London Open House - 8 to 21 September 2022

[Puddy_Tat]

London Open House is not a weekend this year, it will run from Thursday 8 to Wednesday 21 September, so there's 2 weekends.

Currently open for individuals / organisations to express an interest in their building / site / whatever taking part

more here

 

[marty21]

This might be very popular ! I'll definitely try to go to some stuff , can't remember , did they have virtual ones in the last 2 years?

 

[Puddy_Tat]

i think it was part virtual and a few things open / socially distant / outdoor only the last two years - i didn't get involved due to work (i was working more hours than usual through the plague) / not feeling comfortable mixing with people any more than was absolutely necessary

 

[Puddy_Tat]

the printed guide book for Open House weekend is back this year - available at reduced price until 1 august

Open House Festival Guide 2022

LIMITED TIME ONLY - PRE-ORDER THE REBOOTED FESTIVAL GUIDE WITH SPECIAL PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT BY 1 AUGUST After a two year pandemic-induced hiatus, the rebooted festival guide is back, brimming with openings and events that will be running for the 2022 festival. This guide is not only an insight...

shop.open-city.org.uk

volunteer slots for being a steward somewhere open early august. i might just manage it this year...

for anyone considering it, it's generally in half day chunks, you're not expected to be expert on the place you go, but a bit of homework is helpful (you can volunteer as a guide if you can do a bit more preparation.) - i've tended to go for small - medium sized places where they need a few extra people to help with front of house stuff, rather than going and doing queue control at one of the big ticket places.

in past years, volunteering has meant you get a free copy of the printed guide, and in theory you can get priority entry to places (but not the pre-book / draw names out of a hat ones) but i've not tried the latter.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Programme released today

Open House Festival

programme.openhouse.org.uk

 

[Skim]

i think it was part virtual and a few things open / socially distant / outdoor only the last two years - i didn't get involved due to work (i was working more hours than usual through the plague) / not feeling comfortable mixing with people any more than was absolutely necessary

I went on an Open City bike tour winding through south London, starting at Streatham and ending up at Dawson’s Hill in East Dulwich, looking at different housing developments. Really enjoyed it and must do again sometime.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Does anyone else do the volunteer thing over open house weekend(s)?

Message on the website is that volunteer steward slots will be released 'at the start of August' and that existing volunteers would be contacted then.

It's now end of august, and i've heard bugger all, and the 'volunteer dashboard' thing on their website gets an error message

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It's now end of august, and i've heard bugger all, and the 'volunteer dashboard' thing on their website gets an error message

Following a gentle e-mail enquiring wtf is going on (and i suspect similar from others) they seem to have got it partly sorted out, although it's a bit awkward compared to past years.

All I need to do now is work out what I can commit to round other things and probable rail strikes on saturday 17th

On another tack, the 'municipal dreams' blog has done a summary of the housing schemes taking part in the event.

 

[Gramsci]

Does anyone else do the volunteer thing over open house weekend(s)?

Message on the website is that volunteer steward slots will be released 'at the start of August' and that existing volunteers would be contacted then.

It's now end of august, and i've heard bugger all, and the 'volunteer dashboard' thing on their website gets an error message

I did for the Brixton Recreation Centre

Brixton Recreation Centre

Brixton Recreation Centre is one of the earliest to combine sports and leisure facilities with urban amenities. It has become the social centre for the community and much-valued in the locality. The Rec is seen as a place for everyone.

programme.openhouse.org.uk

Organised by MUF architects and Brixton Rec Users Group.

Brixton Recreation Centre

Brixton Recreation Centre is one of the earliest to combine sports and leisure facilities with urban amenities. It has become the social centre for the community and much-valued in the locality. The Rec is seen as a place for everyone.

programme.openhouse.org.uk

Brixton Recreation Centre, Non Civil Parish - 1436440 | Historic England

List entry 1436440. Grade II Listed Building: Brixton Recreation Centre. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.

historicengland.org.uk

Its Grade two listed building. Which BRUG and 20th century society lobbied for. ( Council opposed it.}

First time its been done. MUF architects did the organising for with Open House and we gave tours.

The listing included interior of building. The massive atrium. swimming pool etc.

Its been a fight to get the Council to keep the building. They now accept for the time being its importance.

The design is post war socialist architecture. Designed in the seventies but not finished until mid 80s. The sheer size of it is not something one would get now.

It was built to encourage mixing and untypical of most leisure centres. Activities take place off the main cathedral like atrium which runs from the basement to top of building.

The swimming pool is on first floor with large windows and roof lights.

We took people around in groups on tour.

Had a mixture of people on the tour. From local residents to architect students. I wasn't sure if people would come or it would work.
Turned out to be a success. I'm heartened that the building is interesting to people.

 

[blossie33]

I volunteered for Antepavilion at Hoxton Dock, where the Hackney sharks live

Antepavilion

www.antepavilion.org

There was an interesting incident just across the canal while I was there, we saw a number of police standing around and a hand gun and a rifle were pulled out of the water