Southbank architecture of reuse walking tour - Saturday 19 October 2024 2pm
Regular price £14.50Join Open City for a walking tour exploring the past, present and future of architecture on the Southbank
This fun and engaging walking tour — led by architect and Golden Key Academy graduate Noel Wright — tells the story of several landmark buildings along the south side of the River Thames that have been imaginatively repurposed as part of the area’s radical transformation from an industrial waterfront to a cultural and recreational district. We look at what conditions brought about these bold changes and the different design approaches that informed the transformation of these structures from serving one use to another.
Exploring London’s most popular and dramatic waterfront, the tour discusses how new approaches to regeneration in the late 20th century prioritized adaptation over starting anew. Looking at iconic structures such as the former Bankside Power Station, FT Building and Oxo Tower Wharf — it will discuss the economic, environmental, aesthetic and other reasons which continue to fuel the search for alternative functions for key waterfront structures once their original purpose has passed.
Highlights of the tour include Oxo Tower Wharf and the neighbouring Bargehouse, originally constructed as a power station and now a mixed-use building owned by the non-profit Coin Street Community Builders; the 1970s Southbank Tower designed by the renowned postwar architect Richard Seifert which has recently been redeveloped as housing and extended upwards; Tate Modern by the acclaimed Swiss stars Herzog & de Meuron; and Blackfriars Rail Bridge which was transformed and given a roof of photovoltaic solar panels as part of the £6 billion Thameslink upgrade programme by Will Alsop.
Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will explore the architectural history and changing appearance of this prominent south London area which went from being an industrial heartland to a recreational and cultural hub during the 20th Century.
Meet: Outside the Thirsty Bear pub, 62 Stamford St, London SE1 9LX
End: Southwark Bridge. Duration: 2 hrs approx. Distance: 2 km.
This tour does not incorporate the use of Zoom.
Meet the tour guide ....
Noel Wright is an architect typically working on range of smaller scale building projects such as new houses, refurbishments and listed buildings. He has a strong interest in environmental issues and is a qualified Passivhaus designer. This tour reflects his interest in how and why we adapt and fix things, and the understanding that this process lends itself to a diverse and meaningful environment.
Wright is a graduate of the 2021 Golden Key Academy — a masterclass for urban and architectural tour guiding run by Open City. He joined the Open City tours team in December 2021.
Tickets are non-refundable and tours go ahead rain or shine.
* Please check for any planned transport engineering works, planned strike action or large scale events that may affect your journey before making your ticket purchase *
If you find you can no longer make the tour for any reason we are unable to transfer you to another date, but please feel free to pass your booked place onto a friend to go and enjoy the tour in your place.
In the event your tour date is cancelled you will be issued with a credit note (with no expiry date) that you can use to
- book onto a rescheduled date
- book onto any other tour from our programme
or you can request a refund.
All ticket purchases are in support of the work of our organisation including our pioneering education programmes. We really appreciate your support!
Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
Please select solidarity pricing to help Open City offer the concessionary tickets rate for student and jobseekers.
Our concession pricing (£9.50 for walking tours / £19.50 for boat tours) is available for students and jobseekers only.
If you find you can no longer make the tour for Covid or any reason we are unable to transfer you to another date, but please feel free to pass your booked place onto a friend to go in your place.
In the event your tour date is cancelled due to Covid or any other reason you will be provided with the opportunity to book onto a rescheduled date, book onto another tour, provided with a credit note (with no expiry date) or you can request a refund.
All ticket purchases are in support of the work of our organisation including our pioneering education programmes. We really appreciate your support!
Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
Gift Aid is an income tax relief designed to benefit charities. If you're a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid increases the value of your charity donations by 25% because as a charity we can reclaim the basic rate of tax on your gift at no extra cost to you.