The London Festival of Architecture is in full swing in Crystal Palace and Penge, with events and activities celebrating local history now being accompanied by a creative open-air pavilion.
The Craft Not Carbon pavilion is a temporary structure made of a woven canopy that has been set up for the festival, which runs throughout June. Temporary structures are prominent in the history of Crystal Palace, stretching all the way back to the Great Exhibition of 1851, before the Palace was moved to the park in 1854.
Workshops and talks are taking place throughout June to celebrate local history, with residents encouraged to explore these and enjoy the Penge and Palace trail, which takes visitors around the key architectural highlights of the area.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “It is delightful to see this programme underway that really spotlights the fascinating local history of the area. I hope residents will take this opportunity to enjoy the heritage that we strive to protect in the borough, and I thank Penge SE20 BID and further partners for setting up all the great events now underway.”
The Craft Not Carbon pavilion was designed by Webb Yates Engineers in collaboration with Studio Saar and Xylotek, with support from PIVETEAUBOIS, Gang-Nail/ITW Construction Products and HUB.
Community groups, schools and others interested in using the open-air pavilion up until 2 July can contact culture@bromley.gov.uk to book and for more information.
During the festivities, an art competition is also being run, which encourages children aged 6 to 12 to design their own Crystal Palace. The competition is being run in collaboration with local author Graham Whitlock, Parakeet Books and Penge SE20 BID. Submissions can be made at Penge Library until Friday 16 June, with entries then to be displayed in the library and the winning designs will receive book vouchers of up to £60.
The Penge and Palace programme is being delivered by the council in partnership with Penge SE20 BID. The London Festival of Architecture is an annual celebration of architecture and city-making, which takes place across London but with a focus on the chosen destinations each year. This is the first year an outer London borough has been chosen as a destination.
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Editors’ notes:
The London Festival of Architecture is a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making, taking place every June across London. The mission is to open up discussions around architecture, test new ideas and uncover and promote new talent, drawing together anyone with an interest in architecture and physical spaces. The theme for 2023 is #InCommon – inviting people to come together to discuss how we can improve our city by thinking about what we have in common – and what we don’t.
For media enquiries, please contact James George, public affairs officer, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk