AA Prospectus 0708

PROSPECTUS
2007
—08
INTRODUCTION.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 17:00 Page 1
CO NT ENT S
INTRO DUC TION R E SO URC E S & A D M I NI ST R AT I ON

2 Director’s Introduction Resources
1 18 Hooke Park
AA Legacy 118 Maeda Workshop
6 A Brief History 118 Workshop
119 Model Workshop
AA Today 119 Digital Prototyping Lab
10 Around the AA 119 Library
12 Unit Trips 119 Photo Library
14 Student Awards and Prizes 120 Electronic Media Lab
120 Audiovisual Lab
AA Future 121 Drawing Materials Shop
18 The Year Ahead 121 Triangle Bookshop
22 AACP 121 Bar & Restaurant
24 Public Programmes 121 A AIR
26 Research Clusters 121 The Association
28 AA Digital Platforms 122 Development Office
30 Publications/Exhibitions
Administration
AA SC HOOLS 124 Scholarships and Bursaries
35 Foundation 125 Fees
37 First Year 126 Undergraduate Admissions
41 Intermediate 126 Undergraduate Entry Requirements
53 Diploma 127 Graduate Admissions
128 Qualifications
67 Complementary Studies 130 Staff List
68 History and Theory Studies
74 Media Studies
79 Technical Studies
84 Professional/Future Practice
85 Graduate School
86 Design Research Lab
90 Emtech
93 Landscape Urbanism
97 Histories and Theories
99 Housing and Urbanism
102 Sustainable Environmental Design
106 Building Conservation
108 PhD Programme
10 9 Visiting School
11 0 VSP: One-Year Programme
111 VSP: 15-Week Programme
112 Summer School
113 Winter School
11 4 Summer D-Lab
11 5 Global Schools
11 6 Visiting Teachers/AA Abroad
I N T R O DU C TION
AA School: Teaching, Learning and Architecture
The activities of the AA are organised into two distinct, yet

interwoven, domains: our public programmes, which each year
provide a vast array of evening lectures, exhibitions,
publications, conferences and special events that bring together
literally hundreds of the world’s leading architects, designers,
scholars, theorists, artists and others to present their work in the
context of the AA; and the AA School, the focus of which is our
acclaimed accredited undergraduate and graduate programmes –
programmes that for decades have been the home of students and
teachers who have gone on to become the world’s leaders in
architecture. What creates such an incredible learning
environment at the AA is the way in which each of these two
spaces is itself inflected within the other: to become a student at
the AA is to literally enter into an international hub of unrivalled
architectural discussion, debate and exchange that extends far
beyond the limits described in the units, programmes and courses
whose summaries follow in this Prospectus. In the end, this is
what makes the place special: not only our ongoing commitment
to generating an unparalleled teaching and learning environment,
but also a belief that this aim is itself merely an extension of the
AA’s larger mission – to create the most focused, sustained and
above all imaginative setting for architectural culture anywhere
in the world today. It’s an honour and privilege for all of us here –
AA members, students, teachers and staff alike – to carry that
mission forward in these early years of the twenty-first century.
To do so within the larger setting of London, which is itself
undergoing historic changes in its built environment, provides yet
another unrivalled context for the opportunities we offer our
students.
This Prospectus is conceived to provide a brief overview of
the Architectural Association for the 2007/08 academic year. For
a place as action-packed, dynamic and fluid as the AA, this is a
tough task. Those of you who already know our school will note
that this guide is slimmed down and simplified in comparison to
some of our recent efforts. The reason for this, quite simply, is
the growing array of other printed and online outlets, both
internal and external, which have become invaluable resources
for discovering and learning more about every aspect of our
school and association. I have spoken frequently about the
unique kind of space the AA inhabits in the world of
contemporary architecture culture. That space, like so many
other aspects of cities and learning environments today, is itself
being transformed by the accelerating changes in communication
media – changes we continue to actively embrace, engage and
explore as part of our global architectural conversation. AA School Director Brett Steele with some
At the AA we are reshaping how we present and share of the material produced by the AA Print
information, both for newcomers and for those who are already Studio over the past year.
2
3
a part of our school community. Anyone interested in discovering

the AA can now go to a simple site like aalog.net and browse
through a continually updated visual diary of life in the school
showing hundreds of events, juries and lectures almost as they
happen.
In early 2007, after an 18-month investment in our new
digital platforms group, we were we able to launch aaschool.net,
an online extension of the AA. In addition to being the most
information-rich site of any architectural school in the world
(containing thousands of project images, videos and animations
by students as well as late-breaking news), aaschool.net connects
the school with our larger worldwide membership in ways we
have never before achieved.
Likewise AArchitecture: News of the Architectural
Association, launched in 2006 and now published three times a
year, highlights the projects and activities of students, staff and
members in printed form. Another fresh perspective on AA life
is given in our new, expanded Projects Review publication,
AA Book 2007, on sale now in bookshops worldwide and online
at the AA Publications website.
Alongside these recent paper and digital online extensions of
the space of the AA, many of you will already be familiar with
the growing list of AA Publications that present the work of our
students and staff in much-expanded monograph form, as part of
a commitment I made to the school two years ago to re-train the
output of AA Publications and the AA Print Studio to the work
of the AA itself. So far monographs have been published by five
of our Diploma Units alone, with more to come in 2007/08 from
our Graduate School and Research Clusters.
In other words, and as a way to introduce this overview of
the AA, please read this Prospectus as merely an introduction
designed to give a first hint of the incredibly rich and diverse
learning environment to which you already have access, in the
form of a spectacular spectrum of other information resources.
All of us at the AA can point you towards these resources, not the
least of which is this straightforward invitation: come visit us
here at Bedford Square and participate in our public events in the
coming year and – if you are as inspired as we are by the
potential of architecture today to challenge and shape the world
around us – then apply to join us as a student and become an
essential part of one of the most remarkable architectural spaces
to be found anywhere in the world today.
Brett Steele
Director, AA School
London, September 2007
‘Slabs’, The Peak, Hong Kong,

Zaha Hadid, 1983
4
A A LEGACY
A BRI EF H IS TORY
Founded in 1847 ‘by a pack of troublesome The AA has at various times in its existence had
students’, the Architectural Association is Britain’s close ties to the modern movement and CIAM;
oldest and most vital school of architecture, an created programmes such as the School of Tropical
institution whose independence of thought and Architecture, a model copied widely by other
operation have been fought for by the generations schools of architecture; and provided a home to
of students, tutors and staff who have passed Archigram and its members. More recently the
through its doors. AA has strengthened its graduate design
In the first 50 years of its existence, the AA programmes, establishing the Design Research Lab
evolved from a gathering place for students seeking as well as new studio-based courses in Emergent
to improve architectural education, into a school Technologies & Design and Landscape Urbanism.
offering a four-year programme of evening classes. Perhaps most enduringly, the AA has
A day school was added in 1901. In recognition of championed the unit system of study, an open-
the AA’s early influence and success in establishing ended structure in the Intermediate and Diploma
a formal system for the education of architects, the Schools which gives unit masters and students great
RIBA granted an exemption from its professional independence of movement and thought in the
examination to AA graduates in 1906. pursuit of specialist interests. The system is now
In 1917 the AA moved to its current premises almost universal in architecture schools, and
in and around Bedford Square. Apart from a brief endures at the AA in the form of units of
relocation to Hertfordshire during the Second identifiable character and heritage, some
World War, this Georgian square in Bloomsbury, disappearing and being replaced, others evolving
one of London’s most beautiful, has been the over time.
setting for a remarkable project. In its modern An atmosphere of robust debate and
history, through the chairmanships of Alvin competitive spirit – qualities central to the unit
Boyarsky (1971–91), Alan Balfour (1992–94) and system – pervades the school and lies at the heart of
Mohsen Mostafavi (1995–2004), and now under the AA’s vitality and success.
Director Brett Steele (elected in 2005), the AA has
Below: Akram Abu Hamdan, Embankment project, Dip 9, 1978
been home to teachers and students whose theory
Right: John Frazer, Housing project, Third Year, 1965
and practice have been central to the shaping of Overleaf above: Christine Hawley, Brighton Arcade, Dip 6, 1975
architectural discourse today. Overleaf below: Martin Pawley, NFT project, Fourth Year, 1962
6
7
8
Alex Haw, Lighthive exhibition in the Front Members’ Room, photo Sue Barr
INTRODUCTION.qxd:Layout 1
20/9/07
17:00
Page 9
A A TODAY
A R OUN D T HE AA
36 Bedford Square is the AA’s anchor, housing the shared spaces and central gathering spots foster
Lecture Hall, Exhibition Gallery and Director’s exchanges across the school.
Office, Digital Prototyping Lab, Workshops and Following First Year, taught in an open and
Model Workshop, Dining Room and Bar, Library, collaborative studio environment, Intermediate and
Triangle Bookshop, Materials Shop, Computer & Diploma Schools are organised around the AA’s
Electronic Media Labs and First Year Studio. unit system, created more than 30 years ago as a
Additional classroom and studio space is located form of teaching that challenges conventional
next door, in 37 Bedford Square, and around the architectural curricula and pedagogy. Students
corner, on Morwell Street. The AA’s immediate select and join a unit based on a research and
neighbours include the British Museum, the British project agenda that becomes the focus of their
Library, UCL and a great many entertainment studies for the entire year.
options in Bloomsbury, Soho and Fitzrovia. The Graduate School has eight programmes,
Some 15 minutes’ walk away from Bedford three of which are studio-based. All courses of
Square is John Street, where the graduate design study encourage participation in the AA’s lecture
programmes are based. Some 150 miles away is one programme, in conferences, symposia and
of the AA’s most significant expansions of recent exhibitions. Media and Technical Studies, as well as
years: Hooke Park, a 350-acre woodland site in History & Theory Studies, offer classes and skills
Dorset that is used by units and graduate across all levels of the school.
programmes with specific interests in innovative
timber construction. The site includes workshops Below: Back Members’ Room at opening of Projects Review 2007,
photo Valerie Bennett
as well as living quarters.
Right: Intermediate Unit 2’s ‘Wet Hair’ Pavilion installed in
Each year the AA draws approximately 500 Bedford Square, July 2007, photo Sue Barr
students from 50 countries into an intensive
learning environment. Overlapping premises,
10
11
UNI T TR IP S
The brief for every undergraduate unit and Brussels, Cap Martin, Capri, Caracas, Cologne,
graduate programme includes travel as a group, Colombo, Como, Copenhagen, Côte d’Azur,
either for project research, or to participate in Dubai, Genoa, Guangzhou, Helsinki, Hong Kong,
workshops with other organisations or attend Istanbul, Lyon, Macao, Marseilles, Miami, Monte
conferences and symposia. In addition to the AA’s Carlo, Mount Rigi, Mumbai, New York, Panama
Hooke Park facilities in Dorset, and short trips City, Paris, Patagonia (on the right is an image of a
elsewhere in Britain, destinations last year included shelter pavilion constructed as part of Emtech’s
Alabama, Amsterdam, Auroville, Barcelona (below Chilean workshop), Porto, Prague, São Paulo,
is an image of VSP students outside Barcelona’s Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Tokyo,
Forum building) Basel, Beijing, Belem do Para, Toulouse, Universidad de los Andes and Venice.
12
13
S T UDEN T AWA RDS AND PRI ZES 2006/ 07
AA student work, from the Foundation course and Jae Won Yi, Fourth Year) the following two
through to the PhD programme, is the school’s pages illustrate the work of 14 other prize winners.
greatest asset. In recognition of this excellence, the These in turn are followed by projects from Dan
AA awards prizes and distinctions at all levels. In Marks, Diploma Unit 16 and Jesse Sabatier,
addition to last year’s Nicholas Boas Travel Award Diploma Unit 11, who were awarded AA Diploma
winners (Jose Tovar-Barrientos, PhD; Sayaka Honours.
Namba, Second Year; Erlend Skjeseth, Third Year;
Henry Saxon Snell Scholarship William Glover Bequest

Stephanie Edwards, Intermediate Unit 1 Killion Mokwete, Diploma Unit 9
AA Travel Studentship Julia Wood Foundation Prize

Samantha Lee, First Year Faraz Anoushahpour, Foundation
Award for Excellence in Intermediate Technical Studies Holloway Trust and Award for Excellence in Intermediate
Shintaro Tsuruoka, Intermediate Unit 2 Technical Studies Amandine Kastler, Intermediate Unit 9
14
Henry Florence Studentship Alex Stanhope Forbes Prize

Ina-Marie Kapitola, Intermediate Unit 8 Nikolay Shahpazov, Diploma Unit 3
AA Prize Alexander Memorial Travel Fund

Adam Furman, Diploma Unit 3 Sang Eun Kim, Intermediate Unit 4
Ralph Knott Memorial Fund Howard Colls Studentship

Fionnuala Heidenreich, Diploma Unit 11 Max Kahlen, Diploma Unit 5
Award for Excellence in Diploma Technical Studies Award for Excellence in Diploma Technical Studies
Bart Schoonderbeek, Diploma Unit 11 Isabel Pietri Medina, Diploma Unit 5
15
AA Diploma Honours
Jesse Sabatier, Diploma Unit 11
B
Sh
h
i
fi
hi ’ f i
’ ‘
d
AA Diploma Honours
Vi
Dan Marks, Diploma Unit 16

M d l
16
Madelon Vriesendorp’s ‘archive’ of incongruous figurines, photo Shumon Basar
20/9/07
17:00
Page 17
A A FU TURE
YE A R AHEA D
The AA: Architecture & Communication acclaimed, collaborative Graduate Design

