LFA2008 - London Festival of Architecture

The London Festival of Architecture invites people to Take a Fresh Look at London. The central theme of 'fresh' is reflected in series of events that cover all five Festival Hubs. The LFA Fresh Flower pavilion designed by Tonkin Liu Architects will serve as a mobile platform for Fresh Thinking talks; the National Architecture Student Festival showcases Fresh Talent from a dozen universities; a series of expert design workshops will take a Fresh Approach to some of London's lost quarters; our guided walks and cycle rides encourage people to explore the city in the Fresh Air; and talks about Fresh Food and urban agriculture accompany a series of urban allotment installations and a public picnic.

A broad series of talks, debates and installations during LFA2008 will challenge conventional thinking on architecture and design.

Tonkin Liu's 'Fresh Flower' has been commissioned by Corus for the LFA2008. This signature structure will provide a mobile platform for discussion and debate that will transform key public spaces during each of the five Hub public weekend events.

A strong element of the Festival will look at fresh talent in relationship to architecture in London, showcasing the work of students, young practices and international architects.

A series of student-created temporary ‘interventions’ will transform key public spaces at each of the five LFA2008 Hubs. In addition, LFA2008 have commissioned up-and-coming designers Studio Weave to design a suite of street furniture that will be produced and installed in key locations in each Hub to publicise the festival and distribute literature, maps and information.

LFA2008 will pay particular attention to taking a fresh approach to public spaces and making better connections for walking and cycling in London. Each of the public weekend events will focus on using public spaces in fresh ways to explore future possibilities.

A series of design workshops ask teams of architects, developers and students to examine areas in need of a fresh approach, including the North Euston Road, Guy’s Hospital and the Clerkenwell Green. The workshop results will be presented in public crits during the Festival.

The majority of the Festival takes place in the fresh air. Exhibitions on future designs for London will be on display in our LFA Street Gallery on railings, on hoardings and in outdoor exhibitions.

Cycle rides led by some of London’s leading architectural thinkers and doers and walking tours (both guided and DIY) will be programmed to get Festival visitors out in the fresh air to discover more about new, recent and historic architecture in each of the Hubs.

Innovative growing opportunities, debate and discussions about the development of London’s infrastructure in relation to food, the future of its markets and issues concerning food distribution and urban agriculture.

Events will include a continuous picnic through Bloomsbury, growing projects across London and demonstrations and exhibitions about urban agriculture at Cheapside Market.