Over the weekend around 600 visitors flocked to the Isokon Building in Camden to enjoy an Open House tour.
Despite the rain across both days, people waited patiently to view three flats and learn about the stunning building’s amazing history, before dropping in to the Isokon Gallery Museum
Magnus England, director of the Isokon Gallery Trust, organised the event. He said: “This is our third year doing Open House, but the crowds are still as large as their first time. The profile of the building has increased
further after receiving a blue plaque in July, commemorating three of the Masters of the Bauhaus that lived here in the 1930s.
“Next year is the centenary of the Bauhaus design school so there will be several books published that feature the building, while an exhibition about the Isokon is currently in Estonia and will later move to France, so there is a lot going on.”
The Isokon was built in 1934 and became a popular haunt for designers, writers and artists, before falling into disrepair. After buying the building in 2002 we worked closely with English Heritage, Isokon Trust and Avanti Architects to restore it to its former glory.
Open House was also a huge success at Cheviot Gardens, where more than 50 people visited on its open day. There was a lot of interest on the final four flats available. Staff also raised £170 through cakes and hot drinks, which will go towards the Cheviot residents' activities fund.
There was also some entertainment and activities for the customers such as Pearly King & Queen and some art classes that inspired the customers to be creative.
Cheviot Garden in West Norwood is our first scheme that has combined state-of-the-art extra care facilities with a combination of rental and shared ownership homes for older people.
Linda Strong director of Care Operations (NHH) said: “It was a great event that really raised our profile not only in Lambeth but also across London as the visitors came from far and wide, were a diverse group and they all expressed how impressed they were.”