Open House Festival

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City Curator's Collection: How People Shape Space

People shape spaces in a range of ways. From intimate homes to open community spaces, this collection aims to explore how the needs of people shape design.

Drop in / Guided tour

Brixton Windmill

community/cultural

A wonderful reminder of Brixton's rural past and inner London's last working mill. Built in 1816 by the Ashby family who produced flour until 1934. Restored to working order 2011.

Unknown, 1816

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Grow, Hackney

art in the public realm, art studio, club, open site, restaurant/bar, walk/tour, event

Repurposed out of a disused sausage factory, Grow was converted into a grassroots venue, community hub, bar and kitchen. This canalside venue is part of an ecosystem of artist studios & small independent businesses & working yard.

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Gulabi House

housing

An extension to an Edwardian terrace house in Tottenham for a young family that marries their cultural backgrounds, inspired by Indian modernism.

Artefact, 2020

Join us at the Lea Bridge Library, as we collaborate with the public to create a wooden tiled mosaic, exploring how each individual views and experiences space.

Studio Weave, 2022

Drop in / Guided tour

Lea Bridge Library

library

Studio Weave were commissioned to design an extension to the Grade-II listed Lea Bridge Library in East London, adding a cafe and adaptable community space – to deliver a revived civic heart for the Borough of Waltham Forest. This project is supported by the Mayor of London.

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Little Mouse Cheese Shop

retail

Visit Little Mouse, an Edwardian shop in South Norwood with original wooden frontage and fascia that is now an artisan cheesemonger.

-, 1850

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Mission Kitchen

industrial

Mission Kitchen is a shared workspace for London's independent food businesses. It supports a community of more than 100 food and drink entrepreneurs. This project is supported by the Mayor of London.

Architecture 00, 2020

Drop in / Guided tour

Phoenix Gardens Community Building

community/cultural, garden

The first purpose-built new-build community centre to be built in the heart of Soho for generations, located within the renowned Phoenix Gardens. Winner: RIBA London Award. Designed by RIBA London Architect of the Year Winner.

Office Sian Architecture + Design, 2018

Guided tour

Pope's Grotto

historical house, monument, miscellaneous, community/cultural

Grotto with mineral decoration is last remaining part of Alexander Pope's villa built 1720. The villa was demolished 1808 and replaced and redeveloped many times in following years but Pope's Grotto remains.

Alexander Pope, William Kent, 1720

Guided tour

Sun Rain Rooms

architectural practice, offices, residence

Set in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, Tonkin Liu's studio has been extended. Designed and built by the practice, an innovative timber roof and reflecting pool gathers the bouncing rain, to make it a good place to be on a bad day.

Tonkin Liu, 2017

A close of 13 self-built houses. Each is unique, built using method developed by Walter Segal, who led the project in the 1980s. Houses have been extended and renovated. Sustainable features including solar electric, water & space heating.

Walter Segal, 1987