London is a centric city. The typical commute heads inwards towards a Zone 1 workplace. But London can also be seen as a collection of smaller towns, each with its own central area. The latest exhibition at New London Architecture looks at plans to regenerate these local town centres and thus shape a 'polycentric city'. Opening with reference to 'the Mayor's 'blue doughnut' conjures up all kinds of improbable, possibly sordid images, until you......

For those of you gorging on architecture this weekend, the Open House London website has a number of late changes to the listings. Most importantly, the Bank of England, which we recommended in the most buttery terms, is now allowing access only to its museum. It's a pity, but scaling back is what banks do these days. There are 18 new additions (mostly tours), and 8 withdrawals. So the balance is an improved event that......

As if we needed another reason to be excited about Open House London this weekend, the organisers have planned a photography competition. Photographers are encouraged to "capture a building or an aspect of a building" that has inspired them and email it to competition@openhouse.org.uk before 6th October. Prizes include a custom canvas of the winning image and vouchers from Snappy Snaps. Need inspiration? This week's British Journal of Photography has a special feature dedicated to......

Two days until Open House Weekend, the premier event in London's architectural calendar. With bit noticeably chomped and anticipation status set to 'moist', we round up our highlights from previous years. Please, please, we want your suggestions in the comments. Diligent and dogged though we are in our exploration of the capital, there are over 600 places in the listings, and we know there must be plenty of what the guidebooks always call 'hidden gems'......

We may have missed the start of London Design Festival but we are certainly going to catch up with this 10 day city-wide celebration of all things cool, cutting edge and well-made. Because we like architecture, because we like furniture, because we like things that make our lives easier, because we like things that look nice. And if you do too, come along. London is a brilliant place to showcase the best of design......

A 140 metre tower for a plot behind the National Theatre has received the stamp of approval from Hazel Blears, the less-than-lofty Secretary of State for Communities and Local Development. Doon Street Tower raised the hackles of English Heritage and others, who prefer their views from Somerset House and St James Park to be unsullied by highrises. Blears’ approval clears the way for the residential tower, which will stand considerably taller than the nearby......

Tough market conditions in the City may have claimed another casualty: the Richard Rogers-designed 'Cheesegrater' building on Leadenhall Street is set to be delayed, say property group British Land, as they prepare a cost review of the project. Originally due for completion in 2011, the 48-storey 'scraper, to be built on the plot of land previously occupied by the old P&O HQ (whose demolition is in itself an interesting project), could be finished by 2012,......

Depending on which side of Prince Charles you stand, it's either to our shame or credit that London has yet to welcome a Frank Gehry building. No longer: the architect's first project here, this year's Serpentine pavilion, opened last week. Gehry brings a wealth of controversies and preconceptions. To fans he's an iconoclast able to redefine entire cities (his Guggenheim museum spawned "the Bilbao effect") and design breathtaking yet functionally adept buildings on time......

With the flood of recriminations about its cost and suitability yet to subside, work begins today on the aquatics centre at the Stratford Olympic site. Despite final blueprints yet to be agreed, concrete piles for the building's foundations are being installed, nearly two months ahead of schedule. The centre, with its distinctive sloping roof, has gone from being the darling of the design community to a metaphor for Olympian overspend, an initial projected cost......

Look at that gorgeous building. What would it sound like? Head to the Laban centre in Deptford to find out this Thursday evening when artist-musicians Janek Schaefer, Jasper Leyland, Alexander Wendt and Douglas Benford will perform http://www.last.fm/event/610474">108 Pieces Demolition. As the title suggests, and in keeping with the experimental nature of the artists and building involved, demolition and construction will be the theme for this evening. Far from the dance performances normally held in......

Despite a cast of cheerleaders including Lord Foster and Zaha Hadid, Poplar's Robin Hood Gardens estate, whose plight we reported on in March, appears doomed. A proposal to have the Brutalist masterpiece / eyesore (an opinion that depends on how many black turtleneck sweaters you own) given listed status has been rejected, and with 80% of residents baying for the block to be destroyed, it will likely go the way of all concrete. Good......

Since it finally shut up shop in 1983, Battersea Power Station has been reimagined by excitable developers as a theme park, circus, and luxury housing complex, whilst moonlighting as a cover star on iconic albums, surviving a hostile takeover by Cybermen, and finding time to host assorted gigs and contemporary art shows. The latest plan has just been unveiled, and it feels a little like history repeating itself: the site may be pressed back......

It starts tomorrow, folks. The London Festival of Architecture runs for a whole month and comprises some 600 events and installations. Previously, we selected a few ticketed events so you could book early. Today, we present a few highlights that run for several days and don't require any planning on your part. Just turn up. We'd encourage you to take a closer look at the full listings too, as we can only highlight a very......

It’s still three weeks away, but you’d better book now for some of the more popular-sounding happenings at this year’s London Festival of Architecture. From 20 June to 20 July over 600 events will celebrate the capital’s buildings. Here’s our pick of one-off events. We’ll do a round-up of exhibitions and other longer-lived diversions nearer the time. Check out the full programme here. 28 June Bank of England Open Day Highly recommended tour for those......

On New London Architecture's model of the capital, that is. The Cretaceous intruder is not alone. Spotting what architects would term 'interventions' on this map of present and future London is one of our favourite games. Across the Thames, we noticed a design flaw in the Olympic stadium. Now, Boris is enthusiastic about trees, but planting woodland on an athletics pitch is a little extreme. Still, at least it'll add a touch of iron-age......

