Open House London 2012: the top 20 destinations

Groves Natcheva's Zog House
(Image credit: James Brittain)

1. Zog House, Neasden
Groves Natcheva's Zog House opens its doors on Sunday 23 September for those swift enough to pre-book. See our interactive floor plan of the house here.
Grovesnatcheva.com

If you want an indication of the level of interest in high quality architecture and design, look no further than Open House London. In the twenty years since the first event was held, tens of thousands of people have passed through some of the capital's hidden architectural gems, including spaces that are usually off-limits.

Open House London 2012 marks the 20th anniversary, and to celebrate we've come up with 20 destinations drawn from the list of over 750 places to see over the weekend of 22/23 September. This year there's also a special focus on infrastructure, green design, landscape architecture and numerous satellite events, with full details available on the Open House London website, openhouselondon.org.uk

Down stairs connecting to dining room

(Image credit: James Brittain)

1. Zog House, Neasden
Groves Natcheva's Zog House opens its doors on Sunday 23 September for those swift enough to pre-book. See our interactive floor plan of the house here.
Grovesnatcheva.com

Under ground Bunker

(Image credit: James Brittain)

2. Underground Bunker, Neasden
A change from the norm for aficionados of subterranean dwelling, this WWII era bunker is a history lesson and archi tour in one.
Networkhg.org.uk

3. 78 South Hill Park Brian Housden's incredible house in Hampstead is a masterpiece of boldly formed concrete and stunning modernist furniture. See wallpaper* 146 for our feature on this classic structure.

Brian Housden's incredible house in Hampstead

(Image credit: James Brittain)

Stunning modernist furniture in the house

(Image credit: James Brittain)

4. Royal College of Physicians
Sir Denys Lasdun's masterpiece, the RCP is a must-see building for those in central London on Saturday.

Royal College Of Physicians

(Image credit: James Brittain)

RCP is a must-see building for those in central London

(Image credit: James Brittain)

Lloyds Of London

(Image credit: Nick Delaney)

5. Lloyd's of London
A mainstay of the yearly Open House programme, Lloyd's of London will open its doors to give the public a rare glimpse inside its modern office buildings, still stunning after nearly 30 years of operation.
Rsh-p.com

Heron Tower in the City of London

(Image credit: James Brittain)

6. Heron Tower
A relative newcomer on London's increasingly crowded skyline, the weekend offers access to what is now the tallest building within the City of London.
Kpf.com

7. Suburban Studio Ashton Porter's modest garden studio is elevated above its small scale by the rigorous treatment of the façade and its integration into a strict new courtyard garden. Ashton Porter Architects

A Suburban Studio Back View

(Image credit: James Brittain)

Suburban Studio interior view

(Image credit: James Brittain)

8. Ed's Shed/ Sunken House
David Adjaye's modest building for photographer Ed Reeve is a satisfyingly simple piece of domestic architecture.
Adjaye.com

Eds Shed Sunken House

(Image credit: Ed Reeve)

Simple piece of domestic architecture.

(Image credit: Ed Reeve)

9. The White Building
We've already raved about David Kohn's conversion of a former printworks into cultural centre, now you have a chance to visit it for yourself.
Davidkohn.co.uk

The White Building

(Image credit: Will Pryce)

Brick wall in The White Building brick wall

(Image credit: Will Pryce)

10. 13 Kingsley Place
Neat and sleek, this contemporary three-bed house is firmly in the tradition of innovative North London domestic modernism.
Zuberarchitecture.com

Exterior of Kingsley Place

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

Dining table near fire place

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

Highpoint icon of inter-war Modernism

(Image credit: Valeria Carullo)

11. Highpoint One
Berthold Lubetkin's masterpiece, a must-see if you've never been and a chance to reaquaint yourself with one of the icons of inter-war Modernism if you have.

David Wild's Cypher House

(Image credit: Christipher Phillips)

12. Cypher House
David Wild's Cypher House is tucked away out of sight, one of many contemporary dwellings that has sneaked its way into the back lots and side roads of the capital in the past two decades.
Cypherhouse.co.uk

13. Brick House
Another contemporary classic, and an extremely rare opportunity to get inside this refined slice of modern architecture by Caruso St John.
carusostjohn.com

Stair case in the Brick House

(Image credit: Hélène Binet)

Brick House by Caruso St John.

