Family Fun Day: RIBA Building Birthday Bash

Family Fun Day: RIBA Building Birthday Bash

Saturday 27th April 2024, 11am-4pm

Free, please book a place.

Architectural fun for all the family at 66 Portland Place. Join us as we celebrate the RIBA Headquarters 90th Birthday year through hands on creative activities. Build big and small and explore the fabric and meanings within 66 Portland Place through drawing, making and play.

The day will involve craft activities, songs and stories, opportunities to draw and learn about architecture and the magnificent building that RIBA calls home. There will be a drop in RIBA Baby room and Lego drop-in and reading area.

In partnership with Zaha Hadid Foundation, Building Crafts College and London Zoo.

Programme for the day

Build with balloons

Up, up and away! We will need all your puff and building skills to help get the party started and will be recreating RIBA out of balloons. With artist and educator Zoe Allen.

Stone and soap

Stone carving demonstration and soap carving workshop, with stone carving tutor Adeline Wartner and students of the Building Craft College.

Going for gold!

You are a winner! But what year will you win the medal for your contribution to architecture? Make your very own royal gold medal in partnership with Zaha Hadid Foundation. With artist and educator Wilson Yau.

Animal life drawing in partnership with London Zoo

Capture them quick, they move fast. There are animals all over the RIBA building. London Zoo have kindly filmed some of the animals represented in the fabric of 66 Portland Place, you have to sketch them fast, then find where the animals are hiding in and on the building.

Birthday Bunting for the Building

66 Portland Place is now 90 years old! It’s highly decorated to show what the architect and clients felt was important at the time. Some of the artworks show real people and buildings. What would you want to represent about architecture or the building today? You are a real person using the building! Decorate the a piece of birthday bunting and add to the celebration of what architecture is today and can be in the future. With textile artist and educator Lorelle Aboagye.

RIBA Baby play room.

Drop in a play with soft blocks and toys.

Lego and Reading Room

Need a quiet moment? Add to the growing Lego construction or take some time out to read a story about architecture.

Timed events

12pm and 2pm

Family Curator Tours

Family tours of the new exhibition Raise the Roof with Curator Margaret Cubbage.

11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm

Architectural Festivities: Songs and Stories

Celebrate the amazing history of RIBA building with interactive storytelling, live music and games, led by children's storyteller and musician Paul Rubinstein.

Programme is subject to changes on the day.

For upcoming family and children events, please see visit our website​​.

Terms and Conditions

• Under 18s must be supervised by an accompanying adult ticket holder at all times.
• We reserve the right to alter the advertised content of events.
• In the unlikely event we need to cancel we will contact all ticket holders as soon as possible. We cannot reimburse or compensate for travel or other associated costs.
• A photographer may attend this event and the images may be used to publicise future RIBA events.
• By accepting an invitation or selecting a ticket you consent to being photographed, filmed or recorded as a visitor attending the event.
• On entry to the event you agree to accept and abide by any venue rules; the RIBA reserves the right to remove participants who behave inappropriately from events.
• The details you provide will be used in accordance with the RIBA's GDPR obligations. For information on how we will handle your personal data please see our Privacy Policy at www.architecture.com.