Call to Action

The first day of the London Festival of Architecture begins with a call to action. We, residents and visitors alike, are encouraged to be ‘active participants in the city’ and there is so much to see and do in this year’s festival it’s just a matter of shutting down your laptop and choosing your preferred mode of travel.  If cycling is your thing the Considerate Cyclists’ Concours d’Elegance provides the perfect opportunity to experience the city at speed. For those that prefer a slower pace there are a variety of walking tours where you can sightsee with the experts. What better way to see King’s Cross than with Stanton Williams; authors of some of London’s most elegant architecture?

At the AA, we’re exploring the theme of ‘community’ with Stories from Ostrava; a collaboration with the Czech Centre that initiated a film by students Veronika Janovcova and Timothy O’Hare detailing the transition of a decommissioned ironworks from industry to culture. Alongside the film, the AA Gallery will host a series of photographs by Ostrava born photographer Viktor Kolář.

London’s architecture degree shows happily coincide with the LFA and prove that London’s the best city in the world to study architecture. I’m biased, but the AA’s Projects Review shouldn’t be missed.

My favourite activists; the brilliant Edible Bus Stop, will be turning Thessaly Road into an edible avenue boasting fruit bushes, trailing plants, edible flowers and herbs. At a time when planting is in danger of becoming a profit enhancing exercise for developers, Edible Bus Stop make truly democratic neighbourhood spaces.

If at the end of the first day the thought of all that activity has exhausted you, have a sit down; the LFA website provides hours of happy trawling with the whole of our wonderful city laid out before you.