Virtual tours and films enhance Open House Enfield experience

London’s biggest, live regeneration project, Meridian Water, will be welcoming visitors virtually for the first time, as part of this year’s freshly adapted Open House architectural weekend.

Many of Enfield’s venues have redesigned their schedules as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing, so people will still have the opportunity to appreciate and learn about the borough’s rich heritage.

The end result will be Enfield’s most unique Open House to date with a busy agenda starting on 19 September, including:

• An online Meridian Water tour and panel discussion led by Enfield Council’s Meridian Water team
• An on-site tour of Moore Brook Green Link (the lost river) led by Enfield Council’s watercourses team
• An online tour of Dujardin Mews, led by Karakusevic Carson Architects
• A self-guided tour that takes in the Old Vestry Houses in Enfield Town and ends at Myddelton House.
• A series of films on Millfield House, Moore Brook Green Link and Peter Barber schemes encompassing heritage, housing and landscape, premiering from 19 September.

Enfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Ian Barnes, said: “Enfield is in a fabulous position in that it has a wide variety of venues participating in Open House showing the borough’s heritage, arts and cultural diversity. The 2020 schedule also represents the future of Enfield – how our Heritage Strategy sits alongside Enfield’s Local Plan, which aims to raise design standards, work collaboratively with community groups and respect all aspects of heritage.

“For example, Meridian Water is a landmark housing and economic regeneration scheme, which will become a distinctive neighbourhood designed to nurture economic, environmental and social sustainability. On the other side of the coin, Moore Brook Green Link is our first wetlands to feature in the festival, showcasing how we worked with nature to transform an urban park and streetscape.

“There are so many hidden treasures to explore in Enfield. It’s been a long summer of lockdown and this is a great opportunity for a socially distanced look around of some of our wonderful buildings and outdoor spaces.”

Other participating venues include:

• All Saints Church, Edmonton
• Forty Hall Estate – virtual tour
• Building BloQs Workshop
• Enfield Brewery
• Parish Church of St Andrew, Enfield Town
• Royal Small Arms Factory
• St Alphege Church, Edmonton
• Winchmore Hill Friends Meeting House & Burial Ground

To find out more about the free tours, go to https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/ and select Enfield in the search filter.

Enfield Council would like to thank the Enfield Society for their support again this year, enabling our participating in Open House.

If you are interested in art, culture and architecture in Enfield, why not sign up to the Council’s regular newsletters, so you can keep up to date with events in the borough. Go to www.enfield.gov.uk/enewsletters.