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.

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Hoxton Hub 7-8 July

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RIBA London is partnering with London Borough of Hackney and consulting engineers Ramboll to transform Hoxton Square with architects Harry Dobbs and interactive design studio Troika. Come out to play!
Parasol-shaped structures, from architects Harry Dobbs, playfully dotted around the square, will perform as social meetings places, for rest, play and discovery. Chameleon-like, they will respond to the visitor, at one moment creating a cozy space, or the next offering protection against the elements.
Using wireless technology, designers Troika, who have had work displayed at the Design Museum and the V&A, are creating a light installation inspired by everyday symbols used for describing the weather forecast, a theme that’s echoed by ‘The Weather Yesterday’, a tongue-in-cheek and ever-changing illuminated tribute to the British pastime of talking about the weather.

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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 »