Building Sounds

Voices of the city: Unpacking the LFA2025 Theme

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Episode notes

Architecture is not only about creation; it’s about listening, amplifying, and intertwining the voices that make up our spaces, stories, and neighbourhoods. In this conversation Rosa Rogina and Dhruv Gulabchande explore the chosen theme for the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) 2025: 'Voices'. During the conversation, the two discuss mentorship, urban narratives, and taking action through engagement, as well as unpack the relationship of people's stories and the importance of listening to and amplifying a diverse range of voices in the built environment which sits at the core of LFA. About the speakers: Rosa Rogina is the Director of London Festival of Architecture, leading on the strategic development of the Festival, LFA competitions and wider consultancy work. In parallel, Rosa also teaches architecture at the University of East London. Previously, she has co-curated the Montenegro Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale and was curator in residence at Vienna Design Week 2020. Alongside his role as LFA2025 Curation Panel member, Dhruv Gulabchande is an Architect and Associate Director at HFM Architects, currently teaching at Central Saint Martins, with previous roles at the University of Sheffield, and Brighton. He leads non-profit mentoring platform, Narrative Practice, where his research focuses on promoting diversity through integrating long-term mentoring into practice and academia. In recognition of his work, he has recently been selected as a RIBAJ Rising Star. Narrative Practice is an architectural mentoring and research platform that aims to improve diversity and representation within the profession. To learn more about Narrative Practice, you can use the link here.   To find out more about LFA2025 or how to get involved in the Festival, head to the LFA website here. Have a question for the podcast? Email [email protected] here. This episode was edited by Luke Chapman. You can find a transcript of the conversation using the link below: Download the transcript here.   Episode image: Narrative Practice x Wilkinson Eyre (c) James Budgen