The Playful City

The London Festival of Architecture is a city-wide celebration of architecture and architectural talent in the UK capital. It brings architects and communities together to examine how we make London a better place. The theme of the 2012 Festival - ‘The Playful City’ – responds to the presence in London of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Featured Events

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City of London Hub 23-24 June

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Find out what the future holds for the City of London as teams of architects present their vision for London 2050 at ‘The Developing City’ exhibition at the Walbrook Building. The show traces the history of the City, its disasters and successes, to help us understand how it needs to continue to evolve if it is to remain a major global trading centre. Also running is ‘Celebrate the City: four days in the Square Mile’ where you can enjoy the City’s magnificent architecture, its rich history and heritage, its must-see exhibitions - and plenty of special events and entertainment to boot. Don’t miss the Junior Open House Festival, which will turn young people into detectives of architecture through ‘Architective’ workshops, tours, DIY activities, and competitions all over the City of London.

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  Exhibitions & Installations Bauhaus: Art as Life 03 May – 12 Aug, 00:00 – 00:00 Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
  Exploring the world’s most famous modern art and design scho… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations and Talks and Debates The Developing City 21 Jun – 09 Sep, 11:00 – 17:00 103 Cannon St, City of London, London, Greater London EC4N 5AG, UK
  The exhibition will look at how the physical fabric – the bu… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations, Screening and Performances and Other Activities Gibbon's Rent Community Garden 23 Jun – 08 Jul, 10:00 – 18:00 Gibbon's Rent, SE1
  The Architecture Foundation is delighted to be working with… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations Bureau Spectacular: Three Little Worlds 24 Jun – 08 Jul, 12:00 – 18:00 The Architecture Foundation, Ground Floor East, 136-148 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU
  For his first solo exhibition outside of North America, Chic… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations and Screening and Performances International Showcase: Palestine - Palestine Sunbird Pavilion 07 Jul – 11 Aug, 11:00 – 05:30 Dreamspace Gallery, The Architecture + Design Centre 1-3 Dufferin Street, London, EC1Y 8NA
  The Palestine Sunbird Pavilion is intended as a demonstratio… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations 60 Buildings 60 Years 23 Jun – 18 Aug, 00:00 – 00:00 The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WC1E 7BT
  To mark the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics, The Bui… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations and Other Activities Paleys upon Pilers 23 Jun – 31 Dec, 00:00 – 18:00 Aldgate, City of London, London, Greater London EC3N, UK
  Paleys upon Pilers marks the spot of Aldgate and its disting… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations, Talks and Debates, Screening and Performances and Other Activities Hoxton Square - 'WEATHER - IT'S RAINING OR NOT:......' 07 Jul – 08 Jul, 12:00 – 20:30
  RIBA London as part of the London Festival of Architecture i… more »
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  Other Activities £5 Discount at RIBA Bookshops 01 May – 31 Aug, 00:00 – 00:00 RIBA Bookshop, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD
  RIBA Bookshops are Europe’s leading specialist booksellers w… more »
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  Exhibitions & Installations MINIMAL COMPLEXITIES 21 Jun – 23 Sep, 02:00 – 09:00 51 Scruttton Street, London, EC2A 4PJ, United Kingdom
  MINIMAL COMPLEXITIES by VLAD TENU Supported by Surface, M… more »