Open House 2017: 10 highlights as London is unlocked once more

At 11.30 tomorrow morning a group of 24 people will set off on a guided tour of 10 Downing Street.

They are the winners of a public ballot held by the organisers of London’s annual Open House weekend to select the lucky few who will get to glimpse the seat of power.

Happily the rest of us have no need to feel left out. We may not be able to play at being prime minister but Open House has more than 800 other remarkable buildings on offer to visitors this weekend, all of them free and many of them normally closed to the public.

Half the fun of the event, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is being able to sneak a peek at the private realms that lie behind front doors of the capital’s homes and workplaces. Architecture buffs have plenty to be excited about, with many innovative schemes taking part — from the latest hip houses to award-winning schools and offices.

For others it’s simply the ultimate opportunity to be nosey and pick up some decorating tips. Many properties also offer refreshments, so you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and tea along the way. A free app (Open House London 2017) is available for the first time this year, with details of every building taking part.

64 Heath Drive, Romford

There’s lots to love about this perfectly formed Modernist house, designed by Berthold Lubetkin’s Tecton practice and completed in 1934. All the classic modern signifiers are here, including open-plan living spaces, a sun terrace, balcony, flat roof and concrete walls. The house has been completely restored by the present owners and now has a contemporary garden designed by Dan Pearson.

Other Modernist masterpieces taking part this weekend include the Pullman Court flats in Brixton by Frederick Gibberd, and the Royal Institute of Physicians next to Regent’s Park by Denys Lasdun.

42 Barrett’s Grove, N16

Architect Amin Taha’s small block of six apartments in Stoke Newington has won him a place on the shortlist for this year’s Stirling Prize. The innovative structure of cross-laminted timber and brick, with eye-catching wicker balconies, is as cool to look at as it is to live in.

The architect will lead a tour every hour from 1pm-4pm tomorrow — booking essential on the Open House website.

New Crossrail stations

Be among the first to check out four new stations on the Elizabeth line ahead of the railway’s opening in December 2018. The construction sites for Farringdon, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street stations are open tomorrow — booking essential on the Crossrail Eventbrite site.

BT Tower, W1

Several iconic skyscrapers will be open this weekend, including the Shard and the Gherkin. But the golden ticket is a trip up the BT Tower, completed in 1965. Lucky ballot winners will be able to visit the revolving restaurant on the 34th floor. If you missed out, you can play at being master of the universe in another way by visiting the Battersea offices of Norman Foster, designer of the new Apple HQ in California. Foster’s staff work in a 60m-long open-plan studio, with the boss at the top table. Other creatives opening their doors include Islington architect Amanda Levete and choreographer Wayne McGregor.

Crystal Palace subway, SE19

A beautiful survivor of Victorian London remains hidden under the A212 in Crystal Palace. This vaulted pedestrian subway opened at Christmas in 1865 and originally linked the now demolished High Level station to the glass palace itself. It was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War and later restored. These days the subway is open on special occasions only, so expect queues tomorrow and Sunday, 11am-4.15pm.

Other opportunities to see behind normally closed doors include a peep inside the Soho Green Art Loo, a WC for local workers which doubles as a museum of Soho (tomorrow only, 10am-5pm).

Burntwood School, SW17

Schools have once again become a testing ground for architecture and Burntwood is one of the best examples, scooping the 2015 Stirling Prize for its designers, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Original Fifties buildings on the campus were refurbished and new classrooms, and a theatre and gym were added in six striking pre-cast concrete pavilions.

Other recent school buildings are opening their doors, including Hackney New School on Kingsland Road. Compare these with the Brutalist Haggerston School (1963) by Erno Goldfinger, a classroom at Harrow (1615), and the Victorian Emanuel School in Battersea.

The Tree House, E1

Extensions are another great testing ground for architectural innovation. This magical timber addition to a pair of Georgian cottages is by the emerging practice 6a Architects (Sunday only, booking required).

There are plenty of other cool extensions to check out this weekend, including many fun variations on how to deal with those pesky Victorian side returns. See 29 Malvern Road, E8, 85 The Avenue, NW6, and 24 Florence Street, N1.

Silchester Estate, W10

The numerous examples of new and improved social housing taking part give the lie to the argument that no such schemes are being built in the capital. Close to Grenfell Tower, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea acted as co-developer for the refurbishment of the Silchester Estate, with the addition of 112 mixed-tenure homes designed by Stirling Prize-winner Haworth Tompkins.

Another example of good social housing is New Ground, a development of 25 flats designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards for the Older Women’s Co-Housing Group in Barnet.

Peter Barber, one of London’s most high-profile architects for social housing, has four projects open this weekend, including new homeless hostels at Spring Gardens, SE13, and Mount Pleasant, WC1.

Salmen House, E13

One-off houses are a rare breed in London but there are still some fine examples. This new addition to a terrace in Plaistow by Office S&M is a modest but clever design.

At the other end of the scale are four lavish new houses at Walmer Yard, W11, by architect Peter Salter. These hand-crafted buildings have been lauded by critics but come with a price tag of £22 million for the set (tours fully booked). Also worth a whirl are two smart modern houses by Studio Bednarski at 264 Westbourne Park Road, W11.

Sambourne Family Home, W8

Modern architecture dominates Open House but for those more inclined to historic buildings there is still plenty to enjoy. The perfectly preserved Victorian home of Punch cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne is open at 18 Stafford Terrace, W8 (normally £10, so a bargain with free entry this weekend). Other historic wonders include St Matthias Old Church, E14, which dates back to 1649 and is the oldest building in Docklands. Lambeth Palace is offering booked tours and romantics will thrill at the chance to explore the 18th-century grotto created by Alexander Pope in the grounds of his now demolished villa at Twickenham (booking essential).

Open House (see openhouselondon.org.uk for a full list of participating sites and opening times), runs tomorrow until Sunday