The academic year 2007/08 will be another exciting programme, the AADRL, will celebrate its tenth
one for the AA. After last year’s leap in applications anniversary with a huge exhibition, installation and
across the entire school, this autumn new students publication of the work of its 350 or so graduates
from the UK and around the world will join our who, since their time at the AA, have gone on to
many returning students to undertake studies that establish – or influence – leading architectural
will both build upon the school’s legacy and offices throughout the world.
uncover new possibilities related to architecture Each of our big exhibitions this year will
today. Over the year, the school’s unique learning be accompanied by major AA monographs
environment, the core of which is its famed unit commissioned as part of a very active twelve
system, will be complemented by an intensive months for AA Publications. Last year we released
programme of events. As an umbrella to these books on a number of important outside voices,
activities, our Public Programmes and Visiting including the first English-language publications
School initiatives will gather together a diverse on two engineers who are known for their
array of offerings beyond the full-time study of collaborations with architects – Mutsuro Sasaki
architecture that comprises our ARB/RIBA- and Jürg Conzett – but our main focus was on AA-
validated five-year undergraduate programme related work. Last autumn’s Morpho-Ecologies
and our OUVS-validated graduate programmes. documenting AA Diploma 4 went on to become
one of 2006’s most important architectural books,
AA Public Programmes 2007/08 and this year’s release of AA Diploma 6’s
Our Public Programmes this year will feature Typological Formations, edited by Chris Lee and
dozens of the world’s most influential architects, Sam Jacoby, will, I suspect, prove to be another
designers, artists and thinkers, culminating in May important generational statement regarding the
2008 with a lecture, publication and exhibition of future direction of architecture and design cultures.
the ‘disreputable’ projects of David Greene, a Other AA monographs already planned for the
founding member of the Archigram group who is upcoming year include Environmental Tectonics,
still today one of the AA’s most vital and important related to our Environments, Ecologies &
teachers. Alongside the lectures we will again be Sustainability Research Cluster over the past two
organising daytime Open Conversations, Dialogues years; Cities from Zero, taken from last year’s
and Open Seminars in a wide-ranging series of international symposium; a book documenting the
events which this year, through the efforts of our past three years of AA Intermediate Unit 8; and the
AACP initiative directed by Shumon Basar, will be release of the first two volumes of our AA Words
coordinated around clear themes and topics. In series. In total, we have already commissioned
October, an incredible year of AA Exhibitions kicks more than a dozen books for the coming year,
off with Forms of Inquiry, curated by the AA’s Art which are already well underway, with others in
Director Zak Kyes and featuring a number of the outline for future years.
world’s emerging voices in graphic design, This is perhaps the single most important point
reflecting on their work in relation to architecture. to emphasise about the year ahead: the school’s
Following this show, in November, our Gallery will determined focus to bring more of its own work,
host Beatriz Colomina’s Clip/Stamp/Fold exhibition ideas and personalities to a worldwide audience.
of influential 1960s and 1970s ‘little magazines’ on The most radical and exciting way we will continue
architecture, in a London setting that will highlight to expand this agenda will be with our new
the many contributions made by this city – and ‘Agendas’ series. Focusing on various AA-related
indeed the AA itself – during those important projects and works, the series will be opened up
decades. In early 2008 we open a long-overdue to a call for submissions across the entire school
retrospective on Madelon Vriesendorp which (including individual students and teams) to author
collects and displays works relating to her and edit books documenting their own unit and
formative role in founding OMA and her teaching programme projects. Finally and importantly, as
at the AA as well as drawings, paintings and a part of AA Publications this year, we have
installations. Later in the Spring Term the AA’s commissioned a shortlist of leading graphic
18
Spread from Forms of Inquiry: The Architecture of Critical Graphic Design Benedict O’Looney pavement-sketching his London tour, photo Valerie Benett
20/9/07
17:01
Page 19
19
designers to prepare proposals this autumn for a Intermediate and Diploma Schools this year
redesigned AA Files which our new Editor Thomas emphasise the AA’s renewed focus on the making
Weaver and I look forward to relaunching in of comprehensive, innovative building designs – a
February 2008. focus glimpsed in an incredibly diverse range of
briefs being put forward this year that will return
The AA Visiting School 2007/08 to the AA a wide range of architectural approaches
Over the past decade the AA School has taken the pursued through experimental building and large-
lead amongst UK-based schools in developing an scale design projects. In the Intermediate School,
extensive programme of visiting schools – short Marianne Mueller and Olaf Kneer (assisted by
courses available to outside students, teachers and tutor Yacira Blanco) lead a new Intermediate
architects as well as the AA’s own students. This Unit 1 focusing on the radically changing typology
past August the AA successfully launched summer of public buildings. Nannette Jackowski and
programmes in Singapore and Shanghai, following Ricardo de Ostos will direct Intermediate Unit 3
on last spring’s workshop in Istanbul. Collectively towards narrative architectures and a culture of
the workshops brought together students from elegant architectural drawing, as one of many
around the world (participants from 20 countries new units this year emphasising in-depth
joined in the Shanghai Summer School alone). This explorations of drawing and other design media. In
year I am excited to announce a strategic expansion Inter 5 Stefano Rabolli Pansera and Peter Ferretto
of the global AA Visiting School, which will now will also explore fictional architectural narratives
include new short courses open to both visiting through film and other architectural image-making
students and AA students in many other cities, techniques. New Intermediate Unit 6 tutors
beginning this autumn in Hooke Park and followed Jonathan Dawes and Dagobert Bergmans will take
by a new AA Winter School in Dubai in early as their agenda an ‘architecture of the uncommon’
January 2008 and a return to Shanghai next exploring the perception of building fabric. After
summer. As we go to press, we are currently four years, Yusuke Obuchi steps away from
negotiating additional visiting short courses and Intermediate Unit 8 to focus on a busy DRL year,
design workshops in Mumbai, Mexico City, Turin and in his place Chris Yoo joins Eugene Han in
and Istanbul for next spring and summer (be sure carrying forward the unit’s exploration of
to check aaschool.net throughout the year for the computation and its application to architectural
latest news on these events). A new, coordinated design. Christopher Pierce and Christopher
global AA Visiting School offers, as we already Matthews will lead a new Intermediate Unit 9
know, immense potential for expanding the titled ‘Mis-Architecture’ focusing on the production
presence, identity, influence and knowledge of the of drawings initiated by an examination of drawing
AA throughout the world. We are all looking cultures outside architecture. Intermediate Unit 10,
forward to its growth and development. led by new tutors Claudia Pasquero and Marco
Poletto, will invent eco-machinic prototypes for
AA Schools 2007/08: New Faces local Mediterranean cultures. Overall, the
Our undergraduate units, courses and graduate Intermediate School will be nearly 30 per cent
programmes include many new members of larger than last year.
academic staff who will provide fresh ideas in our Two new Diploma Units have been formed this
Undergraduate School. Foundation and First Year year that will carry forward agendas already
courses remain largely unchanged this year, and known within the school (each has taught for six
both have shaped agendas within their studio-based years in our Intermediate School). In Diploma Unit
courses tailored to students entering into a lifetime 9 Natasha Sandmeier and Monia De Marchi will
of learning and working as architects. Renovations pursue their interest in new iconic architectures as
to our First Year Studio will allow us to better part of a brief for a twenty-first-century church
accommodate another expanded intake at this sited in Rome. Oliver Domeisen will lead Diploma
important entry level of our five-year programme, Unit 13 in designs for a new school of architecture
while last year’s class moves up into a considerably located in Bedford Square, continuing the unit’s
enlarged Intermediate School. Changes in both interest in architectural ornament and history.
20
Finally, among the list of new faces, I am pleased to join the other tutors in this year’s enlarged
welcome back Francesca Hughes, who returns to Sustainable Environmental Design programme.
the AA and Diploma Unit 15 with Noam Andrews
to direct a unit that will explore an interest in AA School 2007/08: New Spaces
‘hyper-contextual’ locations in Vietnam. Alongside Last year’s re-building of our Bedford Square
these three new units in the Diploma School, ten facilities, which began with the creation of our new
others will carry forward aims and agendas from AADP Media Suite and its neighbouring Digital
last year. Following a successful 2006/07 at Hooke Photography Studio, has continued over the
Park, this year Andrew Freear and Elena Barthel summer. The AA has been joined by Jeroen
are stepping away from their unit duties to focus on Armijde, who has moved to London from Hong
the development and delivery of the AA’s Hooke Kong to become the head of our new AA Digital
Park Strategic Plan, which will set up the future of Prototyping LAB located in the former home of
this exciting resource for the coming years. the Photo Library, which now occupies the ground
One of the most important features of our floor of 37 Bedford Square. Over the summer,
Undergraduate School this year is a recognisable Trystrem Smith was appointed new head of the
shift towards more overt forms of design – and AA’s Model Workshop, which has undergone a
particularly comprehensive, experimental building reorganisation that will take this important student
design. A clear indication of this renewal – which is resource in new directions.
carrying with it a return to cultures of drawing, Finally, the year begins with the setting up of
building typology, new approaches both to context new communication outlets to share information
and building materials – can be glimpsed in another around the school – most notably, an AA Student
important feature of the Undergraduate School: our Handbook, which will serve as a valuable resource
tutors have all prepared comprehensive, detailed for all 500 of our students, containing expanded
year-long design briefs for their units which will written briefs for each of our undergraduate units
be accessible online to all of our students. and providing comprehensive details about how
In our Graduate School, new teachers will our tutors have organised the teaching, learning
be developing coursework in several of our and expected outcomes for the year. This
programmes. Kristine Mun, a PhD candidate at the information, together with the syllabuses of our
AA, will lead this year’s ‘Synthesis’ course in the graduate programmes, will also be made available
DRL. Nikolaos Stathopoulos joins as a Tutor, online through aaschool.net. All of us here at the
Professor George Jeronimidis joins as visiting staff, AA are looking forward to this coming year and the
and Juan Subercaseaux joins as project consultant continuing work we all share in developing the
for a larger Emtech programme. Alfredo Ramirez architectural space of the AA School itself.
joins Landscape Urbanism as a workshop tutor;
Kathryn Firth joins Housing and Urbanism; and Brett Steele
finally, Ruchi Choudhary and Rosa Shiano-Phan
Selection of ‘little magazines’ from the forthcoming Clip/Stamp/Fold exhibition
21
AACP
AA Curatorial Practices/Cultural Products (AACP) conversations, dialogues, symposia and book
is a think- and action-initiative directed by Shumon launches. One of the new strands will be called 4x4,
Basar focusing on the expanded fields around where four sets of four themed lectures are lined up
contemporary architectural practice. It sets out to over the Autumn and Spring Terms. AACP will host
create a new, engaging space of discourse for the a series on critics/curators and clients/patrons as
school where architecture can entangle with other part of a long-term look at the power of those who
forms of cultural production. enable. AACP will also programme two symposia
Curators, editors, critics, collectors, clients – around the Clip/Stamp/Fold exhibition in
content-makers and content-deliverers are here to November 2007, as well as an event on 8 May 2008
stay. Contemporary architectural culture has also on contemporary political and spatial theories.
felt these systemic effects; not since the Independent Halfway through both the Autumn and the Spring
Group of the 1950s and the promiscuous 1960s has Terms, AACP will organise the schoolwide student
architecture been so readily taken up by the art and presentations, S.H.O.W., which give an opportunity
curatorial worlds. A Diploma History and Theory to see work from the previous year as well as work
course will investigate some of the key ‘sites for in progress.
curating content’, aided by a number of guest The curatorial programme this year exhibits
experts from related fields. some of the new concerns we hope to pursue in
Historically, architects have often excelled as years to come. There are numerically fewer shows,
writers, editors, publishers, proselytisers and but each one is more ambitious in scope, often
curators. Is this by accident or by design? The occupying both the Gallery and the Front Members’
fundamental operating tactics of curatorial and Room. Certain shows that originate at the AA will
editorial practices reveal startling similarities to the tour thereafter, to venues such as Casco (Utrecht)
ways in which architects select, organise and and Aedes (Berlin). Together with the Exhibitions
configure information and matter. As part of the Department, AACP hopes to inaugurate an annual
Third Year History and Theory course, ‘From guest curator slot to encourage new ways of
Architecture to Architecture’, four seminars will exhibition making, as well as provide a critical
look at the ways in which cultural characters – such London venue for important touring exhibitions
as ‘The Artist’ and ‘The Prophet’ – have provided such as Clip/Stamp/Fold.
stereotypes whose clichés lovingly persist.
The 2007 Sharjah Biennial invited artists Gustav Metzger, below,
AACP fosters space for cultural discourse,
and Michael Rakovitz, right, to realise ambitious projects as part
inquiry and hypothesis. This involves shaping the of the theme ‘Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change’.
public programme, with the Director’s Office, into
a typologically structured sequence of lectures,
22
23
P UBL IC PR OG RA MMES
Each year architectural theorists and practitioners, Lecture Series or Artist Talks (held in smaller
writers, digital and performing artists, musicians venues around the school), these events bring
and art historians are invited to speak at the AA. together different parts of the school and form an
Whether as part of the Evening Lecture series essential component of an AA education. A
(generally held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the selection of speakers from recent years is listed
Lecture Hall) or as Visiting Theory Seminars, Open below.
Adam Caruso George Didi- Peter Saville Jan Mancuska

