02 May 2012

WALKING ARCHITECTURE

GUIDED WALKS PROPOSAL

LEICESTER

Introduction

As a pilot opportunity, during the Love Architecture Festival (15-24 June), the RIBA East Midlands, working in partnership with Leicester Civic Society, Leicester Shire Promotions and the Leicestershire and Rutland Society of Architects (LRSA), plan to run two guided walks in Leicester.

The purpose of the Festival and the Walking Architecture tours is to highlight the contemporary architecture in the city as well as the cultural significance of the built environment and architecture in today’s society.

The intention is for the routes to be agreed between the RIBA and the Civic Society, with Society members providing the guides. Ticket sales will be via the Society’s website and marketing, plus that of Leicester Shire Promotions and the RIBA, with the Leicester Tourism Information Centre also a source of tickets @ a 10% commission rate.

Audience

General public, living both within the city and beyond

RIBA members and architects

Civic Society members

Groups – students, societies etc. – these may provide opportunities for developing the tours into a longer term project

Tours/Buildings featured

There are two tours planned, each lasting approximately 2 hours

Title - The South Fields (1912 -1958)

Date - Sunday 17^th June 2.30pm

Guide – Tim Savage

• Victoria Park Pavilion
• Granby Hill Top Gates and Lodges
• De Montfort Hall
• War Memorial
• Peace Walk Gates
• Central Fire Station
• Both surviving sets of fireman's cottages
• The school janitor's house on De Montfort Street
• Wyggeston Girls School (Regent College)

Title - Charles Street & St. George’s (1923 -1960)

Date - Friday 22^nd June 7pm  

Guide – Stuart Bailey

• No.9 Humberstone Gate West (1722 shop rebuilt in 1927 - both dates are on the building)
• Lewis's Tower
• Hannam Court Flats
• Royal Standard PH
• Halford Buildings (Former HQ Leicester Temperance BS)
• Pfister & Vogel Warehouse (Now Leather Factors) Rutland Street
• Odeon (now Athena)
• Former Wholesale Warehouse building on Halford Street (With originally proposed roof reconstructed)
• Charles Street Council Offices
• 42 - 44 Granby Street (Corner with Rutland Street)
• 100 Charles Street
• 118 Charles Street
• Nathan Harris Furnishers (Now Blunts Shoes)
• Goddard Factory

Ticketing & Pricing

• There will be a maximum of 25 tickets per tour, with each adult (12 and over) ticket costing £5. Children under 12 will be charged £3

Marketing and Promotion

Lucy Grierson from the East Midlands office will lead on behalf of the RIBA and provide the liaison with the partner organisations on promotion. Activity will include:

• Featuring of the tours on the Love Architecture website www.lovearchitecture.org
• Promotion via the RIBA’s national, regional and local press relations activity, working alongside the key partners
• Selling in of the tours to city and county council on line ‘What’s On’ guides
• Flyer to be distributed at the Leicester TIC and other identified venues. This will feature all partner logos
• Festival e bulletin to RIBA members in the East Midlands

Leicester Civic Society will promote the tours via their website and member communications. This can feature Love Architecture Festival branding.

Leicester Shire Promotions will promote the tours, via their website, social media activities and the TIC. This can feature Love Architecture Festival branding.

LRSA will promote the tours via their meetings and events, plus e communications with members

Main contacts:

RIBA – Mike Baulcombe/Lucy Grierson

Leicester Civic Society – Tim Savage/Stuart Bailey

Leicester Shire Promotions – Janine Williams

Leicester TIC – tbc

LRSA – Tom Hart