If buildings had a voice, what would they say?
For London Festival of Architecture 2025 we came together with other members of Society Building Fitzrovia to form the ‘Society Building Players’. Using this year’s theme of ‘voices’ we recorded a podcast that celebrates architectural heritage and the power of reuse by giving a voice to the buildings around us.
Each building holds a history of intention, invention, occupation, and adaptation. What will they tell us? What have they endured, and what do they still hope to be? Perhaps by hearing their stories we might better understand the case for reuse?
Retaining, adapting, and reimagining existing structures is not only technically sensible, but morally and culturally necessary. From housing to high streets, our future lies in working with what we already have.
On Thursday 26th June we opened Society Building’s doors to celebrate the podcast with the rest of our members and the wider Fitzrovia community as part of Studio Lates.
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But let me be clear. I’m still here. I’m still strong. And if you come with your polished plans and your luxury loft conversions, just know this: I’ve outlasted kings, crises, and cultural fads. I’m not going anywhere. So keep your hands off me — I’m still working.
The Voices
Victorian Terraced House
A reflection on resilience and adaptation. Built quickly and modestly, these homes have weathered generations of change. From coal fires to central heating, they remain archives of family life, cherished and criticised, still standing proudly in brick and slate.
NHS Hospital
Built for function over beauty, the NHS Hospital reflects on its purpose and fragility. It questions its short lifespan and sustainability in a world increasingly aware of its limitations.
1960s Office Block
Born from post-war optimism, the Office Block is pragmatic and adaptable. Built with precision and practicality, it endures despite attempts to disguise it. Never grand, but always reliable, it questions if it can last a little longer.
Civic Arts Centre
A well-meaning design, rich in materials and light, sometimes at the expense of purpose. Beautiful but occasionally ungrounded, built for everyone yet sometimes feeling like it belongs to no one.
19th Century (Northern) Warehouse
Solid, unyielding, practical. The Northern Warehouse is a monument to industrial grit, adapting from storage to lofts and studios. Proud of its honest structure, it endures with purpose and strength.
Smug 2000s Eco Home
Confident in its sustainability and low carbon footprint, the Eco Home is a model of modern living. Wrapped in reclaimed timber and solar panels, it is proud but uncertain about its own longevity.
High Street Department Store
Once the height of retail glamour, the Department Store remembers its glory days of window displays and crowds. As shopping moves online, it wonders if it is a relic or still worth saving.
