This month, we are marking the 90th anniversary of our landmark London building at 66 Portland Place, launching an exciting new series of digital stories as part of our collaboration with Google Arts & Culture.
The specially curated stories are drawn from RIBA’s collections – among the largest and most significant architectural collections in the world. They include a virtual tour of 66 Portland Place and an exploration of the building’s history, shedding new light on its imperial past - alongside studies of how colour has been used by architects, the collaboration between artists and architects, and the narratives that our collections reveal about LGBTQ+ history.
The 10 new stories appear with a further 23 already published since RIBA first launched on the Google Arts & Culture platform back in 2021. Together, these profile over 1,000 items in our collections which include drawings, photographs, models and artefacts spanning the Renaissance to the present day.
Also coinciding with the 90th anniversary, we will be providing an update on House of Architecture – our multi-million improvement programme that includes investment to transform 66 Portland Place into a leading cultural destination for discovering, exploring and debating the practice of architecture.
Following consultation earlier in the year, we are now due to publish the latest designs for the building, available to view at a free exhibition at 66 Portland Place and online – from Tuesday 19 November until the end of the year – alongside updates on plans to create an improved online experience and bring together our collections so that they can be better cared for, accessed and appreciated.
Find out more at www.architecture.com/RIBAHouseofArchitecture.
Designed by George Grey Wornum, 66 Portland Place was officially opened on 8 November 1934 by King George V. Wornum's design was part of a competition to create a new home for RIBA after it had outgrown its original headquarters. On 14 September 1970, the building was granted Grade II* status. Today, it is home to RIBA's architecture galleries, the RIBA Library, a café, the RIBA Bookshop, and more.
