Photo: Gorm Ashurst

After more than a year in the making, on August 9th, House of Vans London opens its doors. Spread across five tunnels and nestled beneath London’s Waterloo Station, the opening weekend will see the space come to life with a series of live gigs, screenings, inspirational talks, exhibitions and of course, skateboarding.

House of Vans opens with a celebration of DIY culture, presenting ‘Scissors & Glue’; an exhibition and series of talks documenting the brief history of the ‘zine. Curated by figures such as Ben Drury, Gorm, Trevor Jackson and Louise Grey and so representing the pillars of art, skateboarding, music and fashion, respectively, the exhibition pays homage to the roots of independent publishing. ‘Scissors & Glue’ also marks the introduction of House of Vans London’s very first Vans ‘Zine. Guest edited by ‘zine guru and sage of self publishing Jeremy Leslie, issue #1 will reflect upon the current state and future of the magazine, as well as the exhibition itself.

Housing London’s only indoor skatepark, House of Vans’ pool-style concrete bowl, street and mini-ramp section will also be open to the public, providing a free and unrivalled playground for skateboarders. To sign up for a skate session, simply register at houseofvanslondon.com/book-skate-session

 On Saturday 9th, House of Vans’ central tunnel will host an eclectic selection of London’s finest DJs, so once you’re done skating, getting creative or simply checking out the exhibition, the night isn’t over yet.