “Meet the Makers” programme, architects and engineers on site in buildings will present the opportunity to learn about construction and design in the flesh, and future London will be visible through the Open House/Open Site programme featuring major projects under development (in partnership with the Association for Consultancy and Engineering).

In Learning by Design, architect’s responses to the challenge of designing welcoming, open and stimulating places for teaching and learning will be revealed over the Open House London weekend. An accompanying booklet (funded by the DfES) will feature these exemplar buildings and records insights from Head Teachers, students and governers as to how the building works for them.

Victoria Thornton, Founding Director of Open House, comments: “experiencing a building in the flesh – inside and out, can help you understand it, assess it, in a way you never could from a picture. If Open House can get Londoners to care passionately about their city and its future buildings, we will really have achieved something”.

PREVIEW EVENT

Friday 15 September overnight – BUILDINGS BY NIGHT
Open House has once again joined forces with Maggie’s to raise funds for their Cancer Caring Centres, and are calling Londoners to team-up with friends, colleagues and family to take a sponsored walk over ground, over night to help others overcome cancer. To salute the remarkable difference that thoughtful building design make to the lives of people across London, Open House will offer hikers the opportunity to preview some of London’s building treasures by night as part of this walk following the course of the Circle Line for approximately 25kms. For details visit www.openhouse.org.uk

Note to Editors:
For further details and images: Jeni Hoskin on 020 7383 2131 or jhoskin@openhouse.org.uk
(These contact details not for publication)

Public information
The Buildings Guide will be available from mid August by visiting www.openhouse.org.uk Information Line: 09001 600 061 (60p p/min) or visit www.openhouse.org.uk

Project supporters include 32 London boroughs, Transport for London, BBC London, Good Going, RIBA

The Open House organisation is an architecture education charity whose work throughout the year promotes public awareness, education and debate of architecture and the built environment. Registered Charity No. 1072104