Dezeen Magazine

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Archtober combines architecture events across New York City all month

Dezeen promotion: building-centric activities will take place throughout October in New York City, as part of a celebration organised by the Center for Architecture.

For the eighth year running, Archtober will bring together a variety of events including building tours, design lectures, competitions and parties for members of the public to get involved with.

Guggenheim Museum
Archtober encompasses events like Open House New York, which offers a look inside buildings including the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. Photo by David Heald

"Archtober 2018 celebrates architecture and design in our city," said Benjamin Prosky, executive director of AIA New York and the Center for Architecture. "As New Yorkers, we are lucky to have such a vibrant ecosystem of organisations highlighting the importance of design in everyday life."

Returning for this edition, Building of the Day architect-led walking tours will visit a selection of new constructions and historic sites all month.

Brooklyn Bridge
New York's famous structures can also be enjoyed from the water on the Classic Harbor Line cruises. Photo by Dennis Cahlo

For Workplace Wednesdays, architecture firms Situ Studio, Steven Holl Architects, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, and Weiss/Manfredi will host talks, workshops or presentations for the public.

Open House New York will offer the chance to explore buildings across the five boroughs. On the weekend of 13-14 October 2018, doors will be open to perennial favourites like the City Hall, the Jefferson Market Library, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, as well as a series of open design studios across the city.

World's Fair Pavilion, Queens
The Building of the Day programme has been running for several editions of Archtober, with tours to Philip Johnson's New York State Pavilion in Queens. Photo courtesy of Center for Architecture

Alternatively, daily Classic Harbor Line cruises operated in partnership with AIA New York will take in the skyline from the water.

A series of festive activities will include the Pumpkitecture competition, when 20 architecture firms will carve pumpkins into architectural works in the hopes of winning the coveted Pritzkerpumpkin.

Pumpkitecture
The Pumpkitecture competition pits architecture firms like BIG against each other to carve architecture-themed pumpkins. Photo by Dan Cole

Coinciding with Archtober, the Architecture and Design Film Festival will present movies from 16 to 21 October 2018 including Dezeen's drone documentary Elevation.

For families, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum will put on the Teen Design Fair; the Museum at Eldridge Street will present Amazing Architecture for Kids; and The Queens Foundation for Architecture will host a bilingual K-12 Architecture Design Workshop.

Newtown Creek
This year's Building of the Day tours will include Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant by Polshek Partnership/Ennead. Photo by Jeff Goldberg/Esto

The Build a LEGO City day and a Build and Wear Halloween Costume workshop will be among the child-friendly options at the Center for Architecture.

Also new this year, non-profit The Uni Project will create pop-up learning environments for children to how to draw architecture and build in public spaces citywide.

To find a full list of events and details about how to participate, visit the Archtober website.