The idea that everyone should be able to access inspiring architecture – and that doors should literally be flung open to allow that to happen – began in 1992 with the first Open House Festival in London. The concept has now spread to cities across the world, but the annual event in our capital is continuing to grow and offer ever more accessibility. This year’s programme runs from 13-21 September and is incredibly wide in its scope.
From important public buildings to heritage spaces, private studios and modern residential gems, there’s something to intrigue every design and architecture fan across 33 London boroughs. Choose from simple drop-in visits or search out the many guided tours and walking tours that the Festival, run by the Open City charity, organise.
‘Some of my favourite Open House Festival visits have been to people’s beautiful homes,’ says Hafsa Adan, Open House Festival Curator. ‘I love that all of these are open for drop-in visitors, it makes the festival feel so welcoming and spontaneous.’ For this selection we have focused on contemporary homes that are new to the Open City London map. Bookings open today, so happy exploring…
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Terzetto house by ConForm Architects, West Hampstead
Anyone looking for extension ideas could do no better than this apartment by ConForm Architects that’s part of a Victorian mansion block. Intended to increase its owners’ connection with their garden, its form mimics the structure of a traditional bay window (a plinth, column and pediment) but architecturally modernised and realised in a carefully selected trio of materials: concrete, green terrazzo and clay plaster.
Framing views and vastly increasing the natural light in the living areas, this is a project that’s sure to inspire people looking to rethink a period property. Book your ticket
A Living Wonderland by Irenie Studio, De Beauvoir Square
Renovating this beautiful Neo-Jacobean house was about more than a simple design project for founder Irenie Cossey. Her intent was to create a place that could act as a collaborative jumping off point for a community of young designers. Many – including furniture designer Rio Koboyashi who designed the ‘On The Square’ dining table using fireplaces and shelving salvaged from the house’s build – have created furniture, lighting and artwork in reaction to the space, which some of them resided and partied in during the work. Other notable names lured in by the spirit of the scheme include Bethan Laura Wood, Martino Gamper and textile artist Tomoyo Tsurumi.
Now completed, entering is, as Cossey intended, like falling down the rabbit hole into a home filled with colour, creativity and thoughtful details. Book your ticket
Catching Sun House by Studioshaw, Walthamstow
If you need proof that even a small plot of land can be turned into a memorable home, visit this home belonging to architect Mark Shaw, founding director of Studioshaw. Taking the footprint of a former MOT garage, he began working on a new-build that would slot in amongst the surrounding homes – he spent a year negotiating 27 different party wall agreements. The final build includes an upper level (used as an office) that’s like a small viewing platform, looking out to Hackney Marshes.
We visited this home back in 2021, when Shaw shared insight on the design process and his architectural inspirations. It’s wonderful to see how the property’s courtyards have flourished since that first visit, creating an urban jungle retreat. Book your ticket
Bancroft and Wickford Street by Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects, Bethnal Green
We all know that the government is focused on increasing the amount of affordable housing in the UK, but whether that push always results in properties that enrich the communities around them is up for debate. If you are looking for a project that gets the balance right, these 33 new apartments across two buildings are a good place to start. Having listened to locals before work began, its architects provide the answers the area needs, with accessible apartments and family homes that purposefully face out towards a new park.
There’s also space for The Women’s Integration Team, which is dedicated to improving the lives of Somali women in London, providing translation services, support and community integration. Book your ticket
Hands-on home by Natallia Tanko, Forest Hill
For the majority of us, a DIY job might involve putting up some shelves or repainting the hallway. If presented with the idea of building our own home, with the help of grandparents and kids, we may laugh or run a mile. Not Natallia Tanko. She and her family renovated a 1970s London house, by hand, over the course of five years. The results are functional and fascinating.
‘Living through this process gave me a deep appreciation for what it truly takes to create a home,’ she says. ‘It taught me how to design within budget constraints, balance work and family, and approach building challenges with creativity and joy.’ Book your ticket
