Open Hoooooouse 2015 #6

After Merton Abbey I headed back into town, going to Guildhall. I have been to Guildhall Art Gallery numerous times (and it is great, you should go) and I love the Guildhall complex, but I’d never been in there. I’m not 100% sure if it is open to the public at any point other than Open House as the website doesn’t make it clear (though I did find out that on their location page they include directions for if you’re coming in by air, which is a new one), but if they do have an Open Day of any sort, it really is worth going. 

The current Guildhall complex was built in the 1440s, though the site has been a monument to city wealth and privilege since the 12th century. 

Turns out Guildhall is huge. A lot of it is underground, but the whole building is so impressive and spacious – it’s very odd, considering how well I know the area, I would never have guessed it looked like this.

NB my camera batteries died halfway through this so I had to switch to my phone so apologies for the drop in quality. 

Open Hoooooouse 2015 #5

Sunday morning I started off going to my furthest sites, in Merton Abbey. There were two things on the same site, namely a seven-spoke waterwheel that is still working (awesome) and the ruins of an abbey (much like climbing pointless things, I do like ruins). It was a lovely morning and the whole tiny complex was really nice – there were little shops and stalls and if I hadn’t been heading off for lots of walking I would have bought things. Maybe next time I can bribe someone with a car to go there and then I can get some pottery.

Contrary to what I said before about my planning, the Abbey Mills shopping 

village/pottery is usually open to the public, though the ruins are about to be 

closed so that they can redo the visitor centre etc.

I really would recommend going again when it opens back up as they also had 

some displays on the arts and crafts history of the area (couple of photos below). 

Open Hoooooooouse 2015 #4

After McCann I went off to Belgrave Square, to visit the Romanian Cultural Institute and the Italian Cultural Institute. I also added the Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence, because it was a) there and b) open.

These buildings were fairly similar, all being from around the same time and in the same place. They are mostly built in the same style (I have just had to use timestamps to work out which photos were from which building), all being on Belgrave Square and at around the same time (mid 19th century). There was an interesting exhibition of Romanian art on but it didn't photograph very well, sadly.

The Italian Cultural Institute was much the same:

The Argentine ambassador's residence weren't allowing photos so none from there, but one thing I really enjoyed was an exhibition of cartoons by the Argentinian cartoonist REP – I was very sad to find out this was literally only on for Open House, but also pleased I’d chosen to go in there. I currently have this postcard from the exhibition up at work:

(English: Thanks, you can move now)

There's an interview with REP here: http://www.argentinaindependent.com/the-arts/art/rep-a-very-porteno-cartoonist/

After all of this, I was completely worn out and had completed my list for the day, so I made my way home and collapsed.

Open Hooooooooouse 2015 #3

Side note: this series of posts is never going to end. ONWARDS!

After the walk, I headed back towards Holborn, hoping to get to the German Historical Institute, though I missed this as they closed at 2, so instead I went to my favourite Korean restaurant (Bi Won on Coptic Street) to get lunch (squid in spicy sweet sauce, THE BEST) and have a brief break.

My next stop was McCann London, which is a former Daimler garage that has been turned into an advertising agency’s office. I originally chose this place because I got it mixed up with another white art deco type building, however that one is in Mount Pleasant and I don’t even know what it’s used for or exactly where it is, so once I’d worked that out I decided to come along to this one anyway, and I’m really glad I did. The building itself was really interesting, and being an ad agency there was a lot of creative decor.

It was built in 1931 and was actually in use as a parking garage until 1988. The designer, Wallis Gilbert, also designed Victoria Coach Station. As it is a listed building, McCann have had to be a bit creative, so a lot of the original features are covered to make it suitable for use as an office (for example the ramps have been turned into quite sloping stairs). They've also got a roof garden and a swish coffee bar for staff.

External views:

Internal shots of the foyer and coffee bar:

Views from the roof: