London Festival of Architecture

Credit: "London Festival of Architecture" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by erase

From the Bank of England’s walking tours and Brookfield Properties’ Summer Pavilions in the heart of the city, to HTA’s conversations on rediscovering the water’s edge at Eden Dock in Canary Wharf, London is buzzing with activity as the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) brings life to the city’s streets, studios and plazas.

By now, many of you will have noticed – or even taken part in – the festival’s wide-ranging programme. With over 450 events across London, this year’s theme, Voices, invites us to listen more closely to the stories behind our buildings, the communities shaping our neighbourhoods, and the ideas reimagining how we live and work together.

If you haven’t had a chance to catch the programme yet, don’t worry, June’s programme is far from over and there’s still a rich line-up of exhibitions, talks, workshops, tours and performances ahead — here are a few we think are worth watching out for.

Black Females in Architecture (BFA) and DēpART are presenting their debut exhibition, Earth, Memory and the Spaces We Inhabit, throughout June. Hosted at NOW Gallery in Greenwhich, the exhibition is a powerful exploration of matrilineal legacies, diasporic heritage and spatial storytelling through sound, sculpture and architectural interventions. Also in NOW Gallery, Architecture and Migration, curated by Somali Architecture and Somali Sideways, explores the preservation of Somali heritage and how displaced communities can rebuild while maintaining deep connections to their cultural identity and homeland.

Meanwhile, across the City, the Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings exhibition at Sir John Soane's Museum opens to the public this Friday. Talking Buildings is an exhibition showcasing Richard Rogers’ most iconic projects from 1967 to 2020, offering a glimpse into how his buildings brought his social, environmental and political beliefs to life.

You can also tag along on tours such as Material Walks, which provide guided explorations of London’s built world. Material Walks aims to reveal the hidden narratives, historic context and sustainability aspects behind the matrials used in construction and design within the city, encouraging participants to engage with the city through its textures and surfaces.

Or, for something a little different, you can join the London Loo Tour, which takes a playful yet insightful look at public toilets as spaces that reflect identity, accessibility and cultural norms, inviting participants to see them in a new social light.

Perhaps you're drawn to the rhythm of the city itself? Symphony of Lights: Voices of London Women invites you to immerse yourself in a dynamic fusion of dance, music, storytelling and light. These powerful performances celebrate the strength and cultural identity of women across London, transforming public spaces in Barnet into vibrant stages for empowerment, reflection and community engagement.

To learn more about the ongoing programme and events, click below.