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.
The theme for 2024 is ‘reimagine’, with the festival calling for events that put people at the heart of London and rethink public spaces.
This builds on the success of last year’s festival, which saw the incredible local history and architecture of Crystal Palace and Penge celebrated through a series of tours, workshops, installations and family events. The Penge and Palace trail guided residents and visitors through some of the highlights of Penge’s past and present, much of which will be on display again this year.
This year, Bromley is expanding its focus to highlight five of the areas that shape Bromley as it is today - Bromley Town Centre, Chislehurst, Darwin, Orpington and Penge - these and more will be showcased as part of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) this June.
This London-wide celebration will see exciting events take place to highlight Bromley’s history and public spaces, from its Kentish Market town roots to the grand Victorian and Georgian architecture that together with our green spaces make the borough so unique.
The events programme is being delivered in partnership with the council, Bromley’s Business Improvement Districts - Your Bromley, Orpington 1st and Penge SE20 - and Chislehurst Society. More details will be announced about what is taking place in Bromley in due course.
If you would like to take part in the festival, please contact culture@bromley.gov.uk for more information. The deadline for event submissions is 22 March 2024.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “There is such a rich history to be explored across Bromley, especially through our beautiful buildings and spaces, so I am delighted that residents will again get the opportunity to explore such sites as part of the London Festival of Architecture. It is with thanks to our Business Improvement Districts as well as Chislehurst Society that we are able to deliver this exciting programme, with these organisations delivering much important work to enhance and sustain our borough.”
Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Design and Heritage Champion added: “In addition to the historic buildings like the eighteenth century Bishop of Rochester’s palace in Bromley, the borough has many sites dating back to the Crofton Roman villa. We should also not ignore the best of the twentieth century architecture including Petts Wood conservation area and individually listed art deco buildings like ‘Stillness’ in Sundridge and the ‘modern’ health centre on Addington Road currently housing West Wickham Library.”
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Notes to editors
The London Festival of Architecture is a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making, taking place every June across London. Now in its twentieth year, LFA’s mission is to open discussions around architecture, test new ideas and promote emerging talent. LFA brings together the public and built environment professionals for the whole month of June and seeks to inspire and engage our audience with a programme that showcases London as a global architecture hub. LFA is run by NLA, London’s built environment community.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Olivia Marshall, Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8461 7857 or email olivia.marshall@bromley.gov.uk.
Sophie Goff, Senior Communications Manager, NLA at sophie.goff@nla.london.