This is an exciting weekend for those of us who are into good design and architecture within London. The charity Open House gives everyone the opportunity to visit over 600 buildings new and old across London – many of them normally closed to the public – completely free of charge.
I have long wanted to visit Kingsdale School, walking distance from where I live in Gipsy Hill. The architects (Leslie Martin/de Rijke Marsh Morgan) have refurbished the existing 1960's building with the addition of the world's largest variable skin ETFE roof creating an internal courtyard and auditorium. The transformation of Kingsdale set out to ask how school buildings relate to school standards and affect the self-esteem, morale and pride of the school community. Furnishings have been designed by the artist collective Atelier van Lieshout, who had an inspiring show at Camden Arts Centre a few years ago. See here for details.