This week, explore in the good weather some of the great gardens and greenery London has to offer. Watch the Olympics with a drink on a lawn, join in with the kids to make a cardboard neighbourhood, or visit a floating garden and learn how to hula hoop. 

Check back regularly to keep up to date with London's latest happenings and our weekly recommendations!

Farmopolis | Open now until September 1

Image: Farmopolis

Farmopolis is an interesting new addition to the Thames this summer, created by Secret Productions and Wayward architects, in conjunction with RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Farmopolis is an experimental production centre, pioneering an area of public together in the middle of the city, whilst being a practical, productive farm. With the creators’ combined experience spanning festivals, arts, community architecture, and farming, future hopes for the project are to create event spaces and to develop hydroponic and sustainable farming systems.

The garden will be bobbing in the river for the entirety of August and is open daily for public view, with accompanying workshops for all ages throughout the month. This week’s workshops include hula-hooping, woodcarving, and live music. 

Museum of London Talk | August 12

Image: Stanton Williams

The historic Smithfield Market is set to be the new home of The Museum of London. The winning design, led by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan, will be discussed at this free breakfast talk. The design, which has been described as innovative, and incorporates a huge dome and spiral escalators, will be submitted for planning in 2018. Asif Khan has recently been discussed after his Summer House, which accompanies the Serpentine Pavillion, has attracted crowds, and graced many accounts on Instagram. Stanton Williams, who were awarded the opportunity to upgrade the Royal Opera last year, are big names within the cultural field. This talk is an opportunity to discuss their experiences in the context of this new scheme.

This talk will cover the concepts and complications of the design, as well as discussing context and conservation of the site.

Kew Gardens – The Hive | Open now until November 30

Photo: The Hive at Kew Gardens, at night. Photograph: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew

Wolfgang Buttress, a UK based artist, has worked with Kew Gardens to introduce The Hive to the historic gardens. Designed around how bees work, and the structure itself hums and glows with the live activity of real bees in a nearby hive, detected with tiny accelerometers.

The Hive provides multiple ways to learn about bees, their impact, and how they communicate. Many scientists have contributed to this showcase, meaning that cutting edge technology and current research is integrated into the exhibition. 

RIBA House party | August 13

Image: RIBA

As part of the RIBA’s showcase of The Great British Home, this day will be celebrating the exhibition in a family-friendly day packed full of events. Throughout the day, there will be various activities aimed at children and families, including building 1:2 neighbourhoods with vPPR architects, discussions on the housing crisis, digital workshops, and free consultation sessions for parents (whilst children are occupied) to find out what an architect can do for them.

Joining in this event are professionals from across the architecture field, whose aims are to encourage involvement in design throughout all age groups. This includes Catherine Tackley & Sheila Peace from Open University, as well as practioners from vPPR, Francesco Pierazzi Architects, YARD architects, Larrissa Johnston Architects, David &Miriam Howitt, and Architecture for London. 

Olympics screen | Open now until August 21

Image: The Lawn at Merchant's Square

Great news if you live or work near Paddington; the Big Screen on The Lawn is showing all of the Olympic action over lunch times and after working hours for free. The Lawn has shown the Olympics and other sporting events in the past with great success. The grassed area also has drinks and nibbles available, making The Lawn a great lunch time venture, or a post-work wind down, especially if the weather stays fine this week! 

Also keep track of our weekly event picks for New York City and Los Angeles.

Have an event you want to submit? Send it to Bustler for review here.