The London branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have unveiled a series of events themed along the lines of 'Work In Progress' for the 2015 London Festival of Architecture. The festival, which is a month-long celebration of architectural experimentation, thinking and practice taking place at venues across the capital, will open in next month. The RIBA London's chosen theme "will explore the changing nature of work, and workspace, as well as its impact on, and role in, the continued evolution of London."
Owen Wainhouse, interim Director of RIBA London, has recommended to "get down to Pop Brixton to see stunning examples of our members’ work, go access all areas at some of our most exciting architects practices, or join our Keynote Debates to learn and discuss how Londoners might go to work in the future."
Open Studios (Thursday to Sundays throughout June)
This is your only chance of the year to go behind the scenes at some of the capital’s most innovative architecture practices. With over 50 RIBA Chartered Practices taking part across East, North, South and West London you won’t be far away from your nearest participating architects. Each practice will offer their own curated programme, but you can expect the chance to see great work and newly commissioned projects, lively and engaging debate, talks, discussions, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, installations and modelshop demonstrations.
Architecture Open (Thursday 4th through to Sunday 28th June)
RIBA London’s popular Summer Show returns, this year on location at South London’s Pop Brixton campus. The free curated architecture exhibition will showcase forms of inspiration and works in progress from RIBA members in tandem with the London Festival of Architecture theme.
Talks and Debates (Monday 22nd June and Monday 29th June)
- The changing face of workspace. Rapid advances in technologies and communication are bringing a new dynamism and speed to our working lives, however do these changes and the way we work have a greater impact on us as than we might expect? Join our expert panel Grant Gibson (chair), Sam Jacob, Linda Morey-Burrows, Jeremy Myerson and Nikil Saval as they discuss the origins of the working environments we know today, how and why they are changing and where the individual sits in the midst of it all.
- Southbank Centre in partnership with RIBA London for the LFA: How we work. With an opportunity to share your working life experiences and explore the ways our places of work are changing, this talk will explore and challenge how we are spending the majority of our days. Joanna Biggs, editor at the London Review of Books and author of A Day Long; a Portrait of Britain at Work joins innovative architectural threesome RCKa, RIBA emerging practice of the year 2014, as they delve into our everyday working environments.
White-collar Tale Film Nights (Wednesday 3rd June and Tuesday 30th June)
- Playtime by Jacques Tati, introduced by Alice Rawsthorn. Set in a modernist version of Paris, Playtime was remarkable for its vast set – christened Tativille – which anticipated the later rise of office cubicle culture. It is a compelling portrait of the 1960s workspace.
- Office Space by Mike Judge, introduced by Will Wiles. Focusses on employee dissatisfaction in a 1990s software company based in Texas, much of the action satirises the dominance of the cubicle-based workspaces common at the time.
Find out more about what RIBA London have got planned for the London Festival of Architecture here.
