What if civic buildings in London’s Square Mile transformed from enclosed institutional structures into a horizontal system integrated into the fabric of the streets, opening up and encouraging public participation across discussions on the future of London and its people?

For the 20th anniversary of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) this summer, Urban Radicals has designed 4 Street Assembly platforms across the Square Mile, which re-imagine alternative parliament typologies and forms. The installations aim to make the idea of civic assembly accessible to a diverse audience, prompting Londoners to actively engage in shaping the city’s discourse.

Historically focused on trade and guilds, Square Mile has been both a financial and cultural hub for London. UR’ vision expands the concept of a “square” to include public squares, markets, and gatherings, transforming Square Mile into a place for public discussion, knowledge exchange, gathering and ultimately a place for all.

Street Assemblies unfolds in four distinct scales and forms to facilitate conversations in public space from everyday interactions, to organised public debates and performances.  

1. Assembly is a street auditorium for public debates, discussions, performances, summer screenings and small community gatherings, located in front of the Grade II listed – Maughan Library.

2. Voicing Pod is an intimate space for dialogue, live broadcasts and podcasts, located in the ‘underbelly’ of the iconic Lloyd’s building.

3. Roundtable is a table for shared meals and discussions that invites the public to sit down for exchange and deliberation, located at 120 London Wall.

4. Speaker's Plinths encourage the voicing of individual opinions, the sharing of reflections on the city, stories of origin, as well as prompting informal discussions and assemblies held along a walkable route, located on Vine Street, opposite the London Wall Museum.

Project Team: Urban Radicals (designers) AKT II (engineers), Millimetre (fabricators).