Making it Happen

Address
66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD Map
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Mon–Sun 10 am–5 pm Tue 10 am–8 pm
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How are architects working with communities to improve local buildings and places during times of economic and political austerity? Four immersive installations, representing recent projects from around the UK, fill the Architecture Gallery at 66 Portland Place to offer inspiring examples of architects and local communities working together.

In recent years many public buildings in Britain have faced an uncertain future because of budget cuts, shifting priorities or the withdrawal of funding. Private ownership of public buildings and spaces has escalated and alternative approaches to designing and funding spaces for the public realm are emerging. In response, communities have come together to keep buildings open and functioning, campaigning and fundraising in the face of closure or catastrophe.

Making It Happen features four new public spaces from around the UK that offer ideas for the re-design of existing spaces and methodologies to build new ones:

Hastings Pier
Coniston Mechanics Institute
Old Manor Park Library
Loch Lomond National Park
The exhibition design by Hayatsu Architects presents installations that reflect the materiality and spatial qualities of each project, with displays that demonstrate the roles that the four practices took on, working as designers, contractors, makers, cheerleaders and activists.