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This weekend, 22–23 September 2018, a number of London’s ordinarily private buildings, landmarks and residences, will be open to the public. Directed by Rory Olcayto, critic and editor of the Architects’ Journal, Open House was started in 1992 as a non-profit organisation to promote public awareness and appreciation of the capital’s design and architecture. The annual event unlocks London’s unique buildings to visitors who don’t otherwise have access to them. The concept, which was initiated by Open-City over twenty years ago has now extended to thirty locations worldwide, including New York, Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Rome, Helsinki, and Chicago. From hidden homes to monolithic towers, Something Curated takes a look at the best on offer at this year’s Open House London.

 

Black Stone House || 6a architects

(via 6a architects)

The concrete framed structure of this apartment building adjusts to its irregularly shaped corner plot. Exposed beams and columns support lime-washed interiors and a scratched stucco facade forms an abstract expression to the street. Although spatially individual, the three apartments share common themes, variations of which play out over all four floors. The concrete frame and slabs are the raw canvas on which lime-slurried walls, Douglas-fir plywood and ceramics add informal texture and warmth.

155 Wilberforce Rd, N4 2SX

  

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir || C B Sompura

(via Pinterest)

Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple is a masterpiece of exquisite Indian craftsmanship. Using 5,000 tonnes of Italian and Indian marble and the finest Bulgarian limestone, designed by celebrated temple architect C B Sompura, it was hand-carved in India before being assembled in London.

105-119 Brentfield Road, Neasden, NW10 8LD

 

Burlington House: Linnean Society of London || Banks & Barry

The Linnean Society of London occupies a unique and prominent location on Piccadilly, and is one of the five Learned Societies occupying the Courtyard of Burlington House. As well as providing a home for its collections and a handsome location to host meetings and events, the Society has always offered the wider academic communities access to these Rooms, recognising this as a contribution towards communication and exchange of ideas in the biological sciences.

Piccadilly, W1J 0BF

 

Tin House || Henning Stummel Architects

(via Henning Stummel Architects)

Making efficient use of an irregular urban site, this house is made up of interconnecting top-lit pavilions arranged to define a serene private courtyard. Each pavilion accommodates a room and has a roof that slopes on all four sides with a top light over the middle. This shape reduces the contour, whilst maximizing the volume, while the top opening offers abundant natural light.

Smugglers Yard, Devonport Road W12 8PB, W12 8PB

 

A Ruskinian Walk Through Shared Heritage || Acton Borough Engineer

(via Open House)

A history focussed community trail across three centuries, this walk takes its cue from John Ruskin’s holistic vision of citizens’ duty to posterity. It starts at the RIBA Award winning Chiswick Park Business Estate by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, moving onto South Acton Residential Estate, now resident-governed and William Morris themed, followed by ‘Soapsud Island’, birthplace of minimalist Patrick Caulfield, and much more.

Chiswick Business Park, 566, Chiswick High Road, W4 5YA

 

Roca London Gallery || Zaha Hadid Architects

(via Roca)

Located at Chelsea Harbor, this 1,100m2 showroom space was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects for the Spanish bathroom brand Roca. The formal language mimicked that of water, with Zaha’s typical sinuous, undulating style taking on a particularly holistic character. As the current of the building ebbs and flows in a series of connected motions, the facade and interior fold over upon each other, effectively merged by the sculpted white concrete on either side.

Station Court, Townmead Road, SW6 2PY

 

Sunken Bath Project || Gary Tynan & Studio 304

(via Pinterest)

Studio 304’s Sunken Bath Project adds a new kitchen, dining area, toilet and bathroom to a ground-floor apartment within a terraced period property. The materials used on the project were chosen to age well over time. The larch slats used extensively in the gardens are in the process of weathering to a silver-grey, while the copper used in the kitchen and dining space has developed a patina with use.

Ground Floor Flat, 33 Dunlace Road, E5 0NF

 

The Leadenhall Building || Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

(via Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners)

This 51-storey tower opposite Lloyd’s of London rises to a height of 225 metres, its slender form creating its own distinctive profile within an emerging cluster of tall buildings in this part of the City. Although the tower occupies the entire site, the scheme delivers an unprecedented allocation of public space – the lower levels are recessed on a raking diagonal to create a sun-lit seven storey high space complete with shops, and soft landscaped public space.

Level 14, 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB

 

Alexandra Palace || John Johnson & A Meeson

(via Pinterest)

Alexandra Palace was one of several grand leisure buildings constructed during the 19th century and is one of the few to survive to the present day. The Palace opened its doors to the public on 24 May 1873 as the “home of rational recreation and education”. Attracting over 120,000 people over the first two weeks hopes were high for its future success. Disaster struck just 16 days after opening when a fire destroyed the entire building. That afternoon the management team approved the rebuild; the second Palace opened just 2 years later on 1 May 1875.

Transmitter Hall, South Terrace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY

 

Feature image via Henning Stummel Architects

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