What to see at the London Festival of Architecture’s Southwark Studio Lates
The London Festival of Architecture’s (LFA) Open Studio programme is returning this year under the new guise of ‘Studio Lates’. Design and architecture practices in Clerkenwell, Fitzrovia, Shoreditch and Southwark have agreed to open their doors to the public, allowing visitors an up-close-and-personal look at some of the city’s best-designed studios. Here is our pick of what to see at Southwark Studio Lates, taking place on the evening of Friday 28th June.
The Modern House
Well, we couldn’t not start with our own studio, could we? Come say hello to our friendly team at our office in SE1, which was designed by our neighbours TDO Architecture. The space occupies a former 1930s church building, which was sensitively converted to bring out the original fabric while adding one-off furniture by Max Lamb and Faye Toogood, plus original artwork by Michael Craig Martin and Darren Almond. Expect tours and drinks, plus a mini-exhibition of some of the ‘masterpiece‘ homes in London that we’ve been involved with over the years.
St Alphege Hall, King’s Bench Street, London SE1 0QX, 18:00-20:00
Boundary Row
LFA’s theme for 2019 is ‘boundaries’, a subject Nagan Johnson are well placed to explore given their office backs onto the boundary between Lambeth and Southwark. They will be picking up the theme with fellow practice Weston Williamson, inviting visitors to flow freely between the two studios and showcasing some of their work, which investigates boundaries in social and cultural contexts.
2 Pontypool Place London SE1 8QF, 18:00-21:00
Change; Don’t Change
Southwark has a rich and colourful history that has sprouted a diverse architectural fabric. As the area sits on the brink of dramatic change, Newground Architects will be asking what contemporary architecture can do to ensure all progress and development is matched by preservation of the unique character that defines the area.
48-50 Weston Street London SE1 3QJ, 18:00-1930
When Ping Pong Met Religion
An exhibition given to Latitude Architects’ restoration of a Grade II* listed church in Marylebone into a national competition standard table tennis venue will examine how buildings can be appropriated for entirely different uses. Bring your A game for ping pong matches.
15 Weller Street Borough SE1 1QU, 17:30-22:30
Butler’s Wharf; A Talk About Its Beginnings, Its Transformation and Its Future
Conran and Partners’ London office is in Shad Thames, an area defined by its 19th-century warehouses that once held spices, tea and coffee. The architecture and interior design practice will be celebrating that history by inviting guests for cardamom cocktails and spicy treats at its London studio, where a fifth-floor roof terrace allows views over Butler’s Wharf and the River Thames. Partner Paul Zara will talk through the area’s history.
22 Shad Thames SE1 2YU, 18:00-21:20
Home Sweet Home Pop Up
Another practice picking up on this year’s ‘boundaries’ theme is TP Bennett, who are joining forces with artists Abigail Conway and Lucy Hayhoe of ‘Subject to_change’, to host an interactive spectator-led installation. Attendees will create a miniature cardboard town, ‘purchasing’ land, building homes and establishing communities. The ‘town’ will even have its own live-broadcasting radio station and postal service. Something you’ll need to see to believe, we suspect!
1 America Street, London SE1 0NE, 17:00-21:00
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