Zoë Opacic Huberman Cristiano Toraldo Charles Rice
Cynthia Davidson Hernan Diaz-Alonso Andrea Branzi Chris Bosse
Samantha Hardingham George L Legendre John Pickering Mutsuro Sasaki
Dextro Sébastien Marot Brandon LaBelle Peter Märkli
Alisa Andrasek Nikolaus Hirsch Alex De Rijke John MacLean
Andrew Freear Peter Eisenman Hélène Binet Norman Klein
Toyo Ito Winka Dubbledam Bart Lootsma Winy Maas
Jeffrey Kipnis Sarah Whiting Michael Kirchmann Catherine Ingraham
Robert Somol Mark Linder Jurgen Bey Marie-Ange Brayer
Zaha Hadid Jan Stelarc Kas Oosterhuis Jeanne van Heeswijk
David Adjaye Thomas Demand Antonino Saggio Ralph Rugoff
Peter St John Stuart Bailey Zachary Lieberman Keller Easterling
Detlef Mertins John Welchman Dominique Boudet Jan De Cock
Zbigniew Oksiuta Paul Kaiser Sylvia Lavin Kazuyo Sejima
Eric Owen Moss Christopher Lindinger Ben van Berkel Graham Harman
François Roche Philippe Morel Bernd Behr Cornelia Parker
Hans Ulrich Obrist Bjarne Mastenbroek Patrik Schumacher Caroline Bos
James Corner Nader Ardalan Alison Brooks Patrick Bouchain
Jesse Reiser Joris Laarman Don Bates Alex Haw
Piers Gough Philip Beesley Peter Davidson Alexandros Tombazis
Lars Spuybroek Rob Voerman Ryan Gander Cecil Balmond
Pier Vittorio Aureli Ioana Marinescu Susanna Gonzalez Saskia Sassen
Bill Mitchell John Outram Ed Burton Izaskun Chinchilla
Mark Cousins Jeffrey Inaba Leslie Gill Rem Koolhaas
Mark Goulthorpe Bob Maxwell Tony Vidler (pictured, right)
Humberto Velez Bostjan Vuga Gilles Clement
Bjarke Ingets Hitoshi Abe Daniel Libeskind
Ed Soja Ruben Suare Louisa Hutton
Stan Allen Alex de Jong Karen Cook
Charles Jencks Marc Schuilenburg Jun Aoki
Andrew Benjamin Jürg Conzett Greg Lynn
24
25
RE SE A RCH CLU ST ERS
Research Clusters were set up in 2005 in order to be made in current research fields. These themes
foster new spaces of discourse, inquiry and will be the basis for a series of calls for research
connectivity within the AA. Cluster events to date proposals from the school community. The criteria
have ranged across a huge spectrum, encompassing for such proposals are that research must produce
publications, roundtable discussions, conferences, a full-scale material artefact and provide
special performances, lectures and workshops as comprehensive documentation of the research
well as an international design competition. process. The completed work will be the subject
Aimed at cutting across the various academic of an AA conference and an exhibition at the new
units and programmes, each cluster is designed to Architecture Foundation in London during
span an 18-month-long period. The first cycle of Spring/Summer 2009.
clusters concluded in January 2007, after which a The Architecture of Innovation cluster focuses
call for new clusters was addressed to the entire on the demands of the knowledge economy.
school community. Today’s transnational culture foregrounds learning
Clusters extending into a second term include and innovation, cultivating new patterns in how we
Environment, Ecology and Sustainability (EES), live and work. These shifts challenge the ways cities
curated by Werner Gaiser and Steve Hardy, and the have engaged in the planning and development
New Media Research Initiative, curated by Joel process, encouraging them to seek new instruments
Newman, Theodore Spyropoulos and Vasilis and approaches to promote urban innovation
Stroumpakos. environments. Architects are increasingly involved
At the heart of the EES cluster is an open with multidisciplinary teams in this pursuit,
competition – Environmental Tectonics v2.0 – working together with experts in business
that seeks out innovative ideas, design projects, development and urban policy to generate an
techniques and initiatives relative to environments, urbanism suited to the knowledge economy. This
ecology and sustainability. The deadline for entries cluster provides a platform for developing this
for this competition is 24 October 2007. For more expertise and a forum for engaging with scholars,
details see aaees.net. business leaders and government in search of new
For its second cycle, the New Media cluster urban tools. The cluster is global in outlook –
looks to explore the issue of interface in building on the AA’s international research base –
architecture. It will initiate a series of critical and local in its focus and orientation. Future
dialogues within the school and set up a research workshops will link international student and
fellow residency to bring London-based experts faculty work at the AA to challenges facing the
directly into the AA. Ideas developed through this contemporary development of the London
residency and the cluster as a whole will be metropolitan region.
discussed in a one-day symposium on architectural As a way of capturing the diversity of cluster
interface. events, a scholarly online journal of architectural
Two new clusters for the coming 2007/08 research is being developed, hosted by the AA in
year are FAB: A Platform for Material and collaboration with AD Wiley, with themed
Manufacturing Innovation, curated by Alan discussion and edited commentary. The journal will
Dempsey, Theo Lalis and Yusuke Obuchi, and the collect the research column entries in the printed
Architecture of Innovation, curated by Lawrence version of AD as downloadable PDF files in an
Barth. The FAB cluster fosters interdisciplinary archive section, and will also feature other material
exchange between the school and outside in a similar format, some originating from within
participants who share a common interest in the the AA, and others via Helen Castle at AD. During
culture of production. Its primary aim is to 2007/08 links will also be set up between relevant
facilitate novel research into innovative techniques sections of the AA website and those of AD and the
and technologies of fabrication and manufacturing, Triangle bookshop.
and explore their potential impact on future
architectural production. Over FAB’s duration, a Image: ‘Her Noise’ Archive organised by the New Media Cluster,
photo Marcus Leith
number of themes and agendas will be identified
through which it is hoped significant advances can
26
27
AA DI GI TAL P L ATFORMS
Design and research undertaken by AA students It has also produced DVDs to accompany the
and staff are the greatest assets of a school annual Projects Review publication. The AA DVDs
renowned for its cutting-edge educational attempt the impossible task of encapsulating one
approach, quality of work and experimentation. whole year of the entire school, with around 4,000
The remit of Digital Platforms is to design and images and 80 videos showing hundreds of projects
develop a series of applications that will from Foundation to Graduate levels, as well as
communicate and archive schoolwork and material from the lectures, exhibitions and
activities, both for public use and as an internal publications programme. The DVDs represent the
information resource. first step in the long-term project of creating a
In the past year the Digital Platforms team has digital archive of the school’s best work.
launched aalog.net, an informal diary of school life
to which AA staff contribute news, images and aaschool.ac.uk
notes, and redesigned the AA website to make the aaschool.ac.uk/aadvd
school’s work its most prominent component. aalog.net
28
29
PUBL ICATI ONS/ EX H IBI TI ON S
Over the last two years the output of AA original double husband-and-wife incarnation of
Publications has engaged more intensively with the OMA in the mid-1970s. Curated by AACP
work of students and staff in the school. Morpho- Director Shumon Basar and Stephan Trüby, the
Ecologies, Typological Formations, Before Object – exhibition in January and February will bring
After Image, Bodyline and Manifesto for A together around 40 paintings and drawings (many
Cinematic Architecture are five recent titles that of them never shown before), around 10,000
have emerged from the Diploma School. The postcards of Americana, and an ‘Archive’ of
coming year will see the publication of work from incongruous scale models, figurines and
the Graduate programmes and Research Clusters paraphernalia as well as a life-size version of ‘The
together with a relaunch in February 2008 of the Mind Game’. An accompanying book will include
AA’s long-running house journal, AA Files. contributions by Charles Jencks, Beatriz Colomina,
Other books will be tied to major exhibitions. Douglas Coupland, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Charlie
The first of these, appearing in October, is Forms of Koolhaas and others.
Inquiry: The Architecture of Critical Graphic David Greene’s Disreputable Projects –
Design, coedited by AA Art Director Zak Kyes and evidence of his ‘increasing disinterest in form and
Mark Owens. FOI offers architects ‘a subversive, wilful drift towards invisibility’ – are documented
contrary view of architecture culture’ that is in a publication and 40-year retrospective
‘surprising, delightful and sometimes utterly exhibition in April and May. In collaboration with
bewildering’. As AA Director Brett Steele writes in a number of designers Greene will revisit signature
his preface, ‘Sometimes it is others who are best works such as the Logplug and The Bottery and
able to animate the walls (and not just boundaries) review them in relation to current construction and
of a field of human knowledge as stable and serious modelling techniques. The show and book are
as architecture’. curated and edited by First Year tutor and writer
The World of Madelon Vriesendorp is the title Samantha Hardingham, with David Greene.
of the first large-scale exhibition on the Dutch-
Right: Commissioned print for Forms of Inquiry by Task
born, London-based artist who was part of the
Overleaf top: David Greene inside one of his ‘disreputable projects’
AA
A AWORDS NNOO 2
WORDS
ANTI
ANTI-
N -
OBJECT
OBJ ECT
Kengo
K engo K
Kuma
uma

30
31
32
UNDERGRADUATE.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 14:59 Page 33
A A S CH OOL S
Photo Tim Brotherton

34
F O U NDATION
The AA’s one-year, full-time architectural Foundation
course marks a period of transition, to be used to
question both theory and practice in the study of
spatial issues, to experiment not with one set of values
but with various strategies of design. Emphasis is also
placed on transforming careful observation and
research into fabrication. Students develop working
processes that result not just in sketches, plans and
models, but in the reality of built structures as urban
interventions.
Although the Foundation unit operates
independently of the course leading to the AA
Diploma, it draws on the resources of History &
Theory, Media and Technical Studies. Using teaching
methods that embrace architecture, art and other
spheres of design, the course is particularly flexible
and able to incorporate diverse ideas. This provides
students from a variety of backgrounds with the
opportunity to engage with the rich educational,
cultural and social life of both the AA and London
itself, while also allowing for time to focus on
personal development and objectives.
The Foundation course is open to all self-
motivated students with an interest in architecture.
Some of the applicants who join have already begun
their studies in architecture, engineering or art; some
have in mind a change of career; and others come
direct from school.
The course capacity is around 20 students, and
from the outset the teaching focus is on the individual,
with regular one-to-one tutorials. At the same time
creative teamwork is encouraged through group
discussions, collaborations and peer assessment.
FOUNDAT I ON
Miraj Ahmed, Saskia Lewis, Theo Lorenz
imagination are loaded with senses of time and

place. We remember or imagine spaces and then
we construct them. Atmosphere is inevitable but
how do we control it? What are its mechanisms?
How do we construct it? How can these
investigations be meaningfully applied to design?
Our senses are the key to perceiving and
understanding our environment – our means of
measuring the aural, the visual, the olfactory, the
haptic and... the culinary! The body is the essential
tool used by all artists to measure, work with,
create and communicate atmosphere through
various media and materials – drawn line, paint,
wood, clay, stone, food, film, word…
The understanding of different modes of
representation will become our method to
investigate, communicate and create both spaces
The life of our city is rich in poetic and and situations. Initially we will ask each individual
marvellous subjects.We are enveloped and to describe themselves ethereally. We will then
steeped as though in an atmosphere of the collectively explore the city, revealing hidden
marvellous; but we do not notice it. dimensions within public/private space and the
Charles Baudelaire global cultural networks that influence its ‘climates’.
Visual theory, representation, narrative and
atmosphere: noun – origin. from Greek atmos performance will provide a backdrop to exploring
‘vapour’ + sphaira ‘globe’. and abstracting the ‘elements’. The ongoing
1. the envelope of gases surrounding the earth research will be progressively applied to the design
or another planet of installations and environments.
2. the quality of the air in a place We will soak up atmosphere and scrutinise its
3. a pervading tone or mood constituents, relations, meaning and
4. a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric representation.
pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals (roughly
14.7 pounds per square inch) Miraj Ahmed is a practising painter and architect. He has taught
at the AA since 2000 and also teaches at the University of
Oxford English Dictionary
Cambridge.
Saskia Lewis has taught at the AA since 2001 and also teaches at
‘Atmosphere’ can be both objective and subjective. the Bartlett School of Architecture. She is co-author of the recently
At core it describes a gaseous environment, a published Architectural Voices: Listening to Old Buildings (Wiley
climate. It can also suggest more illusive ambient Academy).
Theo Lorenz is an architect and media designer. The main focus
qualities and can be incorporated into a range of
of his work lies in integrating the design process across the
expressions: ‘an eerie atmosphere…’, ‘atmospheres
creative disciplines. He is a founding member of n-o-m-a-d and
of democracy…’, ‘you could cut the atmosphere director of his own practice T2 spatialwork ltd (t-2.org).
with a knife…’. These expressions suggest a series
of tangible and intangible things that come together Image: Faraz Anoushapour, Foundation 2006/07,
to create a situation and sensation. ‘Lost in the labyrinth’
With climate change, the glasshouse effect and

