Every month architects and industry insiders share their recommendations for the best exhibitions and events to visit in Brighton and Hove. Views expressed on this page are those of the author, and may not reflect those of the editors of the Architecture Diaries.
THIS MONTH:
Rebecca Brueton
Rebecca Brueton is the Regional Engagement Partner for the South East at RIBA, marking her third anniversary with the organisation in summer 2025. With over a decade of experience in membership-focused roles, including work with risk managers, humanist celebrants, and the mobile phone industry, she brings a deep understanding of professional communities and the value of strong networks.
Supporting the RIBA South East Awards is a particular highlight of her RIBA role. Getting a first-hand look at the shortlisted projects and hearing the judges’ deliberations never fails to inspire. She’s quietly hopeful the awards ceremony will be held in Sussex next year… watch this space.
It’s nearly autumn, but not quite yet. I love autumn: the colours, the smells, the new beginnings. My daughter is preparing for a new school year, my son for the start of sixth form. But we’re not there just yet. The evenings may be drawing in, but summer still lingers, so let’s make the most of it.
One place to do exactly that is Saltdean Lido. Described as one of the seven wonders of the English seaside, and nearly lost to demolition in 2010 after years of disuse, this 1930s icon has been lovingly restored thanks to a campaign led by locals with the support of organisations such as the Twentieth Century Society. On Thursday 11th September, the Lido will welcome around 100 architects and built environment professionals for the RIBA Sussex Late Summer Social and Building Tour. I am especially looking forward to hearing directly from the architects, engineers, and planners who brought this landmark back to life, with tours and talks from R H Partnership Architects, QED Structures, and Lewis & Co. Add some good food, drinks, a jazz quartet, and excellent company, and it promises to be a very special evening.
As Regional Engagement Partner for RIBA South East, I’ve seen the RIBA Sussex Branch go from strength to strength since its launch early last year. Their gatherings are always engaging and energising, and this promises to be another standout event.
Meanwhile in Hove, author and former Sunday Times architecture critic Hugh Pearman, invites us to consider that You have the right to change your mind. His free talk will reflect on shifting attitudes towards architecture, exploring how modernist buildings once maligned are now listed, and how everything, given time, becomes historic.
Also this month, House of Cybele continues its mission to celebrate and connect the craftspeople, artisans, designers, andhttps://brighton.architecturediary.org/event/house-of-cybele-networking-group-for-architects-designers-craftspeople-and-artisans-2/ architects whose specialist skills shape the buildings we live and work in, and would like to invite you to join their network.
September also brings the welcome return of Heritage Open Days, with this year’s theme, appropriately, focusing on architecture. More than 60 events are listed for Brighton & Hove alone, offering 10 days of tours, talks, walks, and workshops across England’s built heritage. I’m particularly excited that Brighton College is opening its doors, with a talk from the College Archivist and a tour of both the historic campus and its award-winning contemporary buildings. I missed the RIBA Sussex tour of the college earlier this year, so I’m delighted I get a rare second chance.
Brighton Dome also joins the Heritage Open Days line-up, celebrating 90 years since its striking Art Deco transformation. Alongside backstage tours and hands-on family craft workshops, historian Dr Kathryn Ferry will give a talk exploring the Dome’s interwar redesign within the wider context of seaside architecture during the holiday boom.
So, as summer lingers and autumn beckons, let’s enjoy this rich mix of conservation, creativity, and community. Proof, if ever we needed it, that Brighton & Hove’s architectural story is never finished, only evolving…
