London 2012 architecture events lack focus
One of London's protected views
Source: Peter Smith / St Paul’s Cathedral.Three-month frenzy kicks off next week with the London Festival of Architecture
As London gears up for its biggest-ever celebration of architecture, critics have complained it lacks focus.
Hundreds of events will be held across the capital, which fall within the London 2012 Festival, part of the Cultural Olympiad.
The three-month frenzy runs from June to September and is book-ended by the London Festival of Architecture, which kicks off on June 23, and the London Design Festival and Open House weekend.
Among the first events is next weekend’s Junior Open House. Open-City director Victoria Thornton said: “It [the architecture events] might look less coherent but the important thing is to flag up architecture as part of the culture of the city.
“It sounds like there’s this cacophony going on all summer but in the wider context, architecture is a minor part of it. It’s barely on the Richter scale.”
BD understands the emphasis of the London 2012 Festival was on performance and outdoor events, with little interest in static culture such as the built environment.
For example, Thornton said that attempts to persuade the Department of Culture to provide Olympic visitors with leaflets on the venues’ architecture had failed.
Also stretching across the summer is the British Council’s International Architecture & Design Showcase, which involves more than 50 embassies and cultural institutions, highlighting the work of architects from countries as diverse as Peru and Kenya.
The programme includes talks and debates as well as group exhibitions on subjects such shifts in urban ideas around the world.
Highlights from the festivals include:
- London Pleasure Gardens at the Royal Docks. Series of “meanwhile” pavilions and follies by young British practices including Foster Lomas and Studio Squat.
- London’s first Velonotte. A night cycle through east London guided by Peter Ackroyd, Peter Murray and David Adjaye.
- Nolympics. Exhibition of unrealised Dutch Olympic architecture by practices such as BDP, KCAP and MVRDV, amongst others.
- Architecture of Change. Westminster University will be transformed with a tensile structure of seed-lined cotton threads under which the effect on architecture of radical change in five countries will be explored.
- A planning meeting held in a Vauxhall roller disco.
Postscript:
www.britishcouncil.org/new/london-2012/British-Council-Programme/programmes/International-Showcase/
http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/junior/johf.html
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Readers' comments (2)
"attempts to persuade the Department of Culture to provide Olympic visitors with leaflets on the venues’ architecture had failed." Perhaps that's in case anyone becomes too fond of them. When the thing turns out to be utterly unsustainable they can be demolished. Did someone say 'Department of Culture?' Bread and circuses - who needs information or education?
Not quite sure the headline reflects the story - but what's a bit of sloppy sub editing between friends? I think the huge range of the Festival this year reflects the amazing diversity and creativity of architects in the capital - from West londoners trying to bury the horrid A4 read and create civilised streets to Studio Weave commemorating the historic gates of the City to the East. www.lfa2012.org