air pollution we have become more aware of the
real importance of the atmosphere that surrounds
us – and of the need to condition and design it
beyond mere ‘breathability’. We exist within
atmospheres created by the layers of location, time,
space, material and culture. Even our dreams and
36
F I R ST YEA R
The First Year at the Architectural Association
introduces students to architectural design, critical
thinking and experimental ways of working, with
an emphasis on preparing young architects for the
challenges facing the profession in the twenty-first
century. In recent years architectural practice, learning
and knowledge have been profoundly transformed by
the arrival of new communication, information and
media technologies which continue to change what
it means to be an architect. The AA’s First Year
programme addresses this challenge by preparing
students for the complexities of the professional,
critical and cultural activities associated with
architectural innovation and experimentation today.
Each year young students from around the
world come to the AA and, joining those who have
spent an initial year in the AA’s Foundation Unit,
begin the five-year AA Diploma Course. In First Year
students gain knowledge, skills and experience in a
strategically diverse range of design ideas, agendas
and interests from which they begin to form their own
architectural identities and personalities. The year is
organised around the combination of a year-long
Design Studio, History & Theory Studies and Media
Studies. Together these courses lead to the preparation
of a portfolio of the year’s work, the successful
completion of which becomes the basis for entrance
into the AA Intermediate School.
FIR ST YEA R
Valentin Bontjes van Beek, David Greene, Samantha Hardingham, Nicholas Puckett,
Nathalie Rozencwajg, Martina Schäfer
Pedagogy
The goal of First Year Studio is to create a flexible
and changing framework which exposes students
to diverse ideas and encourages an environment
of experimentation. This requires students to
proactively develop links between the different
projects and ideas to develop their personal
interests. This very nonlinear approach equips
students with a broad range of skills, and stresses
the importance of asking pertinent questions of
their designs and ideas.
Teaching methods will vary throughout the year,
ranging from an ‘open studio’ where all the tutors
act as a resource pool for the students, to small
Introduction groups working with specific topics and different
areas of expertise.
First Year is taught within an open and shared
workspace, the Soft Studio, in the heart of the main Course Organisation
AA building. In this studio all students and staff In the Autumn Term students are exposed to a range
work together across a range of diverse and of architectural concepts, techniques and working
structured design agendas, interests and areas of methods. The term is organised into a series of three
expertise. During the course of the year students compact self-contained projects which cover digital
are exposed to a series of projects led by different and physical means of design, material inquiries and
members of our teaching staff, who organise a production as well as conceptual thinking skills.
sequence of increasingly complex projects that During this term students will work both in
explore different forms of drawing, modelling and groups led by a team of two tutors and as individuals
communicating architectural strategies. The main within smaller groups led by one tutor.
work of the year – a comprehensive design project – In the Spring Term an initial short project will
prepares students for the rigours of the unit system be followed by a comprehensive design project
that operates within the Intermediate and Diploma supported by shorter workshops, Technical Studies
Schools. and Media Studies. Students will deploy ideas and
This studio organisation offers a unique setting lessons learned in the initial phase to develop their
– at one of the most crucial stages of a young own approach. They will work in groups for the
architectural career – that strategically exposes first shorter project and individually for the second
students to a range of experimental, critical and project, each time led by a team of two tutors.
technical forms of teaching, enabling them to begin The Summer Term’s work focuses on iterative
to take individual positions in contemporary production through a direct response to and
architectural debates and discourses from which to development of the design project. Students will
build their academic and professional careers. The divide into six groups, each working with one tutor,
location of the studio gives students constant access who will set a specific task: the revisiting of the
to input from the culture and resources of the AA designs of the previous term. Every other week
and their fellow students from across the school. specific open studio days will be used for cross-studio
The wide horizon of differing project types, agendas discussions that will relate the work back to the
and teaching approaches allows First Year students larger FY learning experience. On these studio days
to prepare portfolios that open up many different each group will share their developed projects with
possible paths through the school in their future the other groups.
years, reflecting the importance the AA places on
our students’ uncovering their own, highly specific Image: Final presentation, ‘Beauty Project’, 2006/07
architectural identities.
38
Autumn Term During the first week of term, an intense video

workshop will introduce film and editing tools as
01. Introduction Project: Sink or Swim time-based techniques for capturing and generating
The year begins with a short individual design the performative aspect of architectural space and
project giving each student the opportunity to its social context. Video will become a means to
introduce themselves to the entire group. It will capture the atmosphere of a space and a tool to
be launched during Introduction Week and design new imagined spaces.
presented a few days later in the First Year studio
space, with all tutors and students in attendance. 05. Design Project: Thames Hotel Phase 01
This year the major design project will focus on the
Intermission A topic of a hotel along the River Thames. Choosing
Field Trip into the Mouth of the Thames. this site allows us to capitalise on the cultural and
topographical variation along the entire length of
02. 3D Patterns: Model Explorations into the river, from source to mouth. Students will
Form-Making explore programmatically the various architectural
The project starts with the destruction of an object, elements of the hotel, and work on spatial concepts
which will then be explored and recomposed in at different scales. The repetitive nature of the
a different manner through the addition of one chosen building type will be of great interest and
new material.The project explores the component concern.
aspect and spatial qualities of an object. Students
will be introduced to model-making, material
properties and spatial thinking. The models will Summer Term
then be explored via drawing. Finally, working as
a group, students will produce selected projects 06. Design Project: Thames Hotel Phase 02
to a different scale and install them within the AA’s This year Phase 02 will be organised around six
main building. topics which will require students to revisit or draw
out aspects of their individual design project in
Intermission B more detail, leading to a second version of the
During the AA’s open week an intense digital original design. At the same time we will explore
workshop will introduce students to various different ways of drawing such as time-and-motion
digital programs for drawing, layout and image studies. This second phase demands that students
production. be more critical of the project they developed
previously. After this, students will prepare their
03. Drawing Project: Service Wash final portfolios, documenting the entire year’s work
This project introduces the students to issues of prior to final assessment.
scale and measurement and to ways of transposing
information from one medium to another, from one 07. Linking and Contrasting
scale to another. At the same time they will explore Following portfolio assessment students will work
different ways of drawing such as time-and-motion together as one group to develop a full-scale
studies.There will be an obsession with questions installation for Projects Review. This proposal will
of precision, proportion and scale. enable students to design strategic links and
contrasts between their different projects which
allow them to be understood as one body of work.
Spring Term
04. Film Project: Wet and Dry

As a starting point for our term-long occupation
with one design project we will work with film as
a medium to explore the site.
39
Requirements with Zaha Hadid in scripting and parmetrics, and with Sony on
an installation for PlayStationPortable. He is currently researching
the bounds of collaborative design as a tutor at the Royal College
The principal course requirement is participation
of Art, and his work examines the new design processes afforded
in the year-long design studio, including daily work through programming and digital simulation.
and tutorials in the studio. All the developed work Nathalie Rozencwajg has worked with Erick van Egeraat and
is presented at the end of each project and compiled Architecture Studio on projects in London, China, Athens and
in the year-long portfolio, which is a consistently Mecca. She is cofounder of r_ar|e, an office for research,
architecture and experiment. Her interest lies in exploring the
formatted combination of all projects and the basis
transition from the surface to three-dimensionality, modular
for the end-of-year final assessment of the course. systems and architecture’s ephemeral qualities.
In addition to the Design Studio each student Martina Schäfer is an architect and partner of Foresites, an
selects four First Year Media Studies courses, two architecture and design practice based in London. She has taught
each in the Autumn and Spring Terms from the list at the AA since 2004 and previously at Kassel University and the
University of Kentucky. She received her professional education
of those on offer. Students write three short essays
from the University of Stuttgart, Ecole d’Architecture de Lyon and
throughout the year as part of the First Year SCI-ARC and has practised in Germany and the US.
History & Theory Studies Course, and prepare a
project analysis submission as part of First Year
Technical Studies. All supplementary studies
incorporate introductions to their specific areas and
integrate with the studio project in the Spring Term.
Special Events
In addition to scheduled coursework there will

be a number of workshops with outside critics and
specialists. A critical part of studio activity this year
is the in-studio lecture series, ‘First Year Talks’,
where established artists, writers and scientists
come to show their work to the FY students. We
will also take full advantage of London as a
cultural think-tank for museum visits, film
screenings, music events and live performances.
This year the First Year studio will make a study
trip to the mouth of the Thames. Other site visits,
design competitions and festive events are also part
of the year.
Valentin Bontjes van Beek trained as a carpenter in Germany

before attending the AA, from where he graduated in 1998. He
has practised architecture in Berlin, New York and London, and
has taught at the AA since 2001. He was a member of the AA’s
Interim Management Group in 2004/05.
David Greene was a cofounder of Archigram. Long association
with the AA as Unit Master and tutor. Currently director of
postgraduate studies in architecture at Westminster University.
Main interests lie in the crossover between art and architecture.
Samantha Hardingham is an architectural writer and editor whose
published work includes several editions in the original ellipsis
architecture guide series and two volumes on the work of Cedric
Price. She studied at the AA (1987–93), and has been a research
fellow in the Research Centre for Experimental Practice at the
University of Westminster since 2003.
Nicholas Puckett is an architect and programmer. He has worked
40
I N T ERMEDI AT E
The Intermediate School prepares Second and Third
Year students for RIBA Part 1. It provides the basis
for development through experimentation within the
structure of the unit system. There are currently nine
units covering a wide variety of issues, ranging from
materiality to social issues, spatial perception and
methods of conceptual thinking.
In parallel with the unit work, further skills are
developed through taught courses in History &
Theory, Technical and Media Studies, and
Professional Practice. Each of these programmes
works with specialist advisers, bringing in expertise
from internationally recognised artists, theorists and
engineering consultants. Each makes a valuable
contribution to the unit work while also requiring
an independent submission.
Additional experience is gained through interaction
with other parts of the school in events such as open
and combined juries and evening lectures.
IN T ERME DIAT E UNI T 1

Marianne Mueller, Olaf Kneer, Yacira Blanco
type of mineral architecture. The use of brick or

other mineral materials will form the technical
focus for the unit over the year, initiating a research
into the constructional logics and systemic potentials
of this way of building.
Material Matters
Although globally present, brick is one of the few
materials that is in essence locally articulated, its
proportions, surfaces and material qualities varying
according to its place of production. Brick – nothing
more than mud and silicates – is also one of the
oldest and most commonly used building materials,
often associated with anonymous architecture.
The unit seeks to harness the dual capacity of this
Mineral Architecture expressive material to act as both structure and
enclosure. We will exploit its ability to deal econo-
Building Public mically with complex 3D-geometries as much as
Realistically, most public buildings are no longer with straight lines, as well as its almost automatic
located within the public sector. The radically production of ornament.
transforming typology of public buildings, with The unit understands the act of building as a
their changing briefs and new strategies of cultural practice. Oscillating between the abstract
implementation, will form the basis of the unit’s and the concrete, we use process-based design
research in the first term. We will involve life clients, methods interlaced with an interest in the physical
organisations and private-sector stakeholders presence of buildings, their social relevance
in our search for new organisational modes that and contribution to the locale. Students will work
deliver buildings for the public today. through one coherent building proposal from
strategy to detail, from envelope to interior.
Social and Geometric Organisation
In both expressionism and the baroque, distortion aainter1.net
of form was a means to achieve an emotional
effect. As part of its investigation of the relevance Marianne Mueller and Olaf Kneer are AA graduates and company
directors of Mueller Kneer Associates (muellerkneer.com). The
of form-making, the unit will actively research
practice’s work has been recognised through the ‘AJ Corus 40
the potential of spatial deformation to productively under 40 Awards’ and has been selected for the XXIII UIA World
organise human processes. Through a series of Congress of Architects. Olaf has previously taught at the UCL
workshops, we will develop complex spatialities Bartlett, Marianne at the University of East London and held a
that will be tested in relation to their social guest professorship at the TU Berlin, leading the chair of Design
and Construction.
performance, emotional effect and their capacity
Yacira Blanco is a graduate of the AA Landscape Urbanism
to orchestrate use.
programme and of Simon Bolivar University in Caracas,
Venezuela. She has previously worked with Mueller Kneer and
Monolithic Construction for IDOM on the realisation of Zaha Hadid’s Euskotren
– Single Material Articulations Headquarters in Durango, Spain. She is currently working with
The ‘Einstein Tower’ by Erich Mendelsohn not AHMM on an infrastructural development for London.
only pays homage to Albert Einstein, but also

Image: The unit’s set of references
reflects its architect ’s search for a monolithic
building structure – his desire to make the building
literally out of ‘one stone’ (ein Stein). The unit will
explore the potential of monolithic construction
and single material articulations to develop the
produced geometries into physical structures – a
42
IN T ER MEDIAT E UNI T 2
Martin Self, Charles Walker
intellectually. To this end, we will introduce

a collective design development phase, where
the unit will perform more like an atelier, debating
the details and authoring collectively. The aim
is that at the end of the year all students will be
able to relate their experience intelligently, through
the conceptual development of the pavilion and
the resulting architectural experience.
Our syllabus remains broadly the same, with
a term of research, a term of design and a term
of construction. We will start the year with
an intensive skill-building workshop, equipping
students with a palette of digital tools for
the subsequent investigation and development.
The remainder of the first term will focus on ideas,
a weekly cycle of invention and evaluation to
exhaust the familiar and expose the unexpected.
By Christmas, we will have identified the conceptual
basis of each student’s pavilion proposal.
In the second term, we enter the design and
documentation phase. Each student will produce
and document a pavilion design, from which an
Digital Craftwork invited jury of London architects will select a
pavilion on the basis of pure architectural merit.
Inter 2 build again. With our annual summer For the last two weeks of the second term the unit
pavilion we test to the full an architectural idea, will restructure as an office to produce detailed
experiencing its genesis, development and general arrangement and fabrication drawings of
realisation. Through building we see the material the chosen design concept.
implications of each design decision. The third term is about fabrication and
Each year the students, under the direction construction. The unit restructures again, into a
of the tutors, develop a number of architectural team that plans, controls and realises the production
concepts and ultimately test at full scale a single of the pavilion. Over five or six weeks at Hooke
architectural proposition. This is an exercise that Park we will fabricate the pavilion. In the last two
passes from ideas and theory, through design and weeks of the third term we will erect the pavilion
analysis, into documentation and finally in Bedford Square, where it will remain for the
fabrication. It is about the technology that forms duration of AA Projects Review.
architecture, about the making of buildings and
their resultant physicality, space and effects. Martin Self holds a degree in aerospace engineering and is
currently completing the Histories and Theories MA at the AA.
We have been drawn to design and build not
He was a founder member of the Advanced Geometry Unit at
for the normal reasons (direct action in the Arup, where he has worked as a structural engineer with many
community) but through the desire to craft, both internationally prominent architects.
digitally and manually. This craftsmanship begins Charles Walker is a chartered architect and structural engineer.
with rigorous computer modelling that leads A Unit Master at the AA since 2003, he has worked in design-
based engineering offices Atelier One and at Arup, where he
to a robust framework for managing complexity.
jointly founded and led the Advanced Geometry Unit for eight
It finishes with a fabricated object handmade using
years . He is also a founding director of from-work projects.
contemporary digital cutting tools – we become In early 2007 he joined Zaha Hadid Architects.
digital craftsmen.
This year we plan to refine the design Image: Elements of the 2007 Inter 2 Pavilion being assembled at
programme to ensure that what we create is the Hooke Park, Dorset
product of all involved both physically and
43
IN T ER MEDI AT E U NI T 3
Nannette Jackowski, Ricardo de Ostos
urban plots. Using narrative as a creative and

strategic tool, students will be encouraged to
propose architectures that are based on highly
personal intuition, while also being able to
articulate ideas to a wider public realm.
We will emphasise drawing research by bringing
the design process closer to the studied subject. Our
aim is to increase individual diversity and reduce
homogeneous architectural output by encouraging
personal and coherent research, tailored tutorials
and constant critiques. In addition, the unit will
promote a series of talks with a range of high-
profile guests in order to explore a rich variety of
spatial narratives and literary inspirations. Through
these interactions, we aim to stimulate an
architectural debate based on constant production
– with ideas being shaped into elegant drawings,
models, collages, photographs and installations.
Nannette Jackowski and Ricardo de Ostos are principals of NaJa

