Yes, it’s coming to the end of the summer holidays, and schools are reopening their doors over the next week or so, contributing to that faux autumn vibe. Memories of beach trips – either local or more exotic – are fading, and we’re all starting to wonder what there is to look forward to before the Christmas season kicks in… 🙂

Fear not, for the nosey among us, Open House Festival is just around the corner, with buildings across the borough – and indeed London – welcoming us in for a wander.

From classics such as the Whitgift Almshouses, Stanley Arts and Fairfield Halls, to more unusual destinations such as Kenley’s Norman Fisher Observatory, a 1970s narrow terrace in the East India Estate Conservation Area (which we highly recommend) and an ‘Open (Public) House’ tour of Croydon (think fun historic pub crawl!), each offers a different perspective on Croydon’s architecture and heritage.

But it’s not only the main programme to look forward to, as Croydon’s culture team has put together an eclectic mix of activities and events to celebrate the festival’s opening weekend.

Left: Matt + Fiona (by Vipul Sangoi). Right: The Curiosity Rover (by Chris O’Donovan)

On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, head over to The Queen’s Gardens for Build / Play / Shape – two days of interactive events and activities for all ages.

The programme includes Pif Paf Theatre’s Right to Play, a touring adventure playground where children can build dens, explore clambering frames and get stuck into a mud kitchen; architects Matt + Fiona, who’ll be creating a large-scale cardboard Croydon skyline designed and built by visitors; and In Situ’s Croydon Space Station, which reimagines our 60s space-age architecture as spacecraft models. Creative Quests’ Curiosity Rover will also be roaming with fresh challenges to help you explore your surroundings – if you haven’t already caught it over the summer.

The Caravan Gallery (Dudley People’s Archive)

We’re particularly intrigued by The Caravan Gallery, a mobile art project that has been touring the UK and beyond for more than 25 years. For Open House, it will host a new exhibition of photographs capturing Croydon’s architecture, streetscapes and community stories – all displayed inside a 1960s caravan.

Details of artworks featured in the Museum’s new exhibition ‘Shaping Croydon’ (left and right: Chris O’Donovan)

Saturday 12 September will also see the opening of the Museum of Croydon’s new exhibition, Shaping Croydon: Architecture and Ambition, which explores our ever-evolving skyline.

The exhibition brings together contemporary photography by Croydon artist Glenn Foster and photographers associated with the Gareth Gardner Gallery, displays from Croydon Urban Room considering the future of the town centre, and material from the museum and archives – including a sketch of Croydon by a young Malcolm McLaren, who went on to manage the Sex Pistols. So whether the past, present or future is your architectural thing, there’ll be something for you.

Details of artworks featured in the Museum’s new exhibition ‘Shaping Croydon (left: Gareth Gardner; right: Romantic Croydon)

And we can’t finish without mentioning a new mural by South London artist Vic Lee, commissioned to celebrate the 750th anniversary of Croydon’s Surrey Street Market. The 18-metre-long artwork will reveal some of the surprising stories, facts and memories from the market’s remarkable history.

So, is that enough to look forward to before you embark upon your Christmas shopping…? 🙂

Visual of Vic Lee’s mural

Visit the Culture Croydon website for more about the opening weekend, explore the full festival programme via Open House, and look out for updates on Instagram.

Images courtesy of Culture Croydon.

Posted by Julia