London Architecture

I was talking with Sarj last year about the buildings open day that happens in London.

What it does is open up buildings of architectural interest which are normally closed to the public.

This years is 16th/17th September - the building list isnt yet available, but you can find out when theyre published at:

http://www.londonopenhouse.org/london/home.html

I can thoroughly recommend a tour of the Whitehall buildings which participate if you want to see some stunning architecture and some well preserved national heritage that is not often seen.

Its especially sobering to contemplate we very nearly lost it all under a proposed grandiose plan in the 60s to tear it all down and replace with the fad concrete blocks. Its nice to see some sense prevailed at least.

*please note this is purely a post for those interested in the open day. It in no way conveys any intent to suggest visiting a building or not expresses an opinion on government/civil service/politics etc etc etc. :P

Yes, I was lucky enough to get invited to a tour of the house of commons/lords by a Lord .

Some fatastic architecture in the place of westminster, nice library too.

Well worth a look.

Dan

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by lynw

*please note this is purely a post for those interested in the open day. It in no way conveys any intent to suggest visiting a building or not expresses an opinion on government/civil service/politics etc etc etc. :P

maybe we all need to have a diclaimer instead of a sig when we post in some threads eh?

Back to the topic.

I had a huge argument with mrs spidey a few years back as i reallty wanted to do this but she was running late and we ended up missing out.

London has some great architecture imo & i love the way some really modern buildings brush right up against the almost ancient. I know it offends some sensitivities (charles' monstrous carbuncle) but i like it.

Having sold property for years i've been lucky enough to get to see some stunning private homes but public buldings were never in my scope of work so i really am curious about some.
The Gherkin is top of my list of Londons No1 buildings.

Good post btw Lyn, i'd have remembered the day after it happened if you hadnt put this up.
Like i did last year

Originally Posted by Spiderman

. . . i'd have remembered the day after it happened if you hadnt put this up.
Like i did last year

same here

I want to have a poke around Battersea Power station

Originally Posted by Mr Toad

I want to have a poke behind Battersea Power station

What you and Mrs toad do in you own time is nothing to do with us

British cities have some fantastic architecture, both older and modern. The Houses of Parliament is a stunning example, as is Whitehall. And the IoD on Pall Mall is nice too (just round the corner on Waterloo Place there's a load of statues that's worth a look as well....)

You can find some stunning small churches tucked away in London too see here. St Patricks Church in Soho Square is a good example.

My company has recently opened an office in Canary Wharf and that, although very different, is also amazing.

Originally Posted by Spiderman

London has some great architecture imo & i love the way some really modern buildings brush right up against the almost ancient. I know it offends some sensitivities (charles' monstrous carbuncle) but i like it.

Having sold property for years i've been lucky enough to get to see some stunning private homes but public buldings were never in my scope of work so i really am curious about some.
The Gherkin is top of my list of Londons No1 buildings.

Good post btw Lyn, i'd have remembered the day after it happened if you hadnt put this up.
Like i did last year

I have to admit having been a VAT inspector I got to go into some stunning buildings which arent normally open. And I got to walk around London to/from said visits so I got to appreciate what a stunningly fine City London really is, despite a few blots on its landscape. I also got held up on a bus back to the office by the horseguards once. Kind of nice to see all the tourists on the bus enjoy it so much.

A wander round St Pauls is nice, especially down the back lanes which you find a lot of smaller churches which have been around a long, long time. Temple is also a nice walk, though I suspect since the Da Vinci code was written/released it will be busier with the tourists.

But I can recommend the FCO Fine Rooms being worth a visit. Must get round to visiting the Cabinet War Rooms this year at some point too.

Originally Posted by Jelster

My company has recently opened an office in Canary Wharf and that, although very different, is also amazing.

Here here...Tower 42 has a fantastic (if not slightly scarey) view.
So did the 42nd floor of the NEC Supertower in Tokyo

Dan

Originally Posted by lynw

I also got held up on a bus back to the office by the horseguards once.

You can't trust anyone these days

Originally Posted by Spiderman

London has some great architecture imo & i love the way some really modern buildings brush right up against the almost ancient. I know it offends some sensitivities (charles' monstrous carbuncle) but i like it.

Having sold property for years i've been lucky enough to get to see some stunning private homes but public buldings were never in my scope of work so i really am curious about some.
The Gherkin is top of my list of Londons No1 buildings.

Funny how people just dont like to move with the times and accept new design/styles.

My Father is a retired Architect and before I was born he and my mother bought a plot of land and he designed and built a house.

The area was very traditional and the house was so modern and unusual (flat roof, whole front was glass) it was frowned upon by the community It was featured in a book of innovative Architect designed houses in the 50's.

I loved that house and it was very sad when they moved a few years ago (it was too big for them) - it was his creation and part of our family - its just bricks and mortar but I get really emotional when I go past it.