& deOstos (naja-deostos.com), a studio developed as a platform
for experimental architecture. Nannette is a former project
architect at Wilkinson Eyre and currently works for Zaha Hadid.
She studied architecture in Germany and at the Bartlett. Ricardo
Narrative Architecture has taught at Lund University in Sweden and has recently been
appointed curator of the Brazilian Pavilion for the 2008 London
Biennale. He has worked for Peter Cook, Future Systems and
To the superstitious, there is a necessary link
Foster + Partners. He studied architecture and urban planning in
not only between a gunshot and a corpse but
Brazil and the Bartlett. Together they are the authors of The
between a corpse and a tortured wax image or Hanging Cemetery of Baghdad (Springer, 2007) and are currently
the prophetic smashing of a mirror or a spilled working on the next installment of Pamphlet Architecture
salt or thirteen ominous people around a table. (Princeton Architectural Press, 2008). Their projects have been
Jorge Luis Borges exhibited widely, including the 6th International Architecture
Biennale in São Paulo and the 2006 Royal Academy of Arts
Summer Exhibition.
Intermediate Unit 3 will explore the relationship
between architecture and narrative and investigate Image: The Hanging Cemetery of Baghdad, NaJa & deOstos,
potential new scripts for urban infrastructures 2007
based on literary imagination. Large cities are
increasingly demanding support and organisational
structures – from waste disposal and electrical
power generation to water supply and public
transport – which are typically restricted,
controlled and oriented around technology. Our
design research will challenge the brief for such
spaces and propose instead structural interventions,
physical events and stories which connect their
organisational needs to our search for inventiveness
and meaning.
Students will be encouraged to understand
architecture as a spatial language which
communicates not only functional demands but
also interweaves mythical, occult and ambiguous
44
IN T ERMEDIAT E UNI T 4
Mark Hemel, Nate Kolbe
and meaningful architecture. Our unit will pick up

the thread at the time of the Titanic and investigate
how an architecturally designed cruise-liner could
again become a beacon for a contemporary utopia.
We will insert new essential values and exploit
the potential of these dynamic super-size ‘buildings’
to move in and out of the heart of cities. We will
define our challenge as doing for boats what
Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum did for Bilbao:
putting a city on the map.
The unit emphasises a consistent methodology,
with tools ranging from high-tech rapid proto-
typing to low-tech paper modelling. Students will
work in small teams during the investigation phase.
Final individual projects will become part of a
publication about super-high-rises and super-boats.
Mark Hemel graduated from the Technical University in Delft

and did his postgraduate studies with Jeff Kipnis at the AA before
co-founding Information Based Architecture (IBA) in 1998 in
London. Now based in Amsterdam, IBA is responsible for the
world’s tallest TV-tower, currently under construction in
Guangzhou, China. He has been Unit Master at the AA since 1999
and taught for several years in the postgraduate Environment and
Energy programme.
Nate Kolbe studied architecture at the University of Colorado
and the AA DRL. He founded Superfusionlab Limited in 2004
Titanic Utopia (superfusionlab.com). He has been teaching at the AA since 2001.
At the beginning of the twentieth century the design Image: Kim Bjarke and Helena Westerlind, Intermediate Unit 4
of passenger ships was influential in the concurrent 2006/07, super-high-rise
development of the International Style. Famous

ships like the Queen Mary and the Titanic stood for
a utopian ideal of a more healthy, advanced society
inspired by mass transportation, new materials
and new technology.
By contrast, the design of today’s cruise-liners
is backward-looking. While on land there is a
perpetual competition for the tallest super-high rise,
something similar is happening at sea. Cruise
companies are commissioning ever-bigger boats in
order to provide more diverse facilities for their
fast-expanding clientele (worldwide figures for
ocean cruising have risen by 500 per cent over the
past five years). But bigger is not necessarily better.
Cruise-liner operation is environmentally
unfriendly: it completely ignores any local culture
in the places visited, stocking up large quantities
of food at the departure port.
We want to see if these huge movable struc-
tures, many comparable to a small town of 5,000
people, could have a more attractive, interesting
45
INT ER MED IAT E U NI T 5

Peter W Ferretto, Stefano Rabolli Pansera
photograph of a hotel scene, each student will

be asked to perform a series of individual tasks:
writing, filming, editing, all leading to the
production of a single trailer – a set of short excerpts
from a film shown in advance for publicity
purposes.
The design process is concentrated in the
second term. Following the construction of a 1:50
team model with the assistance of a professional
model-maker, students will be asked to translate
their original concept, taken from the trailer, into a
series of interventions: structural, logistical,
material and programmatic.
In the final term students will concentrate, with
the guidance of a professional image-maker, on
animating their design by producing four specific
scenarios. These scenes will charge the physical
spaces with a new subjectivity. The final product of
the unit will not be a design proposal but an image
of a single architectural scene.
Students are expected to follow a precise
schedule calling for weekly deliveries (to be assessed)
in the form of A1 landscape (plotted) images. The
25 images will become the end-of-year portfolio.
The unit works mainly with models. Jurors will
include photographers, model-makers, editors,
structural engineers, artists and architects.
Peter W Ferretto studied architecture at the University of

Liverpool and Cambridge. He has collaborated with Eric Parry
Trailer/Settings/Architecture_25 Frames
Architects in London as project architect and, for the last six
years, with Herzog & de Meuron in Basel, both as a project
The unit explores architecture by means of manager and associate. He has worked on several international
narrative, expressed through images. Through projects including CaixaForum in Madrid and Espacio Goya in
a fictional journey we will produce a trailer for Zaragoza and recently was responsible for a series of new projects
in Mexico for H&deM. Together with Stefano Rabolli Pansera, he
a film that does not exist. The concepts expressed
recently founded FERA.
in the trailer will be translated into a series of
Stefano Rabolli Pansera studied architecture in Italy and at the
settings, which will then be charged to create a AA. He has worked with Herzog & de Meuron in Basel on
scene, the architectural proposal. projects in Italy, Spain and the US. He taught as an assistant with
We believe creating images is an architectural Peter Salter in Inter 1 and was also responsible for a workshop in
work. Designing precise settings through lighting, Barcelona. Together with Peter W Ferretto, he recently founded
FERA.
furniture, floors, ceilings, windows, shadows,
materials, people and actions constitutes our
architectural ambition. The image provokes us
to re-examine the tangled relationship between
perception and cognition, between how we
experience the visible and how we make sense of it.
The unit brief will be a hotel in London, on
a given site to be revealed at the start of the second
term. The unit trip will be to Las Vegas. The course
is divided into three parts: starting from a
46
INT ER MEDIAT E UNI T 6

Jonathan Dawes, Dagobert Bergmans
Using this analogy, the unit will travel to Tokyo,

where we will explore the extremities of the city
and draw out their narratives, at the intersection
of the real and the fictional. We will examine the
intensive, interwoven topological and program-
matic conditions of Shibuya alongside the
expanding territory of boutique architecture
in Omotesando and Ginza. Analysis will extend
to the dispersed organisational field of Harajuku,
the large-scale infrastructure of Shinjuku and the
vertical complexity of Akihabara.
Exquisite Corpse: Unnatural Composite

Propositions will be formulated for the re-
Ghost in the Machine: evaluation of a mixture of uses within a complex
The Architecture of the Uncommon armature between road and rail infrastructure
in London. Working at a strategic level and at
How can the latent qualities of building fabric the scale of inhabitation, the unit will operate
affect our inhabitation, behaviour or perception both individually and as a collective. Using
of space? How can we expect the unexpected, exquisite corpse methodology, contributions will
pre-empt spatial effects or phenomena that are manifest themselves as a series of strategic
otherwise hidden or fleeting? We will examine potentialities from which individual propositions
the tectonic potential of materials through will evolve.
experimentation, construction and invention.
We will also study the inherent characteristics of Ghost Writing
spaces and their surface, topological and organ- A specific instrumentation will be developed in
isational properties. The unit will focus on measures order to reveal latent site qualities – the ghosts that
to comprehend, redescribe and propagate these cannot be captured on film. The unit will develop
qualities on their own terms, so as to develop a self- mapping techniques, plotting double signals and
regulating process where an architectural language tracing site conditions to create alternate readings.
takes on a life of its own. We will invent ‘ghost writers’ to guide our hands
and initiate architectural responses that will redefine
Ghost Patterns the process of construction. Through consideration
We will investigate the tailoring of spaces through of material properties and spatial criteria we
their effects upon movement, light, hierarchy and will crystallise critical realisations with hidden
comfort via processes of folding, cutting, wrapping, characteristics that emerge at an unexpected
variegation, lamination, etc. Emphasis will be moment.
given to the deformation and mutation of spatial
models and the iterative development of patterns Jonathan Dawes graduated from the AA Diploma School and the
University of East London (where he taught from 2002–06).
and taxonomies. Specialist workshops will focus
Founder of Flowspace Architecture (flowspace.com), he currently
upon the exploration of building fabric, adapting works at Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture.
to changes in condition, scale and task. Dagobert Bergmans studied at the Technical University of
Eindhoven and at the AA with Pascal Schöning and Raoul
Tokyo Ukiyo-e: Bunschoten. He has worked for S333 Architecture & Urbanism
and founded Pool Ruimte voor Architectuur en Stedebouw. He is
Learning from the Floating World
currently working for Dana Ponec Architects in Amsterdam.
Made famous by Hokusai and Hiroshige, Ukiyo-e
were fictional representations that captured selective, Image: The Scramble, Shibuya, Tokyo
fleeting parameters from the real world. Extreme
social and economic transformations were depicted
through cultural happenings and changing habitats.
47
IN T ER MEDI AT E U NI T 7
Markus Miessen, Matthew Murphy
preservation and speculate on the composite urban

qualities created. The definition of architecture
for the collective will be expanded from the urban
object, building or monument, to the design
of a political space and finally, in the third term,
to a composite urban environment. You will
render your final proposal as film – to be projected
publicly.
Significant amounts of time will be spent
exploring London, with potential field trips to
Europe as projects develop.
Markus Miessen is an architect and writer (studiomiessen.com).

His most recent book is With/Without (with Shumon Basar). He
has lectured in the US and Europe and has designed a pavilion for
the Lyon Biennale. He is a PhD candidate at Goldsmiths.
Matt Murphy is an architect; he has run projects for OMA,
worked for Sanaa in Japan, lectured in Tehran and is making a
film for the Shenzhen Biennale. He practises with Jan Petersen in
Holland and London.
Collaborators: Jan Petersen, Tino Schaedler (Maya 3D-modelling).
Tino Schaedler was digital sets art director on Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, V for Vendetta and the Harry Potter films.
Image: Partially demolished P&O building, London
Who, now, works on an architecture that is

viable for great numbers?
Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Elia Zenghelis, AA Prospectus
1979
Publics
Inter 7 has in recent years explored the circum-

stances of distinct social groups and uncovered
an amorphous urban reality. This year the unit’s
attention shifts to the creation of new spatial
experiences for collective activities.
You will begin the first term with an intensive
4D-animation workshop: deforming existing
monuments into a landscape for congregation.
Simultaneously, you will produce blue-foam models
of new ‘monuments’ for London, two per week,
each for a different community – political, social,
virtual – defined by you. Your research will
necessitate direct involvement in locations and
target groups.
In the second term the unit will produce a
physical fabric in which to place your 3D-printed
proposals, organise a competition for their
48
IN T ER MED IAT E U NI T 8
Eugene Han, Chris Yoo
as the basis for a digitally fertile site. These

sites will then be used as the location for their
year-long project, testing geometric biases in
relation to various transportation-based archi-
tectural organisations and issues.
Fabrication and Modelling

As a way to understand and refine intricate field
relationships, we will be looking at the essential
role of scalar physical production in informing
and improving digitally grown structures. Taking
full advantage of advances in contemporary
prototyping, the unit will emphasise these output
techniques as an integral part of design rather than
an issue of post-production.
Representation and Information

Throughout the year, representation will be used
as a means to communicate the many layers of the
developing projects. Going beyond the mere form
of appearance, representation will become a
technique for actualising design ideas – a critical
component of the design process
Instead of attempting to hybridise the many
aspects of the architectural approach within this
unit, we will concern ourselves with the net effect
of the multiplicity of production available within
Heavy Systems a single unifying logical order. Computational
techniques will not be viewed purely as a generator
Intermediate 8 will investigate the relationship of form; rather, the focus of the projects will be to
between concepts of computation and their use customised tools as a means to reinforce and
application in addressing the many dimensions test architectural decisions. As such, our studies
of architecture. Through a series of studies in will form a model for the generation of archi-
organisation, aggregation and proliferation, tectural proposals, addressing the complexities of
students will develop a set of tools that focus spatial organisation and associated higher orders
on a variety of parameters, from strategies of of logic in information-based systems.
distribution to the customisation of formal
attributes. Simple behavioural models will be used Eugene Han is the founder of AVA-Studio, researching and
developing systems in industrial design and architecture.
to respond to a series of designed conditions.
Chris S Yoo studied at Columbia University and the University of
Auckland. He previously worked at FOA and NOX and is a co-
Heavyfields director of the London-based architectural practice poly.m.ur.
We will initiate our development of geometry
with a workshop on studies of scripted field Image: SoJung Min, Intermediate Unit 8 2006/07, design for an
eight-bay aeroplane assembly plant
systems. Topics of research include the investigation
of spatial coordination, dynamic interaction
between global and local orders and the emergence
of complexity in geometry behaviour produced
by component metadata. Utilising the concepts of
computation, students will then condition a set
of tools to maximise the Heavyfields that will serve
49
IN T ERME D IAT E UNI T 9

