Your Guide to Open House Festival 2025 in Lewisham
The borough has 19 buildings or events in this year’s Open House Festival, held from 13 to 21 September and celebrating the unique built environment of London.
Features
Ladywell Playtower: as plans collapse, residents call for a community-centred approach
After years of failure to restore the building, local people are asking for active engagement with Lewisham council which puts put them "at the heart of the process".
Plastics: from pollution to solution
Plastic pollution is out of control and environmental groups have been pushing to secure a global agreement to tackle it. Fossil fuel lobbyists again blocked a full treaty that would cut plastic production. But the fight for a strong treaty and just transition to a reuse-based future goes on.
Burning plastic at SELCHP incinerator, Deptford - what's coming out of the flue?
The facility has been burning household waste since 1993, and much of that waste is plastics. But concerns about the chemicals in plastics, and the dangers of air pollution, have grown. Wales offers a vision of a different way to manage waste, with some councils recycling over 70% of waste.
Deptford Ravens present Offside at Royal George
Ayesha Shingruf joined the inclusive local football team to get active, but stayed because of its sense of community. She introduces the Ravens' first art exhibition, Offside.
Bakerloo Line extension - can London "stand on its own two feet"?
After hopes of government funding were dashed, the GLA Budget and Performance committee are exploring alternative methods for funding the long-awaited Bakerloo line extension through to Lewisham and on to Hayes.
Cool roofs - could they work for London?
Cool roofs are light coloured and designed to reflect heat, the simplest just a coat of white paint. They have been used for centuries in some parts of the world and are now taking off in the US.