Everyone loves a good architecture festival. These events help connect people with the world of design and architecture by offering opportunities for the public to attend talks, go on guided walks and see thought-provoking installations. This helps bridge the gap between the built environment profession and the public. “Festivals are important because they bring people together to celebrate and generate new ideas,” says Gurmeet Sian, founder of Office Sian. As a member of this year's London Festival of Architecture curation panel, Sian helped shape the programme for one of the capital's most ambitious design showcases. But what are the expected takeaways from the LFA?

The London Festival of Architecture is a month-long celebration held every June. Since 2004, its mission has been to widen access to the built environment, test new ideas and discover emerging talent. It has provided a platform for many designers such as Yinka Ilori who worked with Pricegore to create the iconic Dulwich Pavilion in 2019. Over the past 20 years, the LFA has hosted countless walking tours, competitions and exhibitions with this year seeing over 450 events. “The variety of events, from talks to tours to panel discussions to workshops is exciting as it allows people to pick and choose what works for them,” says Sian, adding that the month-long festival also “allows for events to be accessible to a wide range of people.”

"The festival’s format has been changing and adapting across the years, from being a weeklong biannual event in Clerkenwell to an annual city-wide festival,” explains the Director of the London Festival of Architecture, Rosa Rogina. This year, the LFA additionally shone a spotlight on outer London Boroughs such as Sutton, Barnet and Haringey. In Sutton, the LFA hosted a guided tour of Oru Sutton designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects and Vibushan Thirukumar. Formerly the iconic BHS store, this building is now an impressive workspace and cultural hub. Meanwhile, in Barnet, London-based practices Power Out of Restriction (POoR) and GPAD worked with the LFA and Barnet Council to complete a colourful uplift of the dilapidated Copthall Pavilion. In Haringey, several events platformed young people, from a panel talk by teenagers from Rising Green Youth Club in Wood Green to an exhibition trail by students from John Dewey Specialist College leading to Alexandra Palace. “Our hope is that through successful partnerships and working across London’s boroughs, we can engage as broad an audience as possible to create a better London for all,” states Rogina. While it would seem obvious to focus on the centre of the city where there is more activity, LFA has boldly looked at ways to activate spaces along the periphery of London. Focusing on lesser-known areas and sites alongside the more known ones brings a freshness to the festival, but also helps to add new voices to the built environment industry.

Each year, the festival has a different theme, this year’s theme being 'Reimagine'. “We called for London’s boroughs, BIDs, architects and communities to reimagine public spaces and put people back at the heart of the city. We want everyone to have a voice about the public space and built environment in which they live, work, and explore every day,” Rogina explains. The theme seems appropriate given the climate crisis, the current cost of living and people feeling as if they do not have much say as the city rapidly changes around them. However, everyone seems to be talking about these topics in a sense, especially as the UK is fresh off the heels of a general election. So, what makes the LFA different from any other festival?

Unlike larger, commercial events, at face value, it seems that LFA operates on a much smaller budget. It doesn’t resemble a sprawling trade fair or a big brand event but feels more like a grassroots festival by and for the people. That is not to diminish its quality, as it can still compete with the bigger, shinier festivals. It is an ever-changing beast that seems to respond to the people who engage with it. During the LFA, it always feels like people are there because they genuinely care about the built environment. They may not be architects or designers themselves, but see the power of architecture in the city and how it can mould their day-to-day experiences. They also see the power of activating public spaces and community-focused initiatives. Interestingly, like many of the other bigger events, LFA also has its fair share of late evenings, gatherings, and social events. However, these have a very clear community focus and don’t feel highly exclusive. Another strong aspect of LFA this year is the family programme. Community pop-ups in North Finchley boasted dance performances, creative workshops and local entertainment. It’s quite rare to find a festival that caters to families, especially young people, but LFA seems to do this well through specific workshops, activities and tours. This in turn helps make architecture feel accessible to people of all ages.

Another thing that feels very community-focused is Studio Lates. These were a great way to meet people while visiting different architecture offices. For LFA 2024, attendees could see HTA Design’s breathtaking repurposed office in Hackney Wick and look at intricate models at Gort Scott’s retrofitted Bermondsey studio. It’s always fascinating to see how different designers work and get a sneak peek of their upcoming projects. These offices are generally not open to the public, so the LFA’s programming this year has, in some ways, helped bridge the gap between practices and the public.

However, if visiting offices doesn't scratch an itch, there were also many pavilions that one could have visited. I managed to see the timber Dalston Pavilion by the London School of Architecture, the colourful Play Place by Delve Architects and the vibrant Radial by Foster + Partners, among other play-inducing urban installations. Like previous years, it was interesting to see how low-cost installations can help start forward-thinking dialogues about public space, how we occupy it and who contributes to it. The Dalston Pavilion, for instance, got attendees talking about why young people should have opportunities to build and design installations across the city.

Over the years, LFA Competitions have helped deliver some of the most striking and impressive projects in London. Every year, I am excited to see what the winners of the Pews and Perches competition do on the Royal Docks and this year too, I was impressed by 66C02 by Panta Rhei Collaborative and Miles Dean, Submarine Cranes by Studio Green and From Trash to Treasure by Katie Fisher and Siraaj Mitha. The competition genuinely platforms emerging designers and is a breath of fresh air as it is an opportunity to shine a light on new creatives.

The London Festival of Architecture, year after year, enriches the city by giving everyone access to architectural discourse through stunning installations, interesting talks and powerful activations. Since its inception, the LFA has continuously evolved, offering a platform to celebrate, critique and challenge the built environment. Its community-focused ethos carefully sets it apart from much larger brand-orientated festivals which often feel like spectacles. In a city as dynamic and diverse as London, LFA has long played a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable capital.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of STIR or its editors.)