Open City

By Open CitySociety & Culture Arts Visual Arts Design

Open City episodes

June 03, 2021 The Londown | 03 June | with Barnabas Calder
This week Zoe catches up with architectural historian Barnabas Calder. They discuss a new contest seeking radical cycle infrastructure concepts, Catherine Slessor being tipped to become the new 20th Century Society president, the human impacts of estate demolition, and Barnabas’ new book ‘Architecture: From Pre-history to Climate Emergency’.

The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal. 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.
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32 min
May 27, 2021 A review of this years Venice Biennale with Olly Wainwright
This week Merlin speaks with Olly Wainwright - the architecture and design critic at the Guardian - about his recent visit to this years’ Venice Biennale. Also on the menu; A south London school built outside approved plans faces demolition, Keir Starmer criticised for backing new fence around Primrose Hill, and the Barbican Centre’s new exhibition on 1980s feminist design collective Matrix.

The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal. 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.
36 min
May 20, 2021 Whitechapel Bell Foundry redevelopment and new Open City 'Public House' book with Hettie O'Brien
Merlin speaks with Guardian journalist Hettie O'Brien about her investigations into the contentious Whitechapel Bell Foundry redevelopment approved by the government. Also on the menu; Downing Street aide apologizes for perceived conflicts of interest on approving a property loan to a company he worked for, the government moves to ‘carefully’ taken down Grenfell Tower, and Open City announces a major new book on the social and cultural history of London pubs.

The Londown is produced in association with the Architects’ Journal. 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.
35 min
May 13, 2021 British Pavilion opening and huge Tory planning reforms with Maddie Kessler
This week Merlin speaks with Maddie Kessler, co-curator of The Garden of Privatised Delights pavilion at the Venice Biennale opening next week. Also on the menu; Radical planning reforms set down in the Queen’s Speech, the winners of Enfield’s Meridian Four contest named, and Urban Splash in final stage talks to buy Croydon’s Brick by Brick.
If you enjoy The Londown we recommend subscribing to the Architects’ Journal – 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.
32 min
May 06, 2021 What does Sadiq Khan mean for London? With Owen Hatherley
Sadiq Khan set for landslide victory winning a second term as London mayor, Open City trustees win job to design 8 billion pound Thamesmead redevelopment, Serpentine Pavilion criticised over un-sustainable concrete foundations, and NEO Bankside residents take Tate Modern to the Supreme Court. Join Zoe Cave and writer, journalist, and author Owen Hatherley as they dissect this week’s top architecture news.
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35 min
May 03, 2021 The Alternative Mayoral Election
Public fruit orchards in the Royal Parks. A ban on politicians standing for mayor of London. Libraries to serve pints of beer and the decriminalisation of soft drugs. This is the mayoral manifesto of the late musician, artist and manager of the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren who stood for mayor at the turn of the millennium with a truly remarkable campaign.

Rather than talk more about this year’s election, today we’re dedicating the whole show to the story of Malcolm’s bid to be mayor. As he said at the time, "It’s the biggest job in London, don’t give it to a politician". Zoë Cave speaks to McLaren's biographer, Paul Gorman, artist and designer, Scott King and campaign manager, Peter Culshaw.

Listen out for our Thursday morning news show, The Londown, where we will be discussing the 2021 Mayoral Election with Owen Hatherley.

You can support Open City and keep this podcast free and accessible for others to listen to by donating and supporting us, go to open-city.org.uk/support

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39 min
April 29, 2021 Skyscrapers and the Silvertown Tunnel. With Will Ing
City of London opens the way for more skyscrapers, academics demand an ‘emergency review’ of Silvertown Tunnel, London Festival of Architecture boss leaves for Scotland, and an exciting new generation of British architects showcased in the AJ Small Projects prize and the Architecture Foundation’s New Architects 4 book – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Will Ing round up this week’s top London architecture news

If you enjoy The Londown we recommend subscribing to the Architects’ Journal – 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.
31 min
April 22, 2021 The Londown | 22 April | Dave Hill
An in-depth comparison of the election manifestos of London's mayoral election candidates, studies shows no slowdown in skyscraper approvals despite the pandemic, and why drivers so often seem grumpy – could it be down to how cars taint perceptions of the environment around us? Merlin Fulcher and special guest Dave Hill of OnLondon give you the rundown on this week's top London architecture news.
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31 min
April 19, 2021 Slavery and the City | the Jamaica Wine House | Episode 3
In this third and final episode, Selasi is joined by Akil Scafe-Smith, a member of the interdisciplinary design team Resolve. In this round table discussion, they explore how informal spaces such as pubs and coffee shops in our cities can be sites for establishing power, and become places of resistance.

Through an in depth analysis of the Jamaica Wine House on St Michael's Alley, we question what we mean by informal spaces and examine the myths and rituals that mobilise power in these spaces.

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33 min
April 15, 2021 The Londown | 15 April | Amanda Baillieu
Six finalists vying to upgrade the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, two winners announced for this year’s Antepavilion, campaigners urge London’s mayor to block Ealing Council’s town hall redevelopment, and the future of nightclubs called into question – Merlin Fulcher and special guest Amanda Baillieu round up this week’s top London architecture news.
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32 min