Open House weekend

What a wonderful thing is Open House. The book is full of places to visit that aren't usually open to the public - how to choose? 

The listing is by borough, so I looked only at Haringey (where I live), and Camden and Islington (nearby). Blue House Yard, in Wood Green, caught my eye - I'd seen it from the distance while out walking, so that was the first stop, artists' studios and shops for artisan products -

 Products including "Swedish candles" from the coppicing shop -

where I bought a box of straight-from-the-maker charcoal -

It's described as "A collection of new creative workspaces. Framed by a bright blue refurbished studio complex, nine tall, slender standalone worksheds and a double-decker bus cafe, the Yard will be a much-needed social space in Wood Green."

I had to hurry into town to be in time to see the Thames sailing barges pass under Tower Bridge, which was lifted for the occasion -

 They "sailed" upstream ...

and I got in the queue for City Hall ... 'cos I was there and it was there ... "Home of the Mayor of London and London Assembly, an environmentally-aware building with innovative spiral ramp and fine views across London" -

 and by the time the queue had moved to the entrance, the barges were sailing back again ...

 After airport-style security (London is on critical terrorist alert at the moment) the first thing you see is the giant map downstairs, along with the cafe -

 The lift takes you up to the 9th floor viewing gallery -

Looking downstream, towards Canary Wharf (the "new downtown")

Looking upstream, across to The City

 Then it's down the spiral staircase, with all its irresistible angles and reflections, to the council chamber, with purple carpet, on the 2nd floor -

 and beyond that to the map and cafe - everyone has to find where they live ....

On the way to Tom & Gemma's (for a little gardening and supper) I had a final few minutes in a private house "remodeled and extended on the ground floor, creating a lovely, open plan, light filled, family space, opening out onto the rear garden" -

(via)

With spaces like this, don't you find, it's all about being there in them, rather than seeing a photo. 

Sunday: another day, more viewing decisions. I was also getting in some of those 10,000 steps and took a diversion down Doughty Mews, a pleasant backwater near Gray's Inn Road -

The turquoise rectangle in the distance turned out to be an Open House sign - it turned out to be Adaptable House - " self-build conversion followed by 35 year occupation, from party house to office to family home for 6, and now home and studio".  I was entranced by the studio arrangements (6-8 people work on the ground floor) -

 and enchanted by the spaces upstairs, the collections of delightful things -

How did they get the Aga upstairs?

 the use of the spaces, eg the greenness of the little room behind the wisteria -

Reminds me of this Matisse painting (and note the "hot seat")

 how you climb up and up, beside a fig tree, to the roof garden -

 the many books, some cleverly tucked into the I-beams -

The doors are open during the daytime and closed at night -

How generous of the owners to let people wander through their home - and how inspiring for those of us who are not of a minimalist bent or who struggle with space restrictions.

Finally to Lamb's Conduit Street for Connock & Lockie - "Refurbishment and extension of a Grade II Listed property for a traditional tailor's shop. Bespoke design elements enable clinetele to experience every step of tailoring and become familiar with every member responsible for making it."

Paper patterns kept since the 1950s, and stairs to the lower rooms

Fabric samples and details

A fitting area folds out from the wall at the back of the ground floor

Panelling from the 1820s; the wallpapers are some decades later

A kitchen in what used to be a coal-hole!

A two-storey extension at the back of the property ...

... the top floor includes the required accessible toilet, behind folding doors

The specially-made exit signs had to pass inspection as suitable for a Listed building

I am overwhelmed by seeing just five of the many buildings open to the public on this special weekend. It was very much worth making the effort, despite the difficulty of "choosing".