Photo: the Eden Project in Cornwall will be holding a talk on the next generation of ground breaking architecture planned for the site on June 25. Courtesy RIBA.
Ever looked at London’s skyline and thought, just how did they do that? Fancy getting yourself a loft conversion?
Now’s your chance to discover the ins and outs of the built environment with a week-long celebration of architecture.
Architecture Week, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Arts Council England, is running from June 18 until June 27.
Institutions from Tate Britain and the Royal Academy to the Eden Project and the National Glass Centre are turning their attention to the built environment for a whole week, laying on talks, activities and fascinating events.
Jonathan Morrison of RIBA told the 24 Hour Museum that Architecture Week is all about getting people "to look around them and take an interest."
"It’s there to encourage people to really think about architecture," he said, "because it’s something that affects everybody and it’s important that people do take an active interest in it."
Photo: Courtesy RIBA.
And there’s no excuse not to with over 450 events planned all over the country.
You’ll be able to meet celebrated architects, find out the design-related thoughts of your favourite celebrities or take a peek inside new buildings.
Amazingly there's also a chance to get a RIBA architect in to help redesign your home and the best part of it is, they'll do it for free! All you have to do is make a £20 donation to homeless charity Shelter and click here to register.
For full details of all the numerous talks, tours, installations, exhibitions and activities, click on this link to visit the Architecture Week website.
But, for a brief rundown of a few of the highlights, here’s the 24 Hour Museum selection of some of the best events happening all over the country.
Photo: the V&A, where innovative architecture is just around the corner with Daniel Libeskind's Spiral plans, will be hosting a whole series of events.
Starting in London, the Victoria & Albert Museum is leading the way with the third annual Sense and the City on June 25.
You can tour the institution alongside top architects and designers, who’ll be pointing out their favourites items and explaining how certain artefacts influenced their work. Or just kick back in the Pirelli Garden and Architect Your Own Sound – a bring your own vinyl affair for a special Sense and the City music session.
Over at the nearby Royal Academy of Art critics will discuss works in the Architecture Room on June 18 at 18.30, with the likes of Piers Gough and Deyan Sudjic among the speakers.
Meanwhile, down at the Museum of London on June 21 at 19.00 an expert panel will discuss how architecture is making its presence felt in cutting edge fashion.
Photo: as institutions go, it's one of the most venerable. The Royal Academy will be one of the more interesting venues to visit during the next week.
Up in Manchester, renowned architect Wil Alsop will lead a series of talks all day on June 26 discussing his Supercities scheme at Urbis. Want to know more? Get up there and find out…
Over at Salford Quays, The Lowry is offering a whole day of free family events on Sunday June 27. You'll be able to design a house for your favourite footballer, find out about the architecture of The Lowry or take part in drama games.
Not wanting to leave the neighbouring Liverpool out, the stunningly-designed FACT is playing host to a major new project by film maker Patrick Keiller.
A work in progress, Keiller has assembled an archive of historical footage that illustrates the evolution of urban landscape, including films shot in Liverpool in 1897. It’ll be showing on June 18 and 27.
Photo: the Film, Art and Creative Technology centre in Liverpool is only a year old, but with its innovative programme is proving a hit.
Across the border at the Ffotogallery in Penarth, modern buildings in Wales are the subject of the day on June 20.
Heading further north Carlisle's Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery will be getting to grips with the building blocks used by many a fledgling architect, Lego, of course.
On Saturday June 19, practicing architects will help future architects use Lego to build whatever they like. Youngsters can learn how to get large structures to stand upright, build houses and simply have fun.
In Sunderland, the National Glass Centre is planning to reveal the future. An exhibition of designs, on all week, will set out how works to the existing building can support the future artistic objectives of the centre.
As well as improvements to the Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sunderland Room, Mezzanine and foyer, sketches and elevations will show planned improvements to the roof and glassblowing demo area.
Photo: see what the future looks like at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Up in Scotland at Glasgow's The Lighthouse families can drop by on June 19 to help staff create their very own Charles Rennie Mackintosh tea room.
Kids can transform the walls with their stunning designs, create a paper tea service or illuminate the interior with stunning lampshades! The work will be documented and digitally exhibited on the organisation's website.
Across town at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, you can see what the next generation of architects is up to at the Diploma and Degree show. On all week, this is a chance to see the latest practices to emerge from studentland.
This is just a taster of what's going on across the UK, so to find out what's on in your area, click here to visit the Architecture Week website.
