Open City

This week we revisit some of our favorite climate related stories we've covered over the past yearEpisodes featured:Scientists deliver ‘final warning’ on climate crisis: act now or it’s too late with Merlin FulcherUK insulation scheme set to take 300 years to meet government targets with Clare BennieMicahel Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition in ‘watershed’ moment for retrofit with Merlin FulcherGlobal heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’ with Peter AppsBritain is addicted to the wrecking ball. It’s trashing our heritage and the planet with Denean RoweCarbon credits: towards net zero or zero credibility? with Katy MarksNew legislation mandating verdant urban wetlands to tackle urban flooding with Phin HarperClick here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second audio tour of a two-part series led by architect and Royal Academician Eric Parry visiting London’s two historic cities: Westminster and the City of LondonEric Parry Architects (EPA) is responsible for the designing of some of the most significant projects in London today with many of its most important architectural works clustered in the City of London and Westminster. Open City has worked with EPA to create a two-part series of print and audio tours celebrating this contribution.This tour focuses on the City of London and will begin at The Southwark Gateway Needle, London Bridge and take in Fen Court (including the rooftop garden at 120 Fenchurch).The walking tour will visit key Eric Parry buildings including St Helens Place & Undershaft, Threadneedle Street and Paternoster Square. The tour ends at Salisbury Square, Fleet Street. EPA has not only developed a reputation for delivering beautifully crafted and well-considered buildings, but also for championing generous amounts of public realm in its projects. The Farringdon-based studio is involved in every scale of making,  from a door handle to an urban masterplan.ROUTE NOTES:There are eleven listening points on this tour, the first of which is at The Gateway Needle in London Bridge:Listening Point 1 - The Gateway NeedleListening Point 2 - Fish Mongers Hall WharfListening Point 3 - All Hallows StainingListening Point 4 - 120 Fenchurch st ExteriorListening Point 5 - The Digital Oculus beneath 120 Fenchurch stListening Point 6 - 120 Fenchurch st Roof TopListening Point 7 - 1 Undershaft SkyscraperListening Point 8 - The Leather Sellers Hall, St Helen’s placeListening Point 9 - 60 Threadneedle stListening point 10 - Paternoster Square and The London Stock ExchangeListening point 11 - Salisbury Square Development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin takes to the hot-seat with producer Poppy Waring// Rishi Sunak vows Low Traffic Neighborhoods review // Micahel Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition in ‘watershed’ moment for retrofit // HS2 rated unachievable by the government’s infrastructure watchdog // And new analysis shows how race and income affect the quality of air you breathe // Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Paul speaks to Abukokkar Siddiki and Patricia Brown. Abu is a British Bangladeshi architect who for the past 3 years has been guiding Birmingham City University students through a sustainable development co-lab project in the village of Kazir Gaon in Northeast Bangladesh. Pat is Director of Central – a consultancy centred on the dynamics of cities and the process of achieving change. In 1999, she played a pivotal role in the pioneering Legible London project which has now been implemented by boroughs across the capital.Through conversations around urban development on two very different scales, they explore what sustainable development can look like, and evaluate the importance of innovative signage strategies in creating pedestrian friendly urban landscapes.To read their articles and all the others in this edition, you can find an online version of Landscape for free here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sahiba spoke to the writer and Design Museum curator, George Kafka.// Lives at risk as blistering heat scorches southern Europe // Government adviser calls for a major rethink on new road building // Labour group proposes nationalising 500,000 private homes // And the government promises a crack down on ‘rip-off’ university degrees // Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Phin spoke to Leo Pollak, who is Councillor for South Bermondsey Ward in the London Borough of Southwark.// An SUV crash at a primary school in Wimbledon kills two children // The Architect Sir David Adjaye steps away from major projects after sexual assault allegations published in the Financial Times // Local authorities call for new raft of policies to transform council housing delivery // And the Jamaican metallurgists rediscovered at the centre of modern architectural and industrial history //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first audio tour of a two-part series led by architect and Royal Academician Eric Parry visiting London’s two historic cities: Westminster and the City of LondonEric Parry Architects (EPA) is responsible for the designing of some of the most significant projects in London today with many of its most important architectural works clustered in the City of London and Westminster. Open City has worked with EPA to create a two-part series of print and audio tours celebrating this contribution.This tour focusses on Westminster where the company is renowned for a number of cultural projects involving sensitive historic buildings such as the restoration of St. John's Church in Waterloo, and the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. From buildings adorned with public art by Turner Prize winning artists, to sculptural faience facades, warped windows, and specialist ecclesiastical furniture, to once-in-a-century reorganisations of historic churches and renovations of elegant corner buildings. How have Eric Parry’s projects transformed the City of Westminster?This tour tells its story...THE ROUTE:Listening Point 1 - 50 New Bond Street & 14 St George StreetArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 2 - Maddox StreetArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 3 - 23 Savile RowArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 4 - The AlbanyArchitect: Sir William ChambersListening Point 5 - One Eagle PlaceArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 6 - 8 St James's SquareArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsListening Point 7 - Pall MallListening Point 8 - St Martin in the FieldsArchitect: James GibbsListening Point 9 - St Johns Church WaterlooArchitect: Francis Bedford (original building), Eric Parry Architects (2022 restoration) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin speaks to Prudence Ivey, Editor of Homes and Property at the Evening Standard, and guest curator of the Open House Festival.// Thames Water sinking under more than £14 billion pounds of debt // HSBC to vacate iconic Canary Wharf skyscraper // Low income renters left with nowhere to live amid unaffordability crisis // And most UK rail ticket offices set to close within weeks //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Marsha speaks to Professor Debbie Bartlett from The Cool Towns Project, and Clare Penny who is course leader for Landscape Architecture at the University of East London. Through conversations around two big 21st century issues: loneliness and heatwaves, they explore how landscape architecture can play a vital role in making cities more hospitable on every scale.To read their articles and all the others in this edition, you can find an online version of Landscape for free here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Merlin speaks to the architectural critic and the blogger behind McMansion Hell - Kate Wagner.// Prince William vows to build social housing and end homelessness // Acclaimed London housing activist Kwajo refuses an MBE // Backlash over the closure of communal barbecue pits in Burgess Park // And how UK homes are becoming ‘lethal furnaces’ in heatwaves //Click here to get early, ad-free access to the Londown, and support accessible independent journalism from Open City.The Londown is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate. To book a free day pass follow this link.The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, and the C20 Society.The C20 Society are offering Londown supporters 20% off membership, just follow this link and use the code C20LONDOWN at the checkout.If you enjoyed the show, we recommend you subscribe to the AJ for all the latest news, building studies, expert opinion, cultural analysis, and business intelligence from the UK architecture industry. Listeners can save 15% on a subscription using this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.