Christopher Pierce, Christopher Matthews
is then sited. At this stage the limits are still ‘what

looks good’, with the normal concerns of
architecture put to the background. The subsequent
stages of the design programme involve all of the
techniques of mis-architecture, and typically a
current building proposal is radicalised by
following a drawing process that re-scales, re-reads,
and mis-reads the base drawing to significantly
impact and re-shape the proposed project, often
in incalculable ways, while working within the
original proposal’s material and programmatic
constraints. In the process, students are encouraged
to push ideas to their extreme: known aspects of
architecture are mis-used, mis-represented and mis-
understood, and unknown aspects are invented.
The resulting work is inventive, acutely attuned
to contemporary urban and architectural issues,
Mis-Architecture and poses key questions of how design is
approached. The drawings are the driver/generator
We use the production of drawings to generate for the design, and also the studio’s key parameter
ideas and speculative images for architecture. in terms of medium.
Our method stems from the common surrealist The dictionary of mis-architecture: mis-
technique of placing the ‘unusual’ in the ‘usual’. building, mis-shaping, mis-scaling, mis-reading,
The studio repeatedly mis-reads, mis-scales, mis- mis-demeanours.
shapes and generally highlights any other mis-
demeanours involved in the making of drawings mis-architecture.co.uk
and their presentation. Two parallel techniques
inform the studio’s working methodology – one Christopher Pierce studied at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University and gained a PhD from the University of
of fictive readings, like those an art historian
Edinburgh. He has worked as an architect in Architecture
constructs from drawings, and another that utilises Intermundium (Daniel Libeskind) and Skidmore, Owings &
a method of editing and process drawing from Merrill, and as an academic in five British universities – Brighton,
architectural practice. The drawing programme is Westminster, Reading, Liverpool and Edinburgh. He is a regular
divided into two halves – production and editing – lecturer and critic at universities throughout Europe and the USA
and formed Mis-Architecture with Chris Matthews in 2000.
and incorporates four distinct phases – drawing,
Christopher Matthews, principal of Pastina Matthews Architects,
siting, construction and presentation.
was educated by Peter Cook at the Bartlett School of Architecture.
The studio’s starting point is always something For nearly a decade he worked with James Stirling, Michael
non-architectural. Typically, two or more ‘found’ Wilford and Associates on projects including the Singapore Arts
scientific drawings/diagrams are combined, in a six- Centre, the Lowry Centre and No 1 Poultry before setting up his
to eight-week drawing exercise, by making overlays own practice in 2000. He has previously taught at Westminster,
Liverpool and Brighton.
and combinations of information, patterns, inter-
ferences and transparencies with the sole pursuit Image: Perforations of Transparency, 2007
of creating a beautiful 2D image with 3D qualities
– what is termed the ‘base drawing’. The only
requirement is that the ‘found/imported object’ is
from another profession whose primary means of
communication is drawing – for example, chemical
engineering, hydrography, fluid mechanics – and
involves some of the nomenclature associated with
architectural drawings. The ‘base drawing’ is the
‘unusual’ object. Once this drawing is established it
50
IN T ER MED IAT E U NI T 10
Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto
Union and the influx of knowledge and capital

from the EU’s northern headquarters. In this
context, we will develop our eco-machines as new
models for global collaboration and as catalysts for
local systemic development.
Hands On
The unit’s working method will combine an
extended digital platform with intensive hands-on
workshop experiences. The digital platform will
allow development of abstract diagramming skills,
performance testing and scenario modelling.
Moreover the unit will implement a blog and
exploit go-to meeting technologies for remote
tutorials (for example, with Dr Eyal Nir-Paracloud)
and prototyping sessions with the unit’s industrial
partners (from the TWDC2008 network). The
Eco-Machines hands-on component will involve three intensive
events: a field trip in the Autumn Term; an
The unit will work on the invention and installation in Istanbul in the Spring Term; and a
construction of eco-machinic prototypes, which workshop/prototyping event over Easter in Turin
differ from traditional architectural models and (with the unit affiliated to the Turin World Design
industrial design prototypes in two respects. First, Capital 2008 network).
they refuse a purely representational role, deriving
their material definition from a direct engagement Claudia Pasquero is a graduate of the Turin Polytechnic and the
AA’s Environment and Energy programme. She is co-founder, with
with the surrounding environment. Second, they
Marco Poletto, of ecoLogicStudio (ecoLogicStudio.com) with
are progressively refined through an open process which she has recently completed a public library in Turin and an
where both performances and targets co-evolve. installation called STEM for the 2006 London and Venice
These eco-machines will therefore be at the same architectural biennales. She has taught at a number of universities
time performance-oriented and programmatically including East London University, Turin Polytechnic, Kingston
University, UDLA Mexico City, IAAC Barcelona, ITU Istanbul
opportunistic; intensely site-specific as well as
and Bilgi University. Her work is available online at
typologically undefined. They will embody a
blog.tropicalondon.co.uk.
combination of material prototypes (developed Marco Poletto, like Claudia Pasquero, graduated from Turin
through direct testing) and a strategic manual Polytechnic and the AA’s E&E programme, and has worked for
(based on on-site observation, abstract Battle McCarthy as an environmental designer. He has been design
diagramming and systemic evaluation). tutor on the MA in sustainable design at the UEL London, a
technical tutor in the AA’s Dip 2 unit and co-tutored the AA’s
recent Fibrous Structures Workshop. Recent publications include
Historic Process ‘Artificial Ecological Infrastructures’ in Cluster magazine and an
The unit will begin its investigations by observing account of a six-month long research project he led, Informal City:
local cultures where a critical point of development The Caracas Case Project, published by Prestel in 2005.
has recently been reached, giving rise to a sudden
Image: Aqva Garden installation, Milan, 2007
social, economic or environmental mutation. The
focus will be on local systems with a certain degree
of ‘tradition’ – i.e., a consistent economic and
cultural flow – that have been tipped into
disequilibrium by an enlargement of their network
of territorial and global connections. Specifically,
we will look at the Mediterranean basin, where
traditionally rich and inert local networks are being
transformed by the expansion of the European
51
52
D I P LO MA
The AA Diploma School offers opportunities for
architectural experiment and consolidation. With a
broad range of units available, organised to provide
diversity in areas of interest and teaching methods,
the aim is to marry high levels of technical proficiency
to complex intellectual agendas in an atmosphere
of lively and informed debate. During the two years
of the course, in an environment that fosters the
development of creative independence, students will
begin to find their voices as designers and to articulate
individual academic trajectories within the overarching
context of the unit structure. Students are encouraged
to challenge preconceptions and build on their
existing skills in the design projects that form the core
of their studies. In the Diploma School, students learn
to refine research skills and develop proposals
incrementally over extended periods. Throughout the
year, design work is supported by study tours, visits,
seminars, juries and workshops with invited experts
in London and at Hooke Park in Dorset.
DIP LOMA UNI T 2

Franklin Lee, Anne Save de Beaurecueil
city of São Paulo is planning to extend Niemeyer’s

Ibirapuera Park across a busy avenue and convert
the Niemeyer building located within it – the
Department of Transportation – into a Museum
of Contemporary Art. Students can work with
SEMPLA (Municipal Planning Secretariat for São
Paulo) on this transformation and extension or,
alternatively, intervene in other politically
important Niemeyer sites such as the United
Nations in New York or the Communist Party
Headquarters in Paris (or indeed in any other site
worldwide that has to address a combination of
political, social and environmental problems).
The unit will combine different parametric
The Smooth and the Articulated: methodologies and environmental simulation
Architectures of Accessibility techniques (including Mel/Rhino Scripting and
Generative Components, physical environmental
Extending its research on environmental tests, as well as Ecotect shadow/lighting analyses
ornamentation, the unit will explore the social and Ansys computational fluid dynamics) to
and aesthetic issues that relate culture to nature. develop and calibrate iterative organisations that
As a first step towards this, we will critically can create novel spatial effects while mediating
analyse Oscar Niemeyer’s works on the occasion light, wind, water, and people. We will collaborate
of his 100th birthday this year. with Simos Yannas and the AA’s Sustainable
Influenced by social government policies and Environmental Design programme in a series
the tropical climate, early modern architecture in of design workshops on physical and digital
Brazil transformed European modernism, making environmental simulations. Lawrence Friesen,
both cultural and environmental forces more from Buro Happold’s Parametric Design Group,
accessible. The monumental hierarchies of con- will regularly provide consulation on the merging
ventional civic buildings were deinstitutionalised of parametric design, structure and environmental
through fluid circulation sequences while facades mediation. In Brazil, the unit will participate in
were adapted to mediate light and wind. Yet, over a workshop with the Environmental Design
time, in some later projects, this permeability was Department at the University of São Paulo’s Faculty
obscured by overly monolithic designs. of Architecture. Finally, AA PhD candidate Kristine
The unit will work to merge cultural and Mun will conduct seminars on the technological
environmental effects by negotiating between style in contemporary design research, speculating
monolithic or ‘smooth’ surfaces (such as those upon the new aesthetic culture and social
employed in Niemeyer’s flowing ramp systems or accessibility to be found in the fusion of
recent ‘topological’ buildings) and the ‘articulated’ environmental and structural performances.
strategies of current component-based design.
Monolithic surfaces are more effective at Anne Save de Beaurecueil and Franklin Lee (subdv.com) teach
and practise in London, São Paulo and New York, employing
channelling wind and circulation, while component
performance-based computational methodologies for projects that
propagation is highly instrumental in sunlight range from urban planning and cultural complex buildings in
mediation and processes of fabrication. The goal is China to the completed Sonic Rehearsal Studio and On/Off Loft
to create global and component-based parametric projects in São Paulo. Anne has previously worked with Bernard
transformations of monolithic organisations, Tschumi and Zaha Hadid and both have worked with Ken Yeang.
They have taught at Columbia University and the Pratt Institute in
introducing new logics for structure, fabrication
New York.
and environmental ornamentation while
maintaining some of the fluidity of continuous- Image: Maya Carni, Diploma Unit 2 2006/07, Amazon Exchange
surface design strategies. Centre
As a response to environmental problems, the
54
DIP LOMA U NI T 3
Pascal Schöning, Rubens Azevedo, Julian Löffler
Panoramic ensembles which are there by not

being there and which project dimensions between
the personal and the universal.
Site: Valencia, the city of paella and fallas,
opposite Calatrava’s Ciudad de las Artes y las
Ciencias strip, leading to the America’s Cup port
and the endless white sandy beaches of Malvarossa.
Film: Inland Empire by David Lynch.
Materials: Light and time and the necessary
physical enablers.
Remember, in quantum theory there is a world
more fundamental than logic and mathematics:
A. True B. False C. Both
Pascal Schöning continues to work in fields related to architecture,

urbanism, arts, film, literature and culture management. AA Unit
Master since 1983.
Rubens Azevedo graduated from the AA in 2002, worked at
Foster and Partners, made some films, exhibitions, dinners and
mistakes. Has a very beautiful daughter.
Julian Löffler studied architecture at the University of Art and
Industrial Design in Linz before coming to the AA, from where he
The very essence of cinematic architecture is
graduated with honours in 2004. He is currently working for
nothing less than the complete transformation Herzog & de Meuron in Basel.
of solid state materialistic architecture into an Collaborators: Mike Weinstock, Thomas Durner, Brian Hatton
energised ever changing process of illuminated
and enlightening event appearances where past Image: Stills from David Lynch’s Inland Empire (top) and from
Hollywood film of the 1930s
present and future activate a time spatiality
defined by the duration perceptible through our
senses and structured by our mental ability
where the effect of independent movement of
matter in space which is the physical kinematics
is illuminated by the often contradictory
revelation of filmic cinematic sequences of
narrative memory procedures thus attaining the
otherwise impossible simultaneity of space and
time.
From Manifesto for a Cinematic Architecture
(AA Publications, 2006)
The form of the narrative is the content of its

architecture.
The appearance of its architecture is the form
of its content.
The content changes in time and so changes the
form of its appearance.
The use of specific and refined technology
makes its physical appearance possible by
energising transformation.
Inside is outside and outside is inside – they
create a synthesis which is at the same time a part
and a former of appearance.
55
DIP LOMA U NI T 5
George L Legendre
last century) the hottest academic undertaking:

