Your Guide to Open House Festival 2025 in Lewisham

As the Open House programme advertises over 700 events and tours, just 19 in Lewisham might seem paltry.

But what's on offer is rich and interesting, so read on for highlights around self-building, arts, architecture and even waste.

 Self-Build Housing 

Government guidance says: “Self-build and custom housebuilding covers a wide spectrum, from projects where individuals are involved in building or managing the construction of their home from beginning to end, to projects where individuals commission their home, making key design and layout decisions, but the home is built ready for occupation (‘turnkey’).”

Lewisham is rich in examples of self-build, with four different projects in the Open House Festival this year. For these groups, self-build has been a route to an affordable home, when all other options were closed.  

13 Nubia Way in Downham 

This drop-in exhibition specifically focuses on Europe's largest black-led community self-build for rent initiative, offering one home for a close viewing.

The timber framed homes on the street were the inaugural winner of the Lewisham Homes Award. It’s one of three development schemes led by Fusions Jameen, formed in the mid-90s. 

The co-operative was formed by African and Caribbean Londoners for the purpose of developing a radical housing solution - the group took on all aspects of the construction  work in order to provide their own homes at reduced rents. 

 Open: 21 September 

7 Meadow Lane in Grove Park 

This self-build is one of the 14 homes from the same development, and also a Fusions Jameen project. The garden backs onto the River Quaggy. 

Open: 21 September 

Walters Way in Honor Oak Park 

The Walter Segal self-build homes went up in the mid 1980s. According to Open House, “The land was offered to people on Lewisham's housing waiting list who were willing to build their own houses.”

Walter Segal developed a system of building now named after himself. This 2015 article from the Guardian provides an interesting peek into the lives of the residents. 

Open: 21 September 

12 Church Grove in Ladywell 

Self-builds are not just a historic anomaly from the 80s and 90s. Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) led what Open House calls the largest community-led self-build project in the capital, creating 36 flats in two linked buildings. Residents moved into their homes in 2024.

 The leases are  designed to ensure that the buildings remain affordable in perpetuity, in contrast to projects such as Walter’s Way where houses have mostly been sold on to new owners.

Open: 14 September

Bonus: Brasted Close in Lewisham 

Citizens House is not part of the Open House festival but you can still walk by and admire the outside of this development of 11 homes. Though not strictly a self-build project, it was created by a Community Land Trust similar to RUSS at 12 Church Grove, and is also designed to remain permanently affordable. 

Residents moved in in 2023, and the building has won several awards. The land trust is currently campaigning in nearby Nunhead for another project.

Cultural Spaces 

Five cultural spaces in Lewisham are opening their doors for the festival. 

Lewisham Arthouse in New Cross 

This building recently received a grant for refurbishment, making this an excellent chance to discover the architecture as it is now. Built originally as the Deptford Central Library, it is Grade II listed and offers studio space, exhibition space, and classes. 

Open: 20 September 

Broadway Theatre in Catford 

This theatre has a melange of architectural styles. When not part of Open House, it has an eclectic array of programming. In the next few weeks alone, you can visit for Broadway Bingo, an original play, or a recreation of an Iron Maiden concert. The building is Grade II listed. 

Open: 13 September 

Art in Perpetuity Trust in Deptford 

APT artists offer you the opportunity to take in a group show and visit individual artist’s studios. The studio was founded in 1955 in an old warehouse on Creekside. 

Artists spoke to Salamander earlier this year about their experience of flooding, due to the creek's rising water levels, caused by climate change.

Open: 20 and 21 September 

Cockpit Studios Deptford in Deptford 

Just down the street, you can visit Cockpit Studios, which underwent a renovation in 2024 and features a newly redesigned front courtyard garden. The building was originally a 1960s office block. 

Open: 19 September 

165 Childers Street in New Cross

Acme Propeller Factory is raising funds to try to buy the the building, before its lease runs out in December. It is home to 135 studio spaces, hosting 180 artists. The building was constructed in the 1920s as a factory to build ship propellers, and then converted in 1990 for artists.

 Bonus: The h.Art’s Lane Gallery in New Cross Gate is throwing a street market on September 20th. In addition to stalls selling a variety of goods, you’ll have the chance to enter the gallery.

Located in a former motorbike garage that started life as a former stables, the event is part of the ongoing fundraising to support their work. 

Bonus: The Corner Coffee Shop in New Cross Gate has a show called ‘Together We Stand’ from Thursday 18th- Sunday 21st of September showcasing local south east London artists to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières, organised by Martha Lamont.

Talks and Urban Spaces 

If you prefer listening to an expert over poking your nose in buildings, there are three walks in Lewisham which may appeal. 

Deptford past, present and future 

Tickets are needed for this tour, which will “focus on different waves of urban change, exploring the values, approaches and factors that have driven these policies and projects over time. The walk will invite reflection on the impacts on everyday life, the area’s role within London and alternative ways of thinking about regeneration.” 

Open: 20 September 

Brockley’s Historic Mews in Brockley 

The description notes, “Our mews are quirky, eclectic and all different. They have rough paths, overgrown wilderness, scruffy areas and, regrettably, rubbish and fly-tipping, but also careful planting, street art, large trees in the adjacent gardens, a mixture of buildings.

They provide a contrast to the formality of the fronts of houses and streets. Our mews are recorded in literature and more recent reminiscences for over 150 years”.

 Open: 21 September for guided walks, though the Mews are open to the public always 

Brockley Architecture in Brockley 

Tickets needed for this, which will focus on the Brockley Conservation Area.

Conservation areas require different planning permissions, which historically were designed to preserve architectural character.  However, local campaigners argue that these need to be overhauled to meet today’s housing and climate demands.

 This tour might try to tread that line, noting that: “Some regrettable developments have nonetheless taken place within the range of Victorian buildings. But modern buildings of good design quality, in the right places, can enhance the conservation area and add to its architectural interest.” 

Open: 20 September 

The Incinerator 

South East London Combined Heat & Power in Deptford

SELCHP calls itself an "Energy Recovery Facility" and we've written about it several times in Salamander. We have challenged its low carbon energy claims and examined concerns about pollution from the flue.

The UK’s 8th largest incinerator, it’s situated just east of Millwall stadium, where thousands of new homes are proposed. 

It incinerates "residual" household waste - everything which is not recycled - from Lewisham, Greenwich and other boroughs, and generates heat and electricity.  

Open: September 21 

Bonus: Just over the border in Southwark, you can also visit the Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility and see what happens to your recycling.

There will also be a bike repair stall.  

Open: September 13

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