MUST DO: Kentish Town’s must-see house

ARCHITECTURE: Open House Weekend

You know the house on Lady Margaret Road with the large round gate? The one that’s intrigued locals ever since it was built over twenty years ago? “Kids are told that it’s where Santa lives due to the two antique deer sculptures behind the mesh,” says owner Oscar Burton, “and adults seem to believe it’s anything from an exclusive members’ club to a psychiatrist’s office.”

Actually, yes, it’s a residential house, self-built and designed by Oscar’s grandfather Richard Burton, a noted British architect who pioneered “sustainable green design many years before it was in vogue”, with an innovative approach to solar, low-energy design and an interplay of interior and exterior space. Well it beats our little flat up the road, anyway.

As part of Open House London 2015, the aforementioned Richard is launching a book titled An Extra Dimension: The Burton House at the event, which details the processes involved in the build and the house’s intimate relationship with Kentish Town. For more details, as well as a list of other open houses in the area head here.  All-day 19th (10am-6pm) and 20th September (10am-1pm). 1b Lady Margaret Road NW5

COFFEE: Oat Milk Industries

We spotted this cute new little cafe the other day on Camden Road and enjoyed the espresso, made with Shepherd & Monk beans, which yield a rather velvety crema. The brainchild of superstar producer Trevor Horn’s son Aaron, the tiny space is packed with various musical instruments, both for sale and decoration, and there’s a recording space downstairs to make it that all-important thing, a “creative hub”. Oh, and art shows are promised too. Go check it out daily from 8am at 126 Camden Road NW1

DESIGN: Future & Found

The superior Tufnell Park interiors store has been selected for the Icon Design Trail 2015 which runs during London Design Festival from 21st to 28th September. As such they’ll be unveiling a pop-up installation celebrating the history of the distinctive building (a former piano factory) with lots of new products to boot. Design workshops will run on the Thursday 24th and Friday 25th mornings from 10-12pm; just email info@futureandfound.com to reserve a space. And on Tuesday 22nd 6-9pm there’ll be a drinks launch. 225A Brecknock Rd, N19

MUSIC: Apple Music Festival

The mahoosive 10-day festie is back on Saturday with Ellie Goulding, and proceeds to whizz through some of the biggest names on the planet including One Direction (22nd Sept), Take That (20th Sept), Pharrell (26th Sept), Mumford & Sons (27th Sept) and Florence and the Machine (28th Sept). The whole ticket thing is of course a lottery so if you still fancy your chances then head here. Good luck. Chalk Farm Road NW1

SHOPPING: Malden Road

The bit of Malden opposite music venue the Fiddler’s Elbow has a clutch of new openings and pop-ups. Clime-it Brothers – the socially-aware clothing brand that raises awareness about climate change to a young urban audience – have launched a very smart-looking store (#18) in the old florist’s next to ace Persian diner Reyhana (#20). And a few doors down, “luxury streetwear” vendors Obnoxious Kids have also set up shop (#6), with a stylish combination of tees, hoodies and cupcakes in the window. Sandwiched in between is the new cafe, Antona, which does a decent brew, too.All on lower Malden Road NW5