Open House Festival 2024
10am - 4pm
11 St Andrew's Place, London, NW1 4LE
This year for Open House we celebrate 60 years since our unique building was opened. We invite you to drop in, explore our archives, take a tour, take part in family activities and more to discover this award-winning building from its modernist lines to dramatic interiors.
The Open House Festival programme is now live
On Saturday 21 September visitors can book to join one of a range of guided tours: an expert architecture tour with an expert from the RCP Museum team, a British Sign Language tour with trained architect Martin Glover, and an interactive family tour. We will host a display of archive materials about the building, a short film, a virtual treasure hunt, and family activities. Plus a special 1960's feature room celebrating our 60th anniversary.
*New* We are excited to announce we are also partnering with award-winning performance company Clod Ensemble to dissect the architecture of the RCP's iconic building through movement.
Find out more about all our activities:
10am - 4pm: Drop in
Drop in to enjoy and explore one of London’s most provocative modern buildings. This year we celebrate 60 years since it was opened. Designed by British architect Sir Denys Lasdun (1914-2001), it is award-winning and one of only a few Grade I listed post-war buildings in England. All visitors can enjoy:
- display of archive materials about the building
- a short film about the architecture
- a virtual treasure hunt
- family activities
- a 1960's feature room celebrating our 60th anniversary
10:30am - Expert architecture tour
Join an expert from the Archives, Heritage Library and Museum Team for a tour to explore our Grade I listed home and discover how this award-winning architectural design was developed with an expert guide.
Book now to discover this striking piece of London architecture.
*Fully booked
12pm - British Sign Language tour
Join Martin Glover, trained architect, for a guided British Sign Language (BSL)-only tour of the Royal College of Physicians.
*Fully booked
1pm - Anatomy & Architecture: Movement workshop for adults
Join award-winning performance company Clod Ensemble to dissect the architecture of the RCP’s iconic building through movement.
There has always been an intimate connection between architecture and anatomy. According to Vitruvius (18-15 BC), an architect’s designs must refer to the unquestionable ‘perfection’ of the human body’s symmetry and proportions.
For anyone interested in movement and architecture, this workshop will consider how the buildings we occupy affect the way we move and feel. We will use the RCP’s London headquarters designed by architect Sir Denys Lasdun as a starting point - a modernist building which was designed to reflect the human body. Through creative exercises explore the relationship between bodies and spaces.
Anyone over 16 is welcome, no experience necessary. Wear comfy clothes for moving around and please be aware we will be taking photographs/filming at this event.
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Clod Ensemble creates provocative, finely crafted performance work driven by movement and music. Led by Director/Choreographer Suzy Willson and Composer Paul Clark, their performance work is visually stunning and aurally complex, pushing the boundaries of form and always working across disciplines. Their ambitious and finely crafted performance and participation projects have been delivered at renowned venues across the world (Tate Modern, Southbank Centre, Public Theater New York, Venice Architecture Biennale, Serralves Museum Porto) to critical acclaim; including the iconic Red Ladies and the visually stunning Under Glass (Total Theatre Award Winner).
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This workshop is part of the Open House Animate project.
*Fully booked
1:30pm - Interactive family tour
Join an interactive family tour with games along the way to help discover The RCP's iconic building.
2:30pm - Expert architecture tour
Join an expert from the Archives, Heritage Library and Museum Team for a tour to explore our Grade I listed home and discover how this award-winning architectural design was developed with an expert guide.
Book now to discover this striking piece of London architecture.
*Fully booked
Open House London
Open House London, is a two-week celebration of London’s homes, architecture and neighbourhoods. You can get inside some of London’s best known buildings, as well as some of its best kept secrets.
This year's events run from 14 - 22 September 2024.