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Through debates and guided architectural tours, Concrete Communities provides a welcoming space for honest conversations about inclusivity, equality, modernity and the importance of community.

We organise events that bring architects, design industry professionals and members of the public together, to talk openly about the places where we live, work and play. The built environment belongs to all of us. Help us explore why some buildings make us happy – and others don’t.

Full details of the next Concrete Communities event will be available soon. To learn more about what we do and be the first to hear about future debates and tours, please sign up for the newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Event

Date

Location

Description

Tickets

010

Event 010

Date

08.04.2025

Location

Space House
1 Kemble Street
London. WC2B 4AN

Description

Event 010 examines the concept of reuse. In collaboration with The Twentieth Century Society, it will focus on the launch of the C20 Risk List – which is published every two years and highlights 10 outstanding modern buildings in the U.K. most at risk of demolition, redevelopment or neglect.

In an age of frenzied destruction, C20 will unveil their campaign to protect all 10 Risk List buildings from the wrecking ball. The hotly anticipated list includes pre-war department stores, millennium-era projects, brutalist sporting citadels and high-tech prototypes. We’ll bring together a panel of experts in the fields of architecture, regeneration and restoration to debate the imperative of architectural reuse, the environmental cost of demolition and the need to safeguard the built-heritage of the future.

The event concludes with guided tours of the panoramic rooftop terrace of the Grade II* listed Space House. Designed by architects George Marsh + Richard Seifert, the (now) 18-storey circular tower in central London was completed in 1968. Recently retrofitted by Squire + Partners, this iconic twentieth century landmark stands as a retro-futuristic reminder that the best ideas don’t need tearing down – they just need looking after properly.

Panel:

Leanne Cloudsdale • Moderator | Concrete Communities
Catherine Croft • Director | C20
David Bickle • Architect | Hawkins\Brown
Mark Latham • Regeneration Director | Urban Splash
Richard Nelson • Co-founder | Don’t Waste Buildings
010-Space-House-GG-1079359
Credit | Gareth Gardner
010-Space-House-GG-1079359
Credit | Gareth Gardner

Past Events

Concrete Communities 009 Vitsœ HQ
Credit | Jordan Bunker • Concrete Communities
Concrete-Communities-008-ChartHouse-EdmundSumner
Credit | Edmund Sumner
Concrete-Communities-TheHepworthWakefield-IwanBaan
Credit | Iwan Baan
Concrete-Communities-006-StandingAtTheSkysEdge
Credit | Holly Beechener
Concrete-Communities-004-Nest-A
Credit | Max Hawley • Nest
Concrete-Communities-003-VitsoeHQ-cropped
Credit | Dirk Lindner • Vitsœ
Concrete-Communities-002-RichardBattye
Credit | Richard Battye • Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Concrete-Communities-Event001-TimCrocker-cropped
Credit | Tim Crocker • Mikhail Riches

Reviewing CC

Gathering feedback from attendees of our debates and guided tours is essential. Here’s a selection from our latest visit to the Vitsœ HQ and production building in Leamington Spa. Testimonials help Concrete Communities stay on track, in its aim to deliver events that encourage conversation between the design industry and members of the public. In addition to this, there’s a determination to bring people together so they can foster new friendships and become part of the wider Concrete Community.

Simon Watkins
Co-founder of Labour & Wait

“The day was great! I enjoyed the informality and friendliness of the event. It was great to meet so many like-minded individuals, who all shared a passion for Vitsœ. I think Concrete Communities give those with an interest, the opportunity to ‘peek behind the curtain’ at locations which may normally be out of bounds. You get a real insight into the buildings and how they work.”

Alys Bryan
Managing editor at Design Insider

“Self-initiated endeavours like Concrete Communities are exactly what we need more of. It’s creating inclusive, welcoming pathways to design, and access to spaces and conversations most people haven’t had access to before. I feel extremely lucky to have been part of the Vitsœ event – a beautifully curated tour and the chance to sit down over a delicious lunch and meet people I would never have otherwise had the joy to speak with.”

Amy Cooper-Wright
Founder of Mark+Fold

“As the daughter of two architects, I found the clever, technical details of the building fascinating – the wood and the vastness of the space were inspiring and very beautiful. As a Vitsœ customer, I’ve always been fascinated by the genius simplicity of the system and was curious to learn more about how it’s made. To sum up the day, I felt calm, educated, well looked-after – and well fed!”

Robert Walker
Founder of By Umberto

“Superb! Mark Adams (Vitsœ) was amazing, his encyclopaedic knowledge of the building – and the products, was incredible. His passion for production, British industry and Leamington’s geographical location was inspiring. The other guests were really nice people, with plenty to talk about regarding architecture, design, art – and everything in between. Day’s like this top up my soul. I felt part of something bigger that day. Part of a community.”