For me, the London Festival of Architecture represents a fascinating genre of the arts. I am delighted that the Northbank is part of the LFA 2017 programme, giving us the opportunity to celebrate and open up our footprint demonstrating the wonderful juxtaposition of old and new, bringing together different eras they represent. Our lively history is written into he fabric of our streets with aspects relatively unchanged; the bustling Strand and Aldwych, the vibrant side streets like Villiers Street, the iconic Trafalgar Square, distinct designs like the art deco Adelphi, and hubs of creativity like Somerset House. Looking forward, the harsh concrete surfaces of roads and century-old buildings are being increasingly retrofitted to soften the space and enliven it with greenery. People are being encouraged to engage with these spaces more and offer their insight into how their Northbank can evolve in a sustainable way. Our landscape and architecture is a representation of the people that make our city so great – rich, diverse and vibrant all coexisting side by side. The London Festival of Architect allows Londoners and visitors to dissect spaces and exaggerate possibilities, allowing their city to be a place to play, learn and discover. For this reason it was incredibly important for us to be at the centre of it.
This year’s programme is packed full and I’m struggling to narrow down what to go and see! I’m really excited to delve into the multiple events by Battersea Power Station, their place branding plays such an important role in how the space is developing and I’m sure identity will be a strong theme throughout the activity.
In this vein, as it has become increasingly apparent over the last decade or so just how important people are to a city – how it develops and how it thrives – the installations and activities which encourage interaction and exploration will be key to the programme. I’m especially looking forward to “When did you last look up?”, “City Vs Experience”, and vitally the family activities, such as “Tales of the Underworld” at the Northbank’s National Gallery. Each offer a compelling context to understanding our city design of old and how we can help the next generation of designers to be considerate custodians of our beloved spaces.
