Open House Festival

Zaha Hadid Foundation

museum

Edward Robert Robson, 1874

Zaha Hadid Foundation, 10 Bowling Green Lane, EC1R 0BQ

Explore parts of this Grade II listed former Victorian primary school, once the HQ of Zaha Hadid Architects and now home to the Zaha Hadid Foundation. A new exhibition 'Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums' will be open featuring original material of museum projects designed by Zaha Hadid Architects - entry is free. There will be free drop-in curator talks and model-making workshops.

Getting there

Tube

Farringdon

Train

Farringdon

Bus

19, 341, 38, 61

Additional travel info

The closest train and London Underground station is Farringdon. There are public bicycle racks outside the building.

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

There is a step between the main gate and the street. There is step-free access to all public spaces on the ground floor.

What you can expect

All activities will be indoors.

About

Free exhibition: 'Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums'

The opening weekend of the Zaha Hadid Foundation's new exhibition coincides with Open House. This exhibition looks at three of Zaha Hadid's museum projects and their paper models and reliefs. It features original material from ZHF's collections. Entry is free and the the exhibition will be open to the public from 19th September to 16th November 2024.

Curators talks (drop in)

For Open House, we will celebrate the exhibition with a series of short, curator-led talks throughout the day in the Lecture Theatre at these times: 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Drop-in and free, seats are available on a first come first served basis.

Model-making workshop (drop in)

We will have a model-making workshop led by architecture students, suitable for adults and children from ages 7 upwards and for all abilities, throughout the day. It's your chance to be inspired by the exhibition and the work of Zaha Hadid and try your hand at model making. Colouring sheets featuring Zaha Hadid's buildings will be available for younger children. All materials will be provided. These creative activities are drop-in and free. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Explore the building (self guided)

With the exception of the exhibition gallery, the building is normally closed to the public. For Open House, the ground floor of our building will be open for self-guided tours. We will have printed guides available. For one day only, there will also be a small display of material and images on the building's past history as a school and the international HQ of Zaha Hadid Architects. Please note, public events (talks and workshops) may be taking place in the spaces at different times of the day, which you're welcome to join.

Building history

This Queen Anne-style building is Grade II listed and was completed in 1874 for the School Board for London, opening as the Bowling Green Lane School. The building was designed by E.R. Robson in collaboration with J.J. Stevenson. It retains much of its original Victorian layout and exterior. In the 1970s it ceased operating as a school and in the 1980s it was divided up into artists' studios. It was once the international headquarters of Zaha Hadid Architects, beginning in 1985 when Zaha Hadid took up one of these studios. Her practice grew until it took over the whole building. Since 2022, it has been the home of the charity Zaha Hadid Foundation which is returning the building to educational uses through public exhibitions, research and a public programme of events.

Photography

Personal photography for non-commercial use is allowed, including in the exhibition. Filming or audio recording is not allowed.

Online presence

www.zhfoundation.com

www.instagram.com/zahahadidfoundation

www.facebook.com/zahahadidfoundation

Nearby

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