For those who are unaware, this year marks the 35th anniversary of the City Architecture Forum. This is, of course, a significant milestone and is not only a mark of how well the Forum has endured but also how well it is regarded by both members and guests.
This doesn’t mean we have been complacent, indeed, the ever changing environment that is at the heart of our organisation – the City of London itself - almost obliges us to stay fresh and relevant to embrace the ebbs and flows of economics, politics and development, and the associated changes in the property and construction industry.
So, what has happened since our Chairman, Andrew Reynolds, provided the last members’ update at the end of 2025? I’m pleased to say we have made excellent progress with several new initiatives – all as part of what we have dubbed ‘CAF 2.0’ – principally developing a wider range of events (talks, tours and site visits) than ever before, a new website that we hope you are experiencing as a substantially better resource, more user friendly and accessible, making applications for events and membership so much more straightforward.
I am writing this not long after having joined members and Gwyn Richards (Planning and Development Director) and Tom Nancollas (Assistant Director, Design) of the City Of London Corporation on a walk jointly organised to explore recently completed and upcoming projects in the Holborn and Fleet Valley area of the City (roughly the area bounded by Chancery lane, Holborn, Farringdon Street and Fleet Street), an event which I feel perfectly captures the spirit and essence of the Forum in its newest guise – a collaborative, inclusive fraternity which offers exclusive insights into the best of the City’s architecture presented by key figures invested in its development, and responsible for its stewardship.
The positive influence of Jenny Adler-Potts, our Operations Director, and indeed a number of our Committee members, has helped to promote this change and I would encourage you to watch this space for news of upcoming future initiatives, events and activities, with the CAF Annual Dinner 2026 at the Chartered Accountants’ Hall, in Moorgate Place, on Wednesday 11 November as the stand out function in this anniversary year!
In the last 6 months we have also launched the Conversazione (In Conversation With) series, the first being compered by Lee Mallett. The idea of this is to invite key figures in our industry to join us for drinks and dinner and a Michael Parkinson (the older generation will know who he is) or Graham Norton (for today’s viewers) style interview/fire side chat to hear their stories, reflections on the City, and their hopes and aspirations for its future in a more intimate and convivial setting. First guest was the renowned journalist and industry commentator, Paul Finch, who had us transfixed with stories of his own beginnings, his love of and involvement with the world of architecture, and his varied activities today.
To mark our anniversary, we will be following this up with the rapidly approaching first ever CAF Summer Cocktail Party on 8 July, to be preceded directly by the next Conversazione, which will be – appropriately - with Michael Cassidy, the founding force behind the City Architecture Forum, who has of course enjoyed a long association and involvement with the City, and brought so much that is positive to it. We look forward to the prospect of seeing you there.
The next 6 months will be a very busy period for CAF Committee members, who will be preparing a special publication to mark our anniversary. A lot of hard work is going into its design and content, into developing themes and topics with contributors and the editorial team and, of course, securing the necessary sponsorship to make it all happen. It promises to be a worthy successor to the last anniversary publication by the Forum in 2011, City Architecture: Redesigning the City of London 1991-2011. Our aim is to make this a much admired ‘calling card’ for the City’s representatives travelling the UK and the world, promoting its extraordinary architecture, dynamic and progressive energy.
These are exciting times ahead for the City and the City Architecture Forum, and we very much hope you and your guests will continue to enjoy the benefits of membership and the unique offering we have.
