Where 1984 of George Orwell got its inspiration from, the craziness of a real ministry of propaganda. 

This is over the road from my house and kind of feels like being transported back in time to the goth night I used to go to when I was 15. But much much bigger with much more entertaining outfits, cages, lasers and… BBQ.

There is a rather beautiful faded glory to these mythical creatures, which flank the steps guarding the ruins of the Italian Terraces in front of the former Crystal Palace, which dramatically burnt down in 1936.

The gallery was extended into a neighbouring Victorian House space about a year and a half ago, with a real skill in judging the meeting point between the contemporary and the conserved. The architects — 6a — were also responsible for Raven Row near Spitalfields (another favourite place). I'm lucky enough to work part of the week next door, at Camberwell College of Arts. This is about great food and good books. The café — a real haven at breakfast time before work — is run by the nicest team of people, with intertwined relationships to Camberwell. This book, designed by James Langdon, represents the kind of find possible in the bookshop and also the quality of conversation content had, over the best coffee.

Designed by Wells Coates, the Isokon Building opened in 1934 and was the first apartment block to be built using reinforced concrete. The Isokon Gallery is open at weekends telling the story of the Isokon building, the pioneering modern apartment block as an experiment in new ways of urban living.