The London Festival of Architecture (LFA), a month-long showcase of the best the capital has to offer in design, is going digital for the first time – with a packed programme of online events starting Monday 1 June.
Expect quick-fire sketching sessions with top architects, design surgeries, pub quizzes, talks and – a festival favourite – the annual Architecture Bake Off competition.
Models of city skyscrapers will be carved out of sponge and the capital’s historical sites reconstructed from gingerbread stacks – so here’s your chance to let your architectural-culinary imagination loose on the landmarks of London.
The festival usually sees thousands of Londoners explore the streets of the capital throughout June – its own rich architecture providing the perfect backdrop for hundreds of events.
The director of London Festival of Architecture, Tamsie Thomson said: “LFA Digital is full of content that is experimental, daring and challenging – but also plenty of fun.”
“This extraordinary programme for extraordinary times is designed to appeal to a global public audience, and I cannot wait for the LFA’s latest edition to begin.”
Festival organisers still hope to hold the traditional programme of physical events later this year, instead launching the LFA’s first digital edition for June.
Festival highlights
Highlights to look out for include BARE Design Studio’s #HomeVisions19 which will connect top architects with homeowners during lockdown.
Homeowners are encouraged to post photos of their spaces and dreams, with architects responding by posting quick sketches.
Design lovers will be able to buy the images, with funds raised donated to charities helping people in the Covid-19 crisis. Artwork will cost from £5 to £50. #HomeVisions19 will run from 1 to 30 June.
If getting one-to-one renovation help appeals most, don’t miss the digital design surgeries being held by award-winning architecture and interior design practice Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects at 10am on 27 June.
Thirty-minute online design appointments are on offer to help home renovators with their own makeover, extension or new-build projects. Email [email protected] to book your session.
At 7pm on 16 June, put your Zoom quiz fatigue to one side and your knowledge of the capital to the test at the Great LFA pub quiz. It’s free to join, just register beforehand.
Live from Aleppo, taking place at 2pm on 12 and 13 June, is a real-time tour of different heritage sites of the old city of Aleppo in Syria.
Architect volunteers and experts will be streaming their walk-through on Places of ARcture’s YouTube Channel then hosting a Q&A session. Free to join via here or email [email protected].
The full programme for LFA Digital (June 1-30) can be found at londonfestivalofarchitecture.org.