(Image credit: Hélène Binet)

14. Trellick Tower
Goldfinger's classic tower block is always worth a trek. If you're out east, check the architect's smaller Balfron Tower instead.

Trellick Tower exterior view

(Image credit: James Brittain)

Goldfinger's classic Trellick Tower

(Image credit: James Brittain)

Walter Segal Self Build Houses

(Image credit: Paul Capel)

15. Walter Segal self-build houses
A hidden gem and a true micro-community, Walter Segal's close of 13 self-build structures has evolved organically over the years.

Snowsfields DSDHA's studio and shop

(Image credit: Dennis Gilbert)

16. 37 Snowsfields
DSDHA's studio and shop for jeweller Alex Monroe is a finely-wrought extension in a tricky site.
Dsdha.co.uk

Atmos Studio's 'Roominaroom'

(Image credit: James Brittain)

17. Roominaroom
Atmos Studio's 'Roominaroom' features elaborate joinery, the intersection of computer design, digital fabrication and contemporary craft. The architects' Clapham House is also on the books.
Atmosstudio.com

18. The London Library
Haworth Tompkins' sympathetic restoration kept the character of this hidden gem in St James. A quick visit will have you reaching for the membership forms.
Haworthtompkins.com
Londonlibrary.co.uk

The London Library

(Image credit: Paul Raffety)

Interior view of The London Library

(Image credit: Paul Raffety)

19. Langham House Close
Stirling and Gowan's beautifully realised scheme on Ham Common, completed in 1958, showed there could be life and love in concrete architecture.

Langham House Close

(Image credit: Valeria Carullo)

Lobby with wooden roof

(Image credit: Valeria Carullo)

20. Clapham Library
Studio Egret West's new landmark for South London is a bold block of flats above a striking new library.
Egretwest.com

Spiral staircase in Clapham Library

(Image credit: Gareth Gardner)

Clapham Library a new library in South London

(Image credit: Gareth Gardner)

Clapham Library reading hall

(Image credit: Gareth Gardner)

Exterior of Clapham Library

(Image credit: Gareth Gardner)

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.

Read more
Camden renovation by EBBA Architects
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everyday
Archmongers Elemental House architecture Hackney London, the Don't Move, Improve 2025 winners
A Danish twist, compact architecture, and engineering magic: the Don’t Move, Improve 2025 winners are here
House Richter, part of our tour of lesser-known modernist houses in europe
Tour 21 lesser-known modernist houses in Europe
Archmongers Elemental House architecture Hackney London
Elemental House adds a Danish twist to a 1970s London house
Ray House, Dalston, by Archmongers, a transformed east london terraced house
This revamped east London terraced house is a music lover’s dream
emerging London architects
We celebrate the emerging London architects to be excited about
Latest in Residential
riverrock frank lloyd wright house
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Severance scene
The Eagan house from 'Severance' is available to rent
Costa Navarino Southward house
A Costa Navarino house peeks out from amidst olive groves to ocean views
Valeriane Lazard parisian apartment
Stay in a Parisian apartment which artfully balances minimalism and warmth
Conrad Buff II Residence, Pasadena house
Buy a slice of California’s midcentury modern history with this 1955 Pasadena house
Satguru’s Rendezvous, Mumbai
Pretty in pink: Mumbai's new residential tower shakes up the cityscape
Latest in Feature
the toteme store in China by herzog & de meuron
Bold, geometric minimalism rules at Toteme’s new store by Herzog & de Meuron in China
zaha hadid architects future projects
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
black and white image of kitchen
‘La Cocina’: the kitchen is a chaotic melting pot of contemporary culture in Alonso Ruizpalacios’ new film
lean lui guide to hong kong
A local’s guide to Hong Kong, by photographer Lean Lui
people at watch show
What can we expect from Watches and Wonders 2025?
Perfume Genius Glory album artwork
Inside the visual universe of Perfume Genius