Just as this weekend offers a chance to see inside one of the post-war bus garage icons, there is a chance the following weekend to see inside a very different, yet kindred structure.
Build next to West Ham tube station, the appropriately named West Ham bus garage was built as a result of some sporting event in Stratford needing the land occupied by two other bus depots. They had to go, and got a new building in West Ham.
Whereas Stockwell bus garage is famously made from a vast single span of concrete, West Ham has four sizeable spans of steel. Two of those four spans are also covered in a green roof, which soaks up rainwater which can then be used for flushing toilets and the like.
A token wind turbine does generate about 10 per cent of the electricity the garage needs, so not such a token after all.
It is occasionally open to the public during Open House weekend, but as that is not guaranteed, there is a chance to book paid tours instead next weekend.
For a tenner, you get to find out from the architect, Malcolm McGregor of Pringle Richards Sharratt the design secrets behind West Ham, and the story of its creation from London Transport Museum Research Fellow Oliver Green.
These talks will be followed by a tour of the bus garage by Stagecoach staff.
Tours are at 9:45am and 1pm, and cost £10. Book tickets here.
