Building Sounds

Can an architecture festival have a real impact on the city? A conversation with Peter Murray and Moira Lascelles

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Episode notes

When the Festival was founded in 2004, Peter Murray had no idea of the legacy that the London Festival of Architecture would go on to have. In this episode, Building Sounds host Eliza Grosvenor sits down with two key people from the Festival's history to talk all things impact, 20th-anniversary, and uncover some intriguing stories from the early days. Eliza is joined by Peter Murray OBE (Co-Founder, NLA and Founder, LFA) and Moira Lascelles (Executive Director and Head of Partnerships, UP Projects) to explore the LFA2024 theme of 'reimagine' and to explore the role that an architecture festival can play in shaping the city. From jelly building to sheep herding, Peter and Moira dive into some of the iconic projects that have shaped the LFA over the past 20 years. To find out more about #LFAat20 or how to get involved in the Festival, head to the LFA website here. Have a question for the podcast? Email [email protected] or call 020 7636 4044.   Timestamps for this episode: 01:30 Introductions 02:25 Quick-fire questions 04:45 Thoughts on 'Reimagine' 08:50 The beginnings of the LFA, or 'Clerkenwell Architecture Biennale' 14:55 Millennium Bridge Sheep Drive 16:25 Early days with NLA 19:35 Stand-out projects from the Festival's history 23:30 Importance of supporting emerging designers, students and international practices 25:48 Challenges over the years 28:59 Advice for LFA2024 organisers 30:47 Closing questions   This episode was produced and edited by Katya Spiers. You can find a transcript of the conversation using the link below: Download the transcript here