institution/profession, gallery, library, museum
George Grey Wornum, 1934
66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD
Fine example of Grade II* listed 1930s architecture with many original features and fittings and home to the world-class British Architectural Library collections.
Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus, Regent's Park
88, C2, 453
Nearby tube stations: Oxford Circus Regents Park Great Portland Street
Contact learning@riba.org for any queries on accessibility of the building.
The present headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects, which was opened on 8 November 1934 by King George V and Queen Mary, was designed by G Grey Wornum CBE, FRIBA (1888-1957), who won the commission in an open architectural competition that attracted 284 entries. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Howard de Walden on 28 June 1933.
In 1970, on the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council, the RIBA building was listed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government as a Grade II building of architectural and historic importance, one of the very first examples of 'modern architecture' to be so recognised.
The six-storey building is faced in Portland Stone. The sculpted figures on the Portland Place front depict the spirit of man and woman as the creative forces of architecture. Along the Weymouth Street elevation, above the third-storey window line, are five relief figures, depicting a painter, a sculptor, an architect (Sir Christopher Wren), an engineer and a working man. The interior of the building is finely detailed in a variety of materials.
Celebrate Open House at 66 Portland Place and explore the RIBA’s magnificent 1930s headquarters. Discover the stories and structure of the ‘home of architecture’ on one of our guided tours throughout the day. Take the opportunity to view highlights from the RIBA Collections of world class architectural material related to 66 Portland Place on its 90th year. Open House will be the final opportunity to visit the ‘Raise the Roof: Building for Change’ exhibition, with bookable events happening thoughout the day.
Guided tours will run throughout the day, please sign up on arrival.