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Curators: Kathleen Lynch and Betsy Walsh

Over the course of two centuries, London changed from the capital of England, secure within its medieval walls, to a metropolitan seat of empire. The city was shaped both by rapid population growth and natural disasters. Such events had a significant impact on the built environment, opening up spaces for repurposing. Open City explores activities and pressures that altered Londoners’ sense of community, focusing especially on three types of institutions that touched everyday lives: church, theater, and market.