5 Cleveland Place
Thu 15 Oct · 18:00
How do workplaces shape the way we collaborate, innovate and design the future of London? Join The London Society for an exclusive members-only visit to the London studio of Foster + Partners, one of the world’s most influential architectural practices. Located on the south bank of the Thames between Battersea and Albert Bridges, Riverside was completed in 1990 on a former industrial site and remains a pioneering example of combining living and working within a single development. Over the past three decades, the practice has grown dramatically, with almost 2,000 people now working across eight buildings on the Battersea campus. As London continues to evolve, the places where ideas are developed matter as much as the projects themselves. Foster + Partners has played a significant role in shaping cities across the world, and Riverside offers a fascinating insight into how a leading design practice organises itself, collaborates and creates. The studio’s democratic approach to workplace design reflects wider conversations about how buildings can support creativity, communication and wellbeing. Recently refurbished, the heart of the campus is the remarkable 60-metre-long double-height studio overlooking the Thames. Entered via a sweeping staircase and informal coffee bar, the space brings together architects, engineers, designers and specialists around shared workbenches, creating an environment designed to encourage conversation and collaboration across disciplines. During this exclusive visit, attendees will explore the main studio and learn how the practice has evolved alongside its Battersea home. Members will also have the opportunity to visit the Materials Research Centre, Modelshop and Hub, gaining a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the processes, technologies and craftsmanship that support projects around the world. This is a rare opportunity to step inside one of London’s most celebrated architectural workplaces and learn directly from the people shaping some of the world’s most ambitious buildings and urban projects.
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.