Open House Festival has launched its full programme for the 2021 event, which will run from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 September 2021.
The festival will see many buildings, landscapes, infrastructure, and community projects across the capital open up to the public for the first time since the start of the pandemic alongside a city-wide cultural programme for all ages and abilities including numerous outdoor events taking place across all 33 London boroughs.
Among the highlights of the programme is the Prime Minister’s residence 10 Downing Street, behind-the-scenes tours of one of London’s oldest pubs in London Bridge, a newly-completed Maggie’s Centre for cancer care by the American architect Steven Holl, a brutalist library in South Norwood and tours of Ernő Goldfinger’s influential landmark Trellick Tower. Among the buildings throwing open their doors for the first time are London’s new Greenwich Design District - designed by eight different architects - and a new community building in Holborn by architects 6a.
Photo: The George Inn - Greene King and The National Trust
The programme also offers participants the opportunity to tour City Hall on the Thames in Southwark for the last time as a working government building, as the GLA begins its move to Royal Docks.
This year’s Open House Festival will include a particular focus on London’s pubs and breweries, recognising their importance to the capital and the extent to which they have suffered during the pandemic with the publication of a new book, Public House, a Cultural and Social History of the London Pub, celebrating over 120 remarkable pubs across all 33 boroughs with a forward by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Siân Milliner, Head of Open House Festival, said: “In 2021 the Open House Festival is back with hundreds of in-person events which celebrate the reopening of cultural life across the capital. We hope the festival will strengthen London’s cultural and economic recovery and promote walking and cycling across all 33 boroughs.”
The week-long celebration will be the first in a year of programmes marking the 30th anniversary of its parent charity, Open City which is dedicated to making London and other cities around the world more open, equitable and accessible. The festival, which in a typical year sees 250,000 people visit over 800 buildings is the largest in a network of 50 festivals dedicated to opening up buildings and conversations about city-making from New York to Lagos.
Highlights include:
10 Downing Street by Christopher Wren and others, Westminster - Tour tickets are allocated by ballot and take place on Saturday 4 September.
Trellick Tower by Ernő Goldfinger, Kensington and Chelsea - Resident-led tours will be taking place on Sunday 12 September marking the final day of the festival
Design District, Greenwich - Tours will be announced on the Open House Festival website
St Bartholomew's Hospital, and Maggie’s Centre by Steven Holl, City of London - Early evening tours of Maggie's Barts will take place on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 September. The North Wing of Barts including the Hogarth Stair will be open all day on Sunday 5 September.
South Norwood Library by Croydon Architects Department, Croydon - The library will be open to visitors until 3.30pm on Saturday 4 and 11 September.
Holborn House by 6a Architects, Camden - Tours for up to 25 people will run every half hour on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September.
Walters Way self-built street, Lewisham - Walters Way will host an open day on Sunday 5 September including resident-led tours and the launch of a new book about the street.
Mount Pleasant Homeless Shelter by Peter Barber Architects, Camden - Tours led by the architects and council staff will take place on 4 and 5 September.
The George Inn, Southwark - The George is open throughout the Open House Festival and will be offering behind-the-scenes tours of the building from time to time during the nine day programme.
City Hall by Foster + Partners, Southwark - Visitors are welcome from 10am until 4pm on Saturday 4 September.
