As the central theme of the London Festival of Architecture, ‘memory’ couldn’t be more apt. London’s buildings jostle side by side; old, new and in progress creating a bricolage of spaces for memories to be made and showing the history as well as future of the capital at a glance.
The LFA gives the creative community and members of the public a chance to join together in celebrating the serendipity of the city as a design capital. It provides a showcase for architecture and due to London’s sheer scale it can play host to events as exciting and varied as open studios, debates and exhibitions.
I am particularly looking forward to the fanciful, foodie events of Bompas and Parr who’ll host ‘Temple of the Tongue’ and WATG’s annual ‘Great Architectural Bake Off’. I am also keen to see the use of media in representing the theme, key events include the collaboration between Barbican and the British Film Institute running movies throughout the month and #johnremembers an Instagram campaign gathering the creative community’s London Memories online and as an exhibition. The more conventional events are high on my list too. To hear the great and the good of architecture wrestle with the key issues of the day over a glass of wine cannot be beaten. I’m hoping to attend talks including ‘Spaces of Democracy: How do we Design for Debate and Participation?’ hosted by the Museum of Architecture to explore the relationship between politics and the built environment.
It is fair to say I anticipate creating a lot of London memories this June.
