Architectural fun for all the family at 66 Portland Place. Join us as we celebrate the building's 90th birthday year through hands on creative activities. Build big and small and explore the fabric and meanings within 66 Portland Place through drawing, making, and play.
The day will involve craft activities, songs and stories, opportunities to draw and learn about architecture and the magnificent building that RIBA calls home. There will be a drop in RIBA Baby room and Lego drop-in and reading area.
In partnership with Zaha Hadid Foundation, Building Crafts College, and London Zoo.
Programme for the day
Build with balloons
Up, up and away! We will need all your puff and building skills to help get the party started and will be recreating the famous RIBA building out of balloons with artist and educator Zoe Allen.
Stone and soap
Stone carving demonstration and soap carving workshop, with stone carving tutor Adeline Wartner and students of the Building Craft College.
Going for gold
You are a winner! The only question: what year will you win the medal for your contribution to architecture? Make your very own royal gold medal in partnership with Zaha Hadid Foundation with artist and educator Wilson Yau.
Animal life drawing (in partnership with London Zoo)
Capture them quick, they move fast. There are animals all over the building. London Zoo have kindly filmed some of the animals represented in the fabric of 66 Portland Place, you have to sketch them fast, then find where the animals are hiding in and on the building.
Birthday Bunting for the Building
66 Portland Place is now 90 years old. It’s highly decorated to show what the architect and clients felt was important at the time. Some of the artworks show real people and buildings. What would you want to represent about architecture or the building today? You are a real person using the building - decorate a piece of birthday bunting and add to the celebration of what architecture is today and can be in the future with textile artist and educator Lorelle Aboagye.
RIBA Baby play room.
Drop in a play with soft blocks and toys.
Lego and Reading Room
Need a quiet moment? Add to the growing Lego construction or take some time out to read a story about architecture.
Timed events
12pm and 2pm - Family Curator Tours
Family tours of the new exhibition Raise the Roof with Curator Margaret Cubbage.
11.30am, 1pm, and 2.30pm - Architectural Festivities: Songs and Stories
Celebrate the amazing history of RIBA building with interactive storytelling, live music and games, led by children's storyteller and musician Paul Rubinstein.
Programme is subject to changes on the day.
For upcoming family and children events, please see visit our website.
RIBA Learning programme
Our learning programme provides exciting opportunities for everyone to explore, question and celebrate architecture.
Our programme is inspired by the work of our members – past and present – and draws on our world-class collection of more than four million items, our exhibitions and our historic 1930s headquarters, 66 Portland Place.
Our online and hands-on creative workshops, courses and activities support learners of all ages and experiences in understanding how the spaces and places in which they live, learn, work and play are designed and built.
By investigating architecture through discussions, designing and making, and using digital media in real-world contexts, our programme encourages learners to think critically and test the boundaries of their creativity.
Architecture matters to all of us and our programme aims to make it accessible to everyone.
To stay up to date with our learning programme, sign up to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter.
