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London Festival of Architecture 2022

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London Festival of Architecture 2022

London festival of architecture logo

The London Festival of Architecture celebrates London as the global hub for architecture and returned to the capital from 1-30 June 2022.  The festival transformed London’s neighbourhoods with a series of public events and included installations, exhibitions, talks and special events.

This year’s theme for the festival was ‘Act’ in response to the enormous social and environmental challenges we face and how these have been intensified by the impacts of the covid pandemic.  ‘‘Act’ can have multiple meanings, including questioning how architecture should act in the face of the climate emergency and social injustice; how London’s spaces and places can meet the needs of residents and communities better; and how we can all take action to make change.

 

Camden – A London Festival of Architecture Destination 2022

This year Camden was a London Festival of Architecture Destination and a key area of concentrated events and activities.  

We had participation from local groups and organisations, partners, architects and artists, who provided opportunities for local people and visitors to attend and get involved with a wealth of exciting events that recognise the architectural quality in the borough and the role our communities play in shaping our neighbourhoods.
 

Programme of events in Camden

The Camden Promenade

Throughout the month of June, there were a broad range of events and activities for everyone and included new specially commissioned installations, talks and debates, performances and tours, workshops, and family events. 

The events and activities were organised around a walking route that drew local people and visitors from the residential heart of Camden into central London, showcasing exciting new projects, our wonderful cultural assets and built heritage, as well as new work commissioned by ourselves and our partners, with a particular focus on our residents and communities. 

Image of route:

Image of route

 

Somers Town ACTS

In February we launched a design competition inviting emerging architects, landscape architects, designers, and artists to develop and submit a design proposal for a new public realm installation that will act as a focal point for events and activities in Somers Town during the festival.  The competition closed on 25th February.  

View the Somers Town Acts Competition Brief

NOOMA Studio were announced as winners in April 2022 and awarded £25,000 to develop a fully costed, feasible design that could be delivered at the end of June 2022.

Their installation ‘Phoenix Road Performing Gardens’ was installed in the last weekend of June and transformed Phoenix Road into a temporary street garden, facilitating performances and activities through pop-up installations and collaborations with local groups. 

Phoenix Road Performing Gardens showcased the spirit of the local communities in Somers Town and explored alternative scenarios for the road to be pedestrianised during a weekend-long closure on 25 and 26 June. The project will have a legacy for the neighbourhood by allowing the structures and plants to stay within Somers Town after the festival, ready to be used for other local initiatives.

Find out more about the winning proposal by NOOMA Studio

See events for Phoenix Road Performing Gardens 24-26 June 2022

Camden Design Awards

The awards celebrated and rewarded the excellent design that is being delivered in projects across all sectors of the built environment.  The deadline for entries was 1 March 2022.

View the shortlisted projects for the Camden Design Awards 2022

The winners and shortlisted projects were announced at an awards event in June 2022.