planning high-rise structures for the fast-paced
economies of the twenty-first century. Rather than
simply aligning ourselves, even temporarily, with
such a topical problem, we will further develop our
trademark formalism of mathematical and sensual
aesthetics in order to take on the bizarre paradox
posed by high-rise thinking, circa 2007: why is the
field generally dominated by the empty structural
expressionism of ‘iconic’ tower design (to the
extent that high-rise building in the west has
become the ultimate refuge for signature design and
the fulfillment of the architectural ego) when,
historically, meeting the demands of the ruthless,
Supersurface 4: Rising Mass semi-automatic technical and commercial economy
Tall Cultivars for a Fast-Sprouting Type inherent to this type of brief ensured that high-rise
building remained all but a sort of vernacular, an
architecture without architects, much like the huts
A Matter of Pure Form of rural Switzerland?
Somewhere between the dominant discourse of We will continue by exploring the incidence
functionalist performance and the alleged futility of ‘real’ and ‘imaginary’ variables (FAR ratios,
of form-making, Diploma Unit 5 pursues its critical planning grids, facade-to-volume ratios and so on)
return to form. Our interest in the topic is neither in the manifold developments of the type. Our
aesthetic nor ideological. Contrary to the notion of ambition will be to deconstruct the high-rise as a
shape (with which it is sometimes confused), form modernist red-herring, as the functionalist project
is a syntactic, procedural and, increasingly, technical par excellence, from the ‘primitive’ occupational
proposition whose disciplinary autonomy parallels assumptions governing the layouts of floor plates
the study of language in the age of structuralism and in the 1950s to the ‘progressive’ naturalistic
the recent development of the object-oriented pro- metaphors in fashion today.
gramming in the contemporary software industry. The expectations of Diploma Unit 5 are critical
Over the past four years the unit has explored and technical in equal parts. They resort to analogue
the tectonic potential of the variable parametric material building techniques, custom-written
surface, a conceptual vehicle chosen for its relentless software and access to numeric fabrication. The
abstraction and relative resistance to predictable unit maintains an association with the structural
questions of architectural figuration. The engineer Paul Scott of Adams Kara Taylor. There
investigation continues – in two directions at once. will be software tutorials and seminar discussions
on analytic geometry, data modelling and
High-Rising Mass superficial organisations.
In keeping with past Supersurface enquiries, the
scope of our preliminary explorations will be George L Legendre has been Unit Master of Diploma Unit 5 since
2002. He graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Design in
restricted to mathematical analytic models. Once
1994 and served as Assistant Professor or architecture at the GSD
again we will narrow down our objectives to the from 1995 to 2000. He was visiting Professor at the ETH Zurich
production of elaborate tectonic arrangements (2001) and Princeton University (2003–05). He is the author of
incorporated into pragmatic urban and archi- IJP: The Book of Surfaces, as well as Bodyline, and a critical essay
tectural proposals. in Mathematical Form: John Pickering and the Architecture of the
Inversion Principle (AA Publications, 2006). His London-based
At the opposite end of the spectrum we will
office, IJP (ijpcorporation.com), explores the integration of space,
scavenge the latest trends of global academicism to
mathematics and computation. IJP is presently building a 1000-
formulate our essentially instrumental ideas in the foot-long bridge in Singapore and doing competitions worldwide.
context of what has possibly become (after the
demise of the European Grand Prix de Rome in the Image: IJP, Periodic Wall, Seroussi Pavilion, 2007
56
DI PL OMA UNI T 6
Christopher C M Lee, Sam Jacoby
its growth, colossal developments have mush-

roomed with extensive amenities to support them,
as witnessed in Beijing’s Capital Airport City, Hong
Kong’s Sky City, Incheon’s Air City, Schiphol’s
Airport City and the £16 billion Dubai World
Central.
In the UK, where increasing demand is
outpacing the rate of expansion of all of BAA’s
seven airports, we are presented with the
impossible task of reconciling the inevitability of
expansion with the fierce resistance from climate-
change activists, Nimbys and anti-capitalists
hell-bent on stopping the growth of airports.
Can the airport instead be understood and
reimagined as a type that has the potential to
project a new idea for a twenty-first-century city –
a type that acknowledges its critical role as a vital
generator of economic growth and its obligation to
deliver a future that is ultimately sustainable?
Far from being a mere speculation, the
Aerotropolis Aerotropolis is already upon us.
A collection of student projects from the last
At the heart of Dip 6’s investigation is a rethinking three years of Diploma Unit 6 can be found in
of the effect of types beyond their immediate Typological Formations: Renewable Building Types
architectural scale, which understands types as a and the City, new from AA Publications.
collective urban entity with the potential to seed, Seminars: Larry Barth, Structural Consultant:
differentiate, regulate and administer the urban Hanif Kara, Workshop: Kelvin Chu, Yicheng Pan
plan. We will continue to explore how the
typological change of singular dominant types can Christopher C M Lee, AA Diploma (Honours) 1998, RIBA
President’s Medal Commendation, Architectural Record’s Design
be used as an instrument to cast alternative ideas
Vanguard 2005. Principal of Chris Lee Architects (chris-lee.net);
of the city and enact reactive and pliant urban plans completed projects include Thanks Boutique and Jewel Tech
that encompass issues of political, economic, social factory, current projects V-Office and Birla International School
and environmental renewal. and a 120ha new environmental township masterplan in Pune.
Airports today are anything but independent Works published in AD, AA Files, Archiworld and JA.
Sam Jacoby graduated from the AA and is an architect in private
aviation hubs exiled to the periphery of the city;
practice. He previously worked for offices in the UK, Germany,
they are cities in themselves. Fuelled by cheap
US and Malaysia, and also trained as a cabinetmaker with Erich
flights in a globalised economy, the relentless, often Brüggemann. He has been teaching at the AA since 2002 and is
haphazard growth of airports barely contains the currently a doctoral candidate at the TU Berlin in Germany.
ever increasing deluge of passengers and goods
transiting these once serene and romantic Image: Max von Werz, Diploma Unit 6 2006/07, ‘Open Source
Fabric’
cathedrals of flight. The airport, with every
terminal attached to a shopping mall, serviced by
hotels, cinemas, saunas, swimming pools and
recently even casinos and art galleries, embodies
all the characteristics of an urban centre – dense,
congested, overlaid with rich programmatic
accumulations and served by efficient inter-modal
transportation networks.
Spreading outwards along the infrastructural
tentacles of this mammoth type and cashing in on
57
D IP LOMA U NI T 7
Simon Beames, Kenneth Fraser
explore the philosophical, social, political and

technical responses to the provision of long-term
settlements in this environment, working with a
research group that includes technologists and
theorists as well as NGOs responsible for live-field
projects – the emergent strategy will be applied in
response to their requirements.
The year’s programme will develop from
component to urban strategy. Investigating
solutions of increasing scale from rapid prototype
to rapid manufacture, Diploma Unit 7 will
assemble a logical argument based on the critical
evaluation of component-based systems, as
follows:
Organisational Network: operating successfully
in extraordinary contexts requires the formation of
diffuse contact networks.
Social: appropriate application of technology
and energy; development of tactics though
interview and interaction.
There are fast-growing numbers of people who Environmental: extended component systems
can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their developed into a socio-economic taxonomic
homelands because of drought, soil erosion, structure.
desertification, deforestation and other Structural: constructional strategies tested
environmental problems. In their desperation, through extensive research and development.
these ‘environmental refugees’ … feel they have Economic: human self-interest, global ecology,
no alternative but to seek sanctuary elsewhere, sustainability and fair trade feature in the
however hazardous the attempt. resolution of live projects.
Norman Myers, Environmental Exdous: An Emergent Crisis Application: output from analysis will be a
in the Global Arena, 1995 construction manual applied to production
information used for manufacturing.
Political conflict and geographical phenomena Material Systems: development of a material
are displacing unprecedented numbers of people. system based on local technological context,
Last year’s unit project, ‘One-year house’, was knowledge transfer, renewable resources and
stimulated by the question of political migration. hybridity.
A 1:1 prototype house was constructed at the
Maela refugee camp on the Thai–Burma border, Simon Beames is director of YOUMEHESHE (youmeheshe.com)
and architect for COTE, an NGO involved in construction and
and assessments of its performance are ongoing.
re-socialisation following conflict and disaster. At Grimshaw he
In a context where the population is denied a led projects including Battersea Power Station and Rensselaer
permanent base, the concept of ‘temporary Electronic Media and Performing Arts Building.
housing’ has begun to be challenged. Kenneth Fraser is a principal of Kirkland Fraser Moor
In 2007/08 this research will be extended to (k-f-m.com). He previously worked with Renzo Piano Building
Workshop, where he was project leader for the Rome Auditorium
Burma’s neighbour, Bangladesh, and specifically
and the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church.
to the Ganges Delta. Home to 100 million people,
this is the most densely populated place on earth. Image: Detail of one-year house developed by Asif Khan and Julia
It also experiences some of the most extreme King for the Maela refugee camp, June 2007
climatic conditions, ranging from long periods of
drought to violent storms and monsoon floods.
Here, communities survive through tactical,
environmental migration. Diploma Unit 7 will
58
DI PL OMA U NI T 9
Natasha Sandmeier, Monia De Marchi
reduction of iconic architectural form to banal

metaphors or weak one-liners, pursuing instead the
iconic at every level of a project, in terms of design,
documentation and invention.
The Year & Location

Student work this year will have three parts:
1. An Iconic Building. A church, whose
programme, scale and site will be set by each
student on the outskirts of Rome – a city of
churches.
2. An Iconic Portfolio. A series of carefully
constructed, detailed drawing plates (no more than
a dozen), physical models (no more than six) and
New Iconic Architectures a B5 white book (no more than one) that together
will serve as a monograph documenting your
During the past six years the focus of this unit has imagination, development and resolution of the
been the production of buildings pursued through year.
a working approach that relies upon iconic 3. An Iconic Manifesto. In line with the
modelling, form and design, with a major emphasis established unit practice, your intellectual agenda
on the comprehensive documentation of the project and aims will be defined through short written
alongside its design – in 3D (model), print (book) statements that delineate, test and clarify your
and online (blog) form. See aainter3.net for some thesis; your position with regard to the iconic; and
of our students’ recent projects. your individual architectural aims, connecting all
In 2007/08 we bring this agenda of a New levels, scales and layers of the project.
Iconic Architecture to the unit’s new home in Projects will be sited in, around, or in
Diploma School with a year-long focus on the most opposition to Rome; an iconic European city
iconic of all building types, a church. The fact that overflowing with centuries of church architecture,
the design of churches formed pivotal episodes in encircled by postwar modern extensions whose
the careers of Mies, Le Corbusier, Niemeyer and challenged social terrain will serve as the immediate
others in the evolution of architectural modernism, context for your sites. Our unit trip will visit the
provokes us to reconsider its architectural city, surroundings and centuries of architectural
potential, this time as an engine of invention in the icons as the first of a three-year Diploma Unit 9
early years of a globalised, multicultural and agenda focusing on new iconic architectures.
international world.
The architectural history of churches is deep Natasha Sandmeier (nss@fromform.net) is an architect and
partner of fromform and Big Picture Studio. Unit Master of
and diverse, and includes renaissance and baroque
Intermediate 3 from 2001 to 2007, she codirects the AA Summer
(Alberti, Borromini, Bernini); modern (Le Corbusier, Architecture School with Shumon Basar and worked with OMA
Mies, Wright) and contemporary examples (Lynn, as project architect for the Seattle Public Library, as well as at
Ando, Moneo) of radical architectural experimen- other offices in the US.
tation with new structural, material and formal Monia De Marchi is an architect who studied in Italy and
completed her MArch in the AA Graduate Design programme.
possibilities. Accordingly, this year’s work will
Her current areas of research include architecture and fabrication.
not be a tame project but will require students to
project this legacy forward in new, extreme, Image: Prayer in 2007 – Monastic Odyssey by Tarek Shamma
architectural form.
New Iconic Portfolios

For centuries churches have been the basis for the
most recognisable plans, sections, spaces and
artefacts in architecture. We will challenge the tired
59
DI PL OMA U NI T 10
Carlos Villanueva Brandt
Although, through a process of insertion, we

will test our interventions in their chosen contexts,
the emphasis this year will be on the detailed
development of the design.
We will establish two specific sites from both
or either of the chosen perimeters.
At the spatial scale, we will propose ‘urban
architecture’ which will consist of a combination
of structure, enclosure, rules, urban context and
interactive elements at the architectural scale.
At the strategic urban scale, we will propose
‘direct urbanism’ which will consist of an
interactive urban strategy that combines physical
and social structures at the architectural and urban
scales and includes actions and non-physical
interventions that have a direct effect on the urban
condition.
Workshops will provide a means both to
develop an appropriate architectural language
integrating the relevant direct elements and to
devise methods for drawing and representing the
resultant spatial and strategic interventions.
Separate design workshops will relate to urban
architecture, to direct action and to direct
urbanism. A final workshop, during the unit’s trip
to Mumbai, will jointly test the individual
proposals for urban architecture and direct
Direct Architecture vs Direct Urbanism urbanism in a different global context.
Why direct architecture vs direct urbanism?
This year we will continue to work with the direct By contrasting the scales of direct architecture
realm of the city and look more closely at the and direct urbanism, the aim is to generate urban
relationship between architecture and urbanism. proposals that question and challenge the role of
Can we internalise urbanism and externalise current approaches to architecture and urbanism
architecture? and to develop inventive spatial and strategic
Through a process of immersion, we will designs that respond to, activate and enrich the
identify the relevant live components of the city, complexity of the city.
transform them into propositional design elements,
assess their efficacy at the architectural and urban
scales and propose urban interventions that work Carlos Villanueva Brandt has taught since 1983 and was awarded
the RIBA President’s Silver Medal Tutor Prize in 2000. The work
both strategically and spatially. Drawing on the last
of Carlos Villanueva Brandt Architecture (villanuevabrandt.com),
two years’ investigations into ‘direct urbanism’, and formed in 1984, has been published and exhibited widely.
in particular the ‘perimetric’ urbanism of the unit’s
Khartoum projects, we will use urban perimeters as Image: Regine Kandan, Diploma Unit 10 2006/07, ‘Active Path’.
starting points for our design experiments. A cultural infrastructure acts as an active path around Waterloo,
connecting local, public and transient communities.
We will choose and study one peripheral and
one central starting point which will have specific
combinations of social and physical structures that
will allow us to investigate the relationship between
different configurations of urban fabric and their
corresponding direct structures.
60
DIP LOMA UNI T 11

Shin Egashira
I pasted words and sentences together into

poems in such way that their rhythmic
composition created a kind of drawing and
I pasted together pictures and drawings
containing sentences that demand to be read …
For once again peace had won out over war.
Everything was in ruins anyway, and something
new had to be won from all these shards. That
is Merz. I painted, nailed, glued, wrote and
experienced the world in the city.
Kurt Schwitters on his ‘Merz Bau’
In the early twentieth century, Schwitters created

his own micro-city from the ruins of the city that
had been erased around him. In today’s conditions
of erasure – with the increasing contrast between
fast and slow, large and small, efficiency and
nonsense – we will use similar means to describe
the world that we find in the city. We will piece
together images, after-images, fragments and
words. We will envisage alternative scenarios of the
city – an appliance city (furnished with various
kinds of gadgets), where contemporary
technologies begin to respond to the necessity for
shared physical experience. We would like our
urban architectural works to reflect a strange sense
of parallel relationships, between proximity and
distance.We will learn to adjust our senses in order
Body, Appliance and City to keep our balance within this state of flux.
We will work directly at 1:1 scale, fabricating
Pataphysics is the science of imaginary prototypes, exploring inherent material qualities,
solutions, which symbolically attributes the speculating forms through a knowledge of textures,
properties of objects, described by their absorbing the excesses of available technologies
virtuality, to their lineaments. through their deliberate misuse, and experiencing
Alfred Jarry, ‘Elements of Pataphysics’ the world through the details of the city.
Shin Egashira worked in Tokyo, Beijing and New York before

