Talk and Walk: Learn about the work of British and refugee architects and the architecture connections
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Talk: Seeking Refuge - Jewish Architects and the RIBA Refugee Committee
Among those who sought refuge from Nazi persecution in the late 1930s were architects, some of whose stories are now part of the history of Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
In 1939, as increasing numbers of architects, many of them Jewish, sought refuge, the Royal Institute of British Architects established a special committee to respond.
This talk explores the work of the RIBA Refugee Committee at a moment of profound crisis. Faced with urgent requests for help, the committee navigated complex questions of responsibility, professional protection and humanitarian need.
Through these stories, we encounter a powerful and often overlooked history of displacement, resilience, and, in some cases, tragic loss. Some went on to rebuild their lives in Britain and beyond; others were unable to escape.
Drawing on archival material and ongoing research, this talk brings these individuals back into view and reflects on what their experiences continue to ask of us today.
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Guided Walk: Architects at Willesden Jewish Cemetery
The talk will be followed by a guided walking tour of the cemetery, highlighting stories of architects buried here.
About the speaker
Valeria Carullo is Curator of the Robert Elwall Photographs Collection at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Her principal area of research is the relationship between modern photography and modern architecture in the inter-war years. An architect by background, she lectures and writes on both architectural and photographic subjects. Her publications include Moholy-Nagy in Britain 1935-1937 (2019, Lund Humphries) and the recent monograph Richard Bryant (2025, Lund Humphries). Valeria has curated and co-curated several exhibitions, and is the lead researcher of the ongoing RIBA Refugee Committee project, whose first major output was the international conference Displaced Lives: Architects Seeking Refuge on the Brink of WWII (RIBA, June 2024). This was followed in February 2026 by the launch of the RIBA Refugee Committee Papers online database.
Free parking is available on site.
Booking is essential.
Kindly join us in following Jewish customs in the cemetery – we do not eat, drink, play music or walk dogs in the Cemetery grounds.
Information on what to expect when visiting a Jewish cemetery: https://www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk/visitor-guidance
Please note: All attendees are required to bring valid photo ID to the event. We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who cannot provide valid identification or at the discretion of event management for any reason deemed necessary to maintain the safety and integrity of the event
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This event is presented as part of Jewish Culture Month:
Running from 16 May - 16 June 2026, Jewish Culture Month is a cultural coming together on a scale and depth not seen before, with more than 100 events across the country spanning food, comedy, art, architecture, fashion, music and much more. This landmark project brings together cultural institutions, community organisations, artists, chefs, performers and educators to create an accessible, vibrant and proudly public celebration of Jewish life in the UK
Image: Villa Loew-Beer, Brno (1935)
Architects: Rudolf Baumfeld & Norbert Schlesinger
RIBA Collections
