London Festival of Architecture 2024: Making architecture more accessible

Everyone loves a good architecture festival. These events help people connect with the world of design and architecture, offering the public opportunities to participate in talks, take guided walks and see thought-provoking installations. This helps bridge the gap between the built environment profession and the public. “Festivals are important because they bring people together to celebrate and generate new ideas,” says Gurmeet Sian, founder of Office Sian. As a member of the curatorial committee for this year’s London Festival of Architecture, Sian helped shape the program for one of the capital’s most ambitious design showcases. But what are the expected conclusions from the LFA?

The London Festival of Architecture is a month-long celebration that takes place every June. Since 2004, its mission has been to expand access to the built environment, test new ideas and discover emerging talent. It has provided a platform for many designers, such as Yinka Ilori, who worked with Pricegore to create the iconic Dulwich Pavilion in 2019. Over the past 20 years, LFA has hosted countless tours, competitions and exhibitions, with over 450 events in This year. “The variety of events, from talks to tours to talks to workshops is exciting because it allows people to pick and choose what works for them,” says Sian, adding that the month-long festival “also allows for events to be accessible to a wide range of people.”

“The format of the festival has changed and adapted over the years, from being a bi-annual week-long event in Clerkenwell to an annual city-wide festival,” explains London Architecture Festival director Rosa Rogina. This year, the LFA shined extra bright. A spotlight on boroughs outside of London such as Sutton, Barnet and Haringey. In Sutton, LFA hosted a guided tour of Oru Sutton, designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects and Vibushan Thirukumar Meanwhile, in Barnet, London practices Power Out of Restriction (POoR) and GPAD worked with LFA and Barnet Council to complete a colorful face-lift of Haringey’s dilapidated Copthall Pavilion, several events Teenage talk from Rising Green Youth Club in Wood Green to a student exhibition route from John Dewey Specialist College leading to Alexandra Palace ‘Our hope is that, through successful partnerships and working in London’s boroughs, to be able to engage as wide an audience as possible. to create a better London for all”, says Rogina. While it would seem obvious to focus on the city center where there is more activity, LFA has boldly sought ways to activate spaces along London’s fringes. The focus on lesser-known areas and sites alongside the more well-known brings a freshness to the festival, but also helps to add new voices to the built environment industry.

Each year the festival has a different theme, this year’s theme being ‘Reimagine’. “We asked London’s boroughs, BIDs, architects and communities to reimagine public spaces and bring people back to the heart of the city. We want everyone to have a voice about the public space and built environment in which they live, work and explore every day,” explains Rogina. The theme seems appropriate given the climate crisis, the current cost of living, and people feeling like they don’t have much to say as the city changes rapidly around them. However, everyone seems to be talking about these topics in some capacity, especially as the UK is fresh from a general election. So what makes LFA different from any other festival?

Unlike the larger, commercial events at face value, LFA appears to operate on a much smaller budget. It doesn’t feel like a sprawling trade show or big brand event, but rather feels like a grassroots festival by and for the people. That’s not to diminish its quality, as it can still compete with the bigger, flashier festivals. It’s an ever-changing beast that seems to respond to the people who engage with it. During LFA, it always feels like people are there because they really care about the built environment. They may not be architects or designers themselves, but they see the power of architecture in the city and how it can shape their everyday experiences. They also see the power of activating public spaces and community-focused initiatives. Interestingly, like many of the other larger events, LFA also has its fair share of late nights, gatherings and social events. However, they have a very clear focus on community and don’t feel overly exclusive. Another strong aspect of LFA this year is the family program. North Finchley’s community pop-ups boasted dance performances, creative workshops and local entertainment. It’s pretty rare to find a festival that caters to families, especially young people, but LFA seems to do it well with specific workshops, activities and tours. This, in turn, makes the architecture feel accessible to people of all ages.

Another thing that feels very community focused is Studio Lates. These were a great way to meet people while visiting different architecture offices. For LFA 2024, attendees were able to see HTA Design’s stunning repurposed office in Hackney Wick and look at complex designs at Gort Scott’s modernized Bermondsey studio. It’s always fascinating to see how different designers work and get a glimpse of their upcoming projects. These offices are not generally open to the public, so this year’s LFA programming went some way to bridging the gap between practices and the public.

However, if visiting the offices doesn’t scratch an itch, there were also many pavilions to visit. I was able to see the wooden Dalston Pavilion at the London School of Architecture, in colour The playground by Delve Architects and vibrant Radial by Foster + Partners, among other play-inducing urban installations. As in previous years, it was interesting to see how low-cost installations can help start insightful dialogues about public space, how we occupy it and who contributes to it. The Dalston Pavilion, for example, got participants talking about why young people should have opportunities to build and design installations in the city.

Over the years, LFA Competitions have helped deliver some of London’s most striking and impressive projects. Every year I am delighted to see what the winners of the Pews and Perches competition are up to on the Royal Docks and this year too I was impressed by 66C02 by Panta Rhei Collaborative and Miles Dean, Submarine cranes by Studio Green and From trash to treasure by Katie Fisher and Siraaj Mitha. The competition creates platforms for emerging designers and is a breath of fresh air as it is an opportunity to shine a light on new creatives.

Year after year, the London Festival of Architecture enriches the city by giving everyone access to the architectural discourse through stunning installations, engaging talks and powerful activations. Since its inception, LFA has continuously evolved, providing a platform to celebrate, critique and challenge the built environment. Its community-focused ethos carefully sets it apart from much larger, brand-driven festivals that often feel like spectacles. In a city as dynamic and diverse as London, LFA has long played a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable capital.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of STIR or its publishers.)