At a perfect time of year to take stock (the 'silly season' of parties hasn't quite started, but we are quickly moving towards the year's close), this week provides a series of events focusing on reflection. From collections showing the life works of iconic creators to a discussion on how we continue to work in the city; and from looking at the concept of the city itself from a different (sweeter) angle, to challenging our consumer society through craft. 

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

Workshop - Gingerbread Houses! | 7-21 December

Gingerbread City - exhibition | 7-22 December

Image: Museum of Architecture

The Museum of Architecture are opening The Gingerbread City this week, a new, annual competition where practices have designed and created gingerbread plots, which come together to create an entire city of sugar.  Different city zones had different briefs, ranging from Unite d’Hobnob (high density, central urban area mixing both residential living with a highly active street life) to Caramel Wharf (an artistic centre with an industrial heritage on the docks).

Following its opening, the exhibition is open to the public, with accompanying family workshops where children can create a house of their own, inspired by the gingerbread city.

Zaha Hadid: Early Paintings and Drawings | 8 December - 12 February 2017

The Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Image: Luke Hayes

This year, we lost Zaha Hadid, one of the most influential and divisive architects of our time. 

As put by Archinect's own Justine Testado in our Thanksgiving piece:

 Zaha Hadid is one of those seminal figures whose resilient aura and one-of-a-kind designs have left a mark on me for good. And personally, seeing a woman (not to mention a woman of color) who was at the top of her game—despite the scrutiny she got (which was sometimes excessive)—is always inspiring.

However you feel about her work, this winter there is the opportunity to see some rarely seen drawings and paintings by the late architect. The Sackler Gallery was one of Hadid's first permanent London projects, and provides the perfect location for a retrospective of her work.

Where Do You Work? | 9 December

Image: New London Architecture

As explored throughout this year at the NLA, this lunchtime talk will explore the way in which our city shapes the way we work, and how we work affects the location of, and the way we live. This is part of their WRK/LDN series, bringing how and where we work to the forefront of discussion.

Gavin Turk: Who What When Where How & Why | Open now until 19 March

Image: Lauren Pratt

Having opened last week, the latest exhibition in Caruso St John's Stirling Prize winning Newport Street Gallery is Gavin Turk's 'Who What When Where How and Why’. This showcase is an opportunity to see more than seventy works, spanning 26 years of the sensational and provocative artist's career.

The Bobble Hat Workshop | 10 December

Image: TRAID

Eschewing the consumer overtones of the season, this workshop is run by Traid, a charity who upcycle waste textiles to reduce the impact of throwing away unloved clothes, and to raise funds for global ecological projects. This workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn how to turn an unwanted jumper into a warm winter hat. The repurposed item could keep out the wintery winds or be be the perfect, thoughtful gift for a loved one this Christmas. 

Find more events in London here.

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.