Open House at the RA
Sunday 21 September 2014 10am - 6pm
Royal Academy of Arts
Free, no booking required.
Friends of the RA book first
Join us on Open House weekend as we open the doors of our home: Burlington House and Burlington Gardens.
Dating originally from the 1660s, Burlington House has been our home since 1867, and has seen impressive additions over the years by such celebrated architects as Sydney Smirke, Norman Shaw and Foster + Partners. Continuing that rich history, Burlington Gardens, originally built in the 1860s, is currently the focus of a major redevelopment of the RA’s site by David Chipperfield Architects, due for completion in 2018.
Enjoy a range of events, activities and displays for all ages as you explore a number of our buildings’ hidden spaces and learn about four centuries of architecture.
Introductory talks
The RA’s Architecture Programme Manager, Owen Hopkins, peels back the layers of history to reveal the intriguing story of the RA’s famous home. (Talks take place in the Saloon at 1, 2, 3 and 4pm; no booking required).
Drawing in the historic Life Room
Become an art student for the day and draw from some of the RA’s extraordinary collection of plaster casts in the historic Life Room of the Royal Academy Schools. (Life Room; drop-in all day).
Reimagining Mayfair pop-up exhibition
Check out a pop-up exhibition showing the results of the 'Reimagining Mayfair' project, in which we asked teams of architects and other designers to come up with exciting new ideas for the area of Mayfair to the immediate north of the RA.
Family Fun: Room without a Roof
Get creative in a free drop-in workshop for all the family. Award-winning architecture practice Mobile Studio have devised and lead the workshop on the theme 'Room without a Roof’. (Learning Studio; 11am–3pm).
The RA is participating in Open House for the whole weekend