Best of the rest: the unmissable events still to come at the London Festival of Architecture 2018

Identity is the theme of the June festival — but there’s food, drink and fun, too.
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The London Festival of Architecture is well underway, with hundreds of talks, walks, film screenings and even a cake competition enthralling Londoners – and there are still two weeks to go.

The annual extravaganza, now 14 years old and the biggest of its kind in Europe, runs for the whole of June. Over 400,000 people attended last year

Identity is the official theme for 2018 and there is more to enjoy than ever.

So much so that glancing at the jam-packed programme can be overwhelming.

To make sure you don't miss the best of the rest, here is our top pick of the most unmissable events still to come:

SHOEBOXES FOR SHELTER

Get creative and help raise money for homelessness charity Shelter by making a dolls’ house in a shoebox at The Department Store in Brixton.

This drop-in workshop on June 16 is open to all ages. Bring your own shoebox if you have one but they will have spares. The shoeboxes will then be hung up to present a community and remain on display for the rest of the week. It is free to attend, but a donation will be asked for. More details here.

GET SET, BAKE!

For a bit of silly family fun head over to Guildhall Yard, EC2 from 12-4pm on June 16 to watch architects and engineers attempt to recreate iconic London buildings in cake form.

The Great Architectural Bake Off, set up in 2015 by architectural firm WATG, drew hundreds of spectators last year. Judges this time around include architect and former competitor Tom Hetherington. More details here.

Building cakes: fun for all the family in EC2 (Agnese Sanvito/WATG)
Agnese Sanvito

LUNCH IN LONDON BRIDGE

Go hungry to London Bridge Open Kitchen outside London Bridge station, where a range of local eateries and food suppliers will be serving up tasty grub from 11am-8pm on 29 and 30 June.

The pop-up is in celebration of the transport hub’s smart new brick frontage in Tooley Street. Designed by Grimshaw, it is part of a massive £1billion makeover to regenerate the old station and offer a more stream-lined experience for commuters.

Grimshaw and National Rail will also be leading walking tours of the newly reopened station on 22 June from 1-1.45pm if you fancy a lunch-time architectural foray.More details here.

GIRL POWER

Interpreted Identities is a series of follies inspired by extraordinary women past and present.

Some of London’s best design practices and artists have taken part, building one installation each, with the likes of Mary Wollstonecraft, PJ Harvey and Mary Shelley among those being honoured. Go and explore for free at Marlborough Sports Garden, Union Street, SE1.

Female space: these creative follies in are inspired by remarkabe women

SPICE THINGS UP

Scents of Shad Thames uses culinary spices in an immersive modern multisensory exhibition about the history of this once seamy and dangerous, ever-changing area of wharves and warehouses.

The experience features a virtual reality recreation of historic Shad Thames, with smells recalling the old spice warehouses. There is also photography and drawing.

It is organised by AAA Projects and runs until 23 June at Anise Gallery, 13a Shad Thames SE1.

SKETCH LONDON

No, not the Mayfair restaurant. Come and join the Londinity experience from 9am-6pm on 25 June at the Marlin Waterloo Hotel, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1. Learn how to use pencil, colours, a sketchbook and your mobile to create a beautiful London-themed video.

You will learn about the project and pick up some tips before heading out as a group to some great viewpoints and getting stuck in. Sketchbooks will be provided and admission is free. Find out more here.

HUNT OUT LONDON’S HOTTEST BENCHES

Nine new public benches designed by architecture students, recent graduates and emerging practices have been unveiled in the City – and they aren’t just any old benches. Each one is intended to liven up London.

Our favourite is built from 45,000 penny coins, with others inspired by everything from green and red stock charts to the dogs buried in Houndsditch. See how many you can find in EC3.

Count the pennies: look out for new public benches by up-and-coming designers

ONE FOR ST PAUL'S FANS

St Paul’s Gateway, a trapezoid mirrored structure suspended overhead outside St Paul’s Tube station, uses hundreds of reflective anodised aluminium poles to create glittering, surprising glimpses of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece.

By Scott Whitby Studio and Cheapside BID in association with engineer Arup, it’s sure to intrigue the pigeons.

The installation will be only be around until the end of the month, so get your Instagram snaps in sharpish.

Insta-ready: catch St Paul's at all angles for one month only
Scott Whitby Studio

DIP BACK IN TIME

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, the remains of a huge Roman mansion with well-preserved large baths with hot, warm and cold bathing rooms, was discovered in the mid 19th century.

It is accessed through an office building, with hour-long guided tours at 11am, 12pm and 1pm on 16, 23 and 30 June. Tickets cost £9 and are bookable online here.

TASTE OF VENICE

Fourthspace architectural practice is hosting a pop-up bar and restaurant called the Ombra Altana, next to Regent’s Canal. It is meant to conjure a sense of 15th century Venice, when terraces were built ad hoc on rooftops with timber and scaffolding.

Those days are evoked here in a west-facing raised terrace gussied up with Aperol-coloured imitation flowers and drapery to fling orange zing into summer. It shows what you can do with imagination and borrowed space. Find it at 1 Vyner Street, E2 all month.

Time for an aperitivo: it's all about the Aperol at Ombra Altana
Fourthspace

CLOSE TO HOME

Not keen to traipse across the capital on an architectural mission? The festival has produced a handy map pinpointing where all the excitement is happening. Simply zoom in on your area and see what’s going on where you live. You can also search by date, so check out what’s kicking off on that lazy Sunday you have at your disposal.

The programme is available at London Festival of Architecture, including details of the architects' open studios across the capital every Friday during June.

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