The 8th annual Architecture and the City Festival, sponsored by American Institute of Architects San Francisco and Center for Architecture + Design, present tours, films, exhibitions and lectures beginning September 1. The month-long celebration offers designers and architects an opportunity to engage with the local architectural community, explore the crossroads of planning and contemporary culture, and experience design throughout the city.

2010 Architecture and the City Festival

This year's program, centered around the theme Architecture of Consequence, will continue to demonstrate the positive impact architects and designers make on communities, enhancing sustainability, promoting creativity and increasing the collective quality of life.

An extension of Architecture of Consequence - Dutch Designs on the Future, orginally conceived by the Netherlands Architecture Institute in 2009, the Architecture of Consequence: San Francisco exhibition introduces new work by four Bay Area firms and provides the conceptual focal point of the 2011 festival. A series of collaborative discussions and dynamic workshops exploring topics from holistic engagement strategies, to community planning processes, flexible urbanism, alternative energy cultivation and interdisciplinary design will also be presented in conjunction with the show.

© Matthew Millman

The San Francisco Living: Home Tours weekend, which returns September 17-18, gives participants an exclusive look into some of the city's latest residential projects from the inside out. Take in films that spotlight the built environment, the architectural profession and cutting-edge design or attend lectures by renowned architects and designers. Behind the scenes tours, including sailing tours along San Francisco's changing waterfront and food and design tours of some of the city's hottest restaurants will also be a part of the program.

AIA San Francisco will be announcing the winners of Constructed Realities Design Awards at a special celebration party at Tres on September 6 as well as screening the winning films of short film competition - Architecture Is on September 28.

Presented in collaboration with nearly 100 different organizations that contribute to our city's creative vitality, this year's Architecture and the City offers a deeper appreciation for San Francisco's rich architectural and design community.