London’s biggest free architecture festival is back this weekend, granting us temporary freedom to snoop around over 800 remarkable buildings across the city. From charmingly reworked family homes to award-winning visions for offices, arts centres and schools, this year’s Open House programme captures the diversity of living, working and playing spaces across the capital.
Key destinations this year include the Royal Opera House, where the hoardings have just come down on a major building project that’s been three years in the making. Ushering in a more accessible experience for all visitors, its ‘Open Up’ project has radically transformed parts of the iconic venue, and you can be among the first to explore the revitalised front-of-house spaces, as well as the newly-refurbished Linbury Theatre – billed as the West End’s newest, most intimate theatre. This will be the first time the Opera House has taken part in Open House in 15 years, so it’s a good one to catch if you’re going Central.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of home inspo, there’s also an opportunity to indulge in some serious property porn by following the Design for Living trail curated by Open House. Here, you’ll find some of London’s most desirable narrowboats, a former science lab converted into a spacious 4-bed complete with ‘green’ roof terrace, and an Islington micro-flat that pushes the concept of space saving to its absolute limits.
Full event info here.