Earth shattering revelation of the day: Met Commissioner says parents key to bringing up children who don't carry weapons. Yep, apparently so. Unlikely news of the day: Hayward Gallery goes psycho. We'll be there later this week. Motoring news of the day: Lorries park up and protest Faintly amusing news pun of the day: Pawn very popular. Hah. Ha ha. Marvel-lous news of the day: 3D comic book superheroes to go on display Image......

It was just last week that Londonist speculated our new mayor might not be so enthused about the skyscrapers redrawing London's skyline as his predecessor was. Now we have confirmation from the blond-barnetted one himself: he is to demand tougher rules on high rise buildings. Johnson outlined his views on skyscraper requirements thus: "They should be buildings of quality, they should be buildings of distinction... I do think we should be protecting strategic views......

The looming financial crisis and gradual decline in demand for city property may have claimed a victim: the controversial Walkie Talkie tower on Fenchurch street could be delayed until the commercial property market slump has passed. While demolition of the existing 1960s block is due to be completed early next year, the developer, Land Securities, has stated that they will wait to secure a tenant before construction begins on what is arguably the least......

Wembley Stadium is a modern marvel - Conde Nast in particular were mightily impressed by it - and it is surely one of the finest footballing cathedrals in the world today. So how come it hasn't yet been given the glad-eye from UEFA when they choose the venue for the Champions League final? Turns out that a somewhat arcane tax law has thus far presented Wembley being considered. Our government currently taxes overseas players......

The Cheesegrater, the Shard, the Walkie-Talkie... love them, loathe them, or merely shrug your shoulders in their general direction, our shiny new skyscrapers and bulky buildings are set to change the London skyline as they creep up over the Square Mile in the next few years. But will we be able to fill all this new space? The lean spell that every economist and his pet abacus is predicting means that offices are finding......

There's nothing shabby about Derelict London, a thoughtful compendium of unloved and forgotten buildings, the necrotic ulcers in London's hidden underbelly. Photos from the author, some taken in locations where we wouldn't want to risk an expensive SLR, are backed up with illuminating research and tip-offs from fans of his web site. The book opens with a sorry tale. A ramshackle Victorian cottage in East Dulwich is in limbo - it is Grade II......

After yesterday's news about Eurostar settling well into its new home, here's another cheery account of a London landmark that has us thinking we might not be as bad at this construction thing as T5 would suggest. Though it may have opened years late and countless gajillions over budget, Wembley Stadium has been selected as one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World by the discerning critics at Condé Nast Traveler. Sitting among......

A couple of news items guaranteed to register on Prince Charles' carbuncle-ometer: plans for London commissions by two of modern architecture's most innovative practitioners took a step forward this week. Back in January Frank Gehry was announced as the designer of this year's Serpentine Pavilion, the temporary build that goes up during the summer and autumn in Kensington Gardens. The structure has now been unveiled. An "urban street" that provides a covered walkway from......

View Larger Map Everyone knows about London Bridge moving to the States. Most people are aware that Marble Arch was formerly outside Buckingham Palace, and that the Crystal Palace hopped from North to South. But a Christopher Wren church in Missouri? Part of the House of Commons in Belsize Park? Next to a section of old Waterloo Bridge? Who knew? Thankfully, Londonist keeps a watchful eye on the city's buildings. The itinerant structures have been......

Her Maj has cut the ribbon on Heathrow's Terminal 5. The £4.3 billion node, designed by Richard Rogers, opens for non-Royal business on 27 March. The BBC has all the facts and figures you could ever need. Rather than repeat them, with added quips, we'll simply point you in the direction of our sneak preview and leave you with a few images of this immense addition to London's international transport network.......

Crossrail, the Channel Tunnel rail link, basement developments – underground London is growing as fast as the surface city. The past, present and future of our subterranean spaces are celebrated in the latest exhibition at New London Architecture. To be honest, you can enjoy most of the show from the comfort of your laptop by downloading the guide. However, if you're in the Tottenham Court Road area, it's worth popping in to see the......

The tussle over the fate of an east end council block stepped up a gear over the weekend, as a heavyweight "starchitect" and a respected art critic both sided with a campaign to save the building. Robin Hood Gardens, a 1972-built concrete block in Poplar, was recently singled out as a failed estate by local MP and culture minister Margaret Hodge, who wants it demolished. However, it has been defended by Richard Rogers and......

Residents vs. architects: Those who live in Robin Hood Gardens want the estate demolished, whilst architects fight to save “seminal” modernist buildings. Your daily crime round-up: “Osama bin London” jailed indefinitely; cleaner who killed 94-year-old widow jailed for life; financial trader denies involvement in murder of wealthy writer. We’re sensing a pattern here: Man scales Japanese embassy in London to protest Japanese whaling. Met to build firearms training centre near Heathrow; increased security concerns......

At first glance, this looks like a rather pleasant alternative to the Millennium Bridge - a verdant, undulating span like nothing else in London. But look at what's written along the side and you may feel your gorge begin to rise. The Diana Memorial Bridge is one of dozens of abandoned London schemes in a long-running thread on skyscrapercity forums. These include an X-rated erotic gherkin, a bulbous colander for Trafalgar Square and, our......

We're considering giving our notice at Londonist Towers and upping sticks for a new home. Specifically, we want to move into Jean Prouvé's Maison Tropicale. The prefabricated bungalow, standing on the front lawn outside Tate Modern, is in London as part of the excellent Prouvé retrospective at the Design Museum. Dating from the 1950s, the Maison was an attempt at creating lightweight, flat-pack housing for colonial authorities that could easily be loaded into a......