Open City

This is the first audio tour of a two-part series led by architect and Royal Academician Eric Parry visiting London’s two historic cities: Westminster and the City of LondonEric Parry Architects (EPA) is responsible for the designing of some of the most significant projects in London today with many of its most important architectural works clustered in the City of London and Westminster. Open City has worked with EPA to create a two-part series of print and audio tours celebrating this contribution.This tour focusses on Westminster where the company is renowned for a number of cultural projects involving sensitive historic buildings such as the restoration of St. John's Church in Waterloo, and the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. From buildings adorned with public art by Turner Prize winning artists, to sculptural faience facades, warped windows, and specialist ecclesiastical furniture, to once-in-a-century reorganisations of historic churches and renovations of elegant corner buildings. How have Eric Parry’s projects transformed the City of Westminster?This tour tells its story...THE ROUTE:Listening Point 1 - 50 New Bond Street & 14 St George StreetArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 2 - Maddox StreetArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 3 - 23 Savile RowArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 4 - The AlbanyArchitect: Sir William ChambersListening Point 5 - One Eagle PlaceArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 6 - 8 St James's SquareArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 7 - Pall MallListening Point 8 - St Martin in the FieldsArchitect: James GibbsListening Point 9 - St Johns Church WaterlooArchitect: Francis Bedford (original building), Eric Parry Architects (2022 restoration) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin speaks to Prudence Ivey, Editor of Homes and Property at the Evening Standard, and guest curator of the Open House Festival.// Thames Water sinking under more than £14 billion pounds of debt // HSBC to vacate iconic Canary Wharf skyscraper // Low income renters left with nowhere to live amid unaffordability crisis // And most UK rail ticket offices set to close within weeks //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Marsha speaks to Professor Debbie Bartlett from The Cool Towns Project, and Clare Penny who is course leader for Landscape Architecture at the University of East London. Through conversations around two big 21st century issues: loneliness and heatwaves, they explore how landscape architecture can play a vital role in making cities more hospitable on every scale.To read their articles and all the others in this edition, you can find an online version of Landscape for free here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin speaks to the architectural critic and the blogger behind McMansion Hell - Kate Wagner.// Prince William vows to build social housing and end homelessness // Acclaimed London housing activist Kwajo refuses an MBE // Backlash over the closure of communal barbecue pits in Burgess Park // And how UK homes are becoming ‘lethal furnaces’ in heatwaves //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show Phin speaks to the architecture critic, incoming chair of heritage campaign group Twentieth Century Society, and author of the new book ‘About Architecture: An Essential Guide in 55 Buildings’ - Hugh Pearman.// Architects issue an open letter to design journalists over the climate crisis // Conservationists' listing bid for Peckham Library rebuffed // Residents with communal heating see energy bills soar by 350 percent // And big changes approved for two iconic 1980s London locations // Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin speaks to the journalist and author of the powerful account of the Grenfell disaster ‘Show Me the Bodies’, Peter Apps.// Six years on from Grenfell – we ask why housing is still in crisis // Labour pledges discount land sales for local authority housebuilders // RIBA calls for urgent government action on crumbling hospitals // And how climate crisis could force a billion from their homes worldwideClick here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode the Landscape Institute's Neelam Sheemar speaks to Glen Macfarlane and Pierre Chin-Dickey from Macfarlane + Associates, and the writer and landscape architect Jill White.They discuss the power of design in making spaces feel welcoming, safe, and ultimately inclusive to all. Through conversations around signs and a new piece of child-friendly public realm on the site of the former Ilford photographic factory in Redbridge, they cover how designing for one group can risk alienating others, the balance between signage and natural way-finding, the power of speaking to the community, landscape architecture education and much more.To read their articles and all the others in this edition, you can find an online version of Landscape for free here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Fran speaks to the architect, writer and producer Ewa Effiom.// Close to five million adults living with parents amid the housing crisis // A row over nightime closures of London’s finest skyline viewing point – Primrose Hill // Road safety campaigners call out politicians for normalising dangerous driving // And the world’s largest architecture festival opens in Venice // Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin travels to Venice to catch up with Jayden Ali, one of the curators for the British Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.// The British Pavilion shines a light on everyday urban customs at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale // Resident accuses a south London estate regeneration of ‘social cleansing’ in high court battle // BikeStormz under threat due to moral panic and unfair policing // And campaigners fight back over council bid to remove their plant pots //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sahiba speaks to Open House Festival assistant curator Hafsa Adan.// With four months to go Open House Festival announces its guest curators // A row erupts over the mass arrests of anti-Coronation protesters // The Museum of London is on target for a delayed 2026 opening // And should people who keep their gardens green receive a tax cut? //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.