London announces program for architecture festival

(AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND LANGLOIS)

As London gears up for the Olympic Games to be held in the British capital in 2012, the British Council has again teamed up with the Architecture Foundation to host the biennial London Festival of Architecture, which will take place from June 19 to July 4 this year.

Under the motto of 'The Welcoming City,' the London Festival of Architecture (LFA2010) will invite the public as well as professionals to take a closer look at how exactly planners, architects and local communities contribute to the development of the city in the run-up to the event.

There will be exhibitions, installations, events and debates as well as guided walks and bike rides to discover the architecture of the city. And, staying true to its Olympic slogan, 'London welcomes the world,' it will also see other countries including Japan and Finland addressing urban living in London as part of the International Architecture Showcase.

In addition, the Architecture Foundation will organize two hubs, entitled 'High Street 2012,' the section of streets representing the last 6 kilometers of the Olympic Marathon that will focus on regeneration and a wider streetscape, and 'Bankside Urban Forest,' meant to highlight the development of public spaces.

More information can be found at  http://www.lfa2010.org