Inspired by Alfred Jarry’s ‘pataphysics’, Dip 11
coming to London, and has exhibited artwork and installations
attempts to document the city, redescribing its fields worldwide. He is the author of Before Object, After Image
through the imposition of our own objects. Jarry’s (AA Publications, 2006), a documentation of the workshop he has
pseudo-science was invented at the time of organised in the remote village of Koshirakura each summer for
surrealist theatre (when art, science and architec- more than a decade.
ture all told the same story) and was designed to
Image: Detail of Diploma Unit 11 installation, AA Projects Review
examine ‘the laws governing correlations of
exhibition, 2007
exceptions’ and ‘the law of the ascent of a vacuum
towards a periphery’. Our projects speculate on
the city as an architecture of imaginary solutions.
We will begin by translating London’s periphery
as a catalogue of exceptions (fragments of leftover
objects, spaces and intermediary sub-systems) –
a micro-city.
61
D IP LOMA UNI T 1 2
Eva Castro, Holger Kehne
exclusively identified as a ‘traveller’ and processed

as a unit in transit – towards the production of
intensive and diverse spatial experiences and
encounters.
These approaches will be situated within the
unique conditions of China, where massive
economic growth, together with major political and
cultural shifts, combine to produce a radical change
in the ways that architecture and urbanism can be
conceived, implemented and experienced. A unit
trip to China will provide the opportunity to
actively engage with these developments and their
potentials within their immediate environment.
The unit will expand on its partnerships with
Loughborough University’s freeform construction
group and with structural and transport planning
Networks, Nodes, Flows: engineers from Arup. There will be environmental
Transport Interchanges modelling workshops and tutorials with Marco
Poletto and Claudia Pasquero (EcologicStudio);
The work of Diploma Unit 12 integrates digital DP-Catia parametric modelling workshops with
design and fabrication methods with theoretical Federico Rossi (SOM), materialisation workshops
enquiry as a means of engaging with the forces that with Patrick Ng and history and theory seminars
are reshaping the contemporary city. While keeping with Douglas Spencer.
the focus on tourism, this year we will shift our
attention from the hotel (an enclave typology Eva Castro studied architecture and urbanism at the Universidad
Central de Venezuela and subsequently completed the AA
symptomatic of the effects of tourism) to the
Graduate Design Programme. She is cofounder of Plasma Studio
generative potential of transport nodes, as causal (plasmastudio.com) and GroundLab (groundlab.org), Director of
agents within new and existing urban conditions. the AA Landscape Urbanism programme and external examiner at
We will project new hub and terminal the University of Westminster Graduate School.
morphologies as catalytic articulations of future Holger Kehne studied architecture and taught at Münster School
of Architecture and the University of East London before joining
urban development.
the AA as a Unit Master in 2002. Cofounder of Plasma Studio, the
The unit approach is guided by Felix Guattari’s
practice’s work has been published and exhibited widely and
expanded concept of ecology and its three inter- received the AR Design Vanguard 2005, the Young Architect of
related registers – the environmental, the social the Year Award and the Galvanizers Association Award.
and the subjective. Using parametric modelling,
we will develop new architectural formations able Image: Nadia Kloster, Diploma Unit 12 2006/07
to operate transversally and productively across

these registers.
Environmentally we will aim to optimise
transport interchanges and their infrastructures’
systemic footprint and use of energy and resources,
whilst maximising their metabolic potential.
Socially the compounds should operate as an
autonomous city, not a problematic adjunct to
existing urbanism, and generate the positive
qualities of inclusion, participation and evolution
associated with the civic condition.
Subjectively the experience of these nodes
should be directed away from the camouflage of
machinic flow – the ‘non-place’ in which one is
62
DI PL OMA U NI T 13
Oliver Domeisen
Design with Beauty

The main project will be an incubation chamber for
ornament, a Frankensteinian laboratory of creation
– a school of architecture, its history as contentious
as its location: 34-37 Bedford Square, London. A
thorough analysis of the existing infrastructure and
institution of the AA will lead to a 1:1 scale
ornamental strategy and ultimately to a proposal
for a new school.
Build in Truth
Everything has been done before in some way
or another. The only thing that changes is
technology.
Frank Gehry, from Sketches of Frank Gehry
(directed by Sidney Pollack), 2006
The re-emergence of ornament depends on the
availability of mass-customisation technology
within building processes. Dip 13 intends to
develop generative combinatory reconfigurations
of production sequences to achieve new material
effects.
Draw with Conviction

The year will be dedicated to the production of
a singular image in the format of any variant of
an altar-piece, such as a triptych. One fantastical
…I should say that it would be greatly for our drawing that is at once iconic and venerable –
aesthetic good if we should refrain entirely from kinetic model as well as fragmented canvas.
the use of ornament for a period of years, in
order that our thought might concentrate The Grand Tour
acutely upon the production of buildings well Both ways of looking at history, indirectly via
formed and comely in the nude. Las Vegas as well as directly via Rome, seem
‘Ornament in Architecture’, Louis Sullivan, 1892 important today if you really want to stay
relevant – that old-fashioned 1960s word.
Sullivan requested a ‘period of years’ of abstinence, Denise Scott Brown, ‘Learning the Wrong Lessons from the
but it has been over a century since architects Beaux-Arts’, AD vol. 48, 1978
engaged seriously with ornament. Post Loos, the The unit will be supported each term by an expert
modern ‘nude’ body of architecture has gradually consultant, starting with Frances H Mikuriya.
become anorexic, in form as well as meaning.
Dip 13 intends to grow a new fleshy body from Oliver Domeisen studied at ETH Zurich and the AA. Between
1997–2000 he worked as a project architect for Zaha Hadid; from
architecture’s skeletal remains and dress it in the
2000 as director of dlm ltd; from 2001–07 as AA Unit Master for
finest couture. We will delve into history to re-learn Inter 9; and from 2005–07 as a Studio Master for AAVSP. He is
the forgotten language of architectural ornament, a currently curating and designing an exhibition on architectural
language that possesses a grammar (Owen Jones ornament for the Swiss Architecture Museum and collaborating
1856), many dictionaries and a syntax that varies with couturier Simon Thorogood.
from culture to culture and from epoch to epoch.
Images: AA 1950 and AA 2007
By way of precedent we will define the function and
performance of ornament before developing a truly
contemporary architectural expression.
63
DIP LOMA UNI T 14

Theo Lorenz, Peter Staub
from a multitude of deployable structures to a

single forum on the scale of a stadium. The design
will be tested to assess its ability to facilitate
debates (legislative), review the feasibility and
quality of those outcomes (judiciary) and transform
decisions into action (executive). The research
generated by this process will be further tested
within London’s networks and on individual
international assignments.
Traditionally, architects produce two sets of
reduced representations: seemingly objective
drawings in plan and section and subjective
renderings, animations and physical models. By
default, both are partial and incomplete. To avoid
such distinctions between the objective and
subjective, we will begin by developing mediating
instruments – hybridised media tools that are
capable of communicating design spatially across
varying scales. This will allow stakeholders and
natural processes to actively participate and
Liquid Cities/ Liquid Landscapes interact, enabling the gradual transformation of
the original design into a sustainable architecture
If, when it’s raining on Oxford Street the on multiple levels.
buildings are no more important than the rain,
why draw the buildings and not the rain? This division between objectivity and
David Greene/Archigram subjectivity ensures that one cannot
simultaneously concentrate on both, the big
Monsoon-like rains and rising water levels, coupled and the small, the real and the symbolic, the
with inadequate defence mechanisms, are increasing human and non-human, the scientific and the
the flood risk along the River Thames and its ‘vécu’. Thus, the traditional optics of our
tributaries. Despite the recent catastrophic flooding mental camera force us to choose between
of urban areas, more than 100,000 homes are foreground and background, without ever
nevertheless to be built on the Thames flood plain. being able to have the two sharply in focus
This situation – a direct consequence of economic at the same time.
pressure, an exponential rise in the demand for new Bruno Latour, Domus, March 2004
housing, and urban regeneration triggered by the
2012 Olympics – provokes an immediate conflict As in previous years, we will continue to infiltrate
between nature and society, two entities that are in existing networks in the Thames Gateway through
constant flux, bridged by unrelated and non- public exhibitions, workshops and events.
adaptive architecture.
Theo Lorenz is an architect and media designer. An integrated
design process across the creative disciplines is the main focus of
Design = Form x Negotiation
his work. He is a founding member of n-o-m-a-d and a director
of his own practice, T2 spatialwork (t-2.org).
In place of an unsympathetic architecture Dip 14 Peter Staub studied at the Accademia di Architettura in
proposes a sustainable mechanism that is able to Switzerland and the AA. He is principal of PSA, a design
represent and assemble all stakeholders within the consultancy specialising in communicating architecture. He has
taught at the AA since 2005 and with Charles Tashima at the
Thames Gateway. This building will act as a
EPFL. He was recently shortlisted for the Swiss Art Award for his
responsive mediator between ecology and society –
multimedia installations.
an Architectural Parliament. The ‘Parliament’ can
vary in its form, scale and permanence, ranging Image: Ben Burley, Diploma Unit 14 2006/07
64
DIP LOMA U NI T 15
Francesca Hughes, Noam Andrews
Mass Mutation
The history of architectural types constitutes a
fossil record that like its species’ counterpart is
plagued by gaps: missing transitional architectural
objects and sudden originations make anatomical
novelty difficult to account for. As Thomas Hunt
Morgan showed with his wingless, eyeless fruit
flies, it is always the recessive, unexpressed, genetic
component, silently distributed in a population,
which causes spontaneous mass mutation. In the
past the unit has looked at how economic islands
drive the extreme adaptation (or extinction) of the
flora and fauna of architectural reproduction. This
year we turn to that other engine of sudden
origination, catastrophic effect.
The radical change in Vietnam’s economic
New forms come into being not through the climate is fast being registered in its own endemic
modification of details of their morphology but types: the rivers of bicycles that flowed through
through abrupt, large scale reorganisation of Hanoi only a couple of years ago are now seas of
entire anatomical systems. motorbikes. The ghost islands, which the Red River
Jeffrey H Schwartz, Sudden Origins, 1999 swallows and rebuilds each wet season, are in the
sights of Japanese developers. The US sees alternate
The General Council is pleased to announce that trade routes and strategic military positions. China
on the 11th January 2007 Vietnam became the is just next door. As this guarded economy now
150th member of the World Trade Organisation. bares itself to global capitalism (and other old
WTO enemies) all sorts of strange things go bump in the
night.
Saltation Nation The unit maintains its ongoing association
Like the American West, Vietnam is a context more with structural engineer Matthew Wells. In
highly articulated in film than in fact. After Opium, addition, this year there will be consultation with
Indochine, Rambo and Communism, it is now a riverine geomorphologist Dr Alan Zeigler and
complex construction of nostalgia and serial liaisons with the Hanoi Millennium 2010 EU ASIA
renewal. Add to this an economy that has suddenly URBS Programme. Unit trip to Hanoi.
entered Asia’s fast lane: with GDP growth at 8.5
per cent, Vietnam is Brazil’s main competitor in Francesca Hughes taught at the Bartlett for six years before
joining the AA in 2003. Author/editor of The Architect:
coffee, has plans to overtake Thailand in rice and is
Reconstructing her Practice (MIT Press 1996), she is currently
even selling tea to India. completing a book that examines the category of error within the
context of architectural culture and production. Hughes Meyer
Room for Doubt Studio is a multidisciplinary practice whose first building received
Dip 15 returns to its critical pursuit of the perversely an RIBA award in 2005 and whose work has been published in
AR, ANY and Art Forum, as well as by Merrell and Routledge.
specific through the generation of hypercontextual
Noam Andrews graduated from the AA in 2005 and has since
adaptations to extreme economic and cultural
worked for offices in London and New York. He has built his own
environments. Behind architecture’s current faith in work in New York and Florida, recently recorded a pop album in
the instrumentalist premise, we find belief in Argentina and is currently engaged with projects in architecture,
technology’s impartiality is stronger than ever: music and film.
optimisation is the new epistemological deliverance.
Photo Hans Kemp
But the room for doubt left by the undeclared
cultural indeterminacy in every system, material or
other, is always fertile ground for radical invention.
This is the site of the unit’s operations.
65
DIP LOMA UNI T 16

Steve Hardy, Jonas Lundberg
with political and strategic policy. Our design

research consists of investigations into formative
and evolving design techniques which develop rule-
based meta-systemic conditions between buildings
and their contexts. The unit research prompts a
Lamarckian enviro/cultural evolution of designs,
simulations of ‘ageing’ in buildings and their
‘growth’ within their environments, and an
investigation of future contingencies. This
approach further promotes designs that are capable
of adapting to a multiplicity of conditions,
rendering singular performances and components
obsolete. In contrast to primitives, we seek the
investigation of indeterminate composites with the
potential for shared organisations and behaviours.
The unit’s ultimate intention is to reach an
understanding of the built environment within the
complexity of a temporal projection and to
envisage how this shifting cultural perspective will
impact the spaces we currently design.
Steve Hardy and Jonas Lundberg are from Urban Future

Organization (urbanfuture.org), an international architecture
Extreme Environments III:
practice and design research collaborative. They were awarded
Future Contingencies the RIBA Part II Tutor Prize in 2003 and have lectured and taught
extensively. UFO has won a number of international competitions,
Climate change is exposing some of the world’s exhibited its work at the Venice and Beijing Biennales and was
largest cities to serious natural hazards. By 2100, recently featured in 10x10 v.2.
for example, sea levels are predicted to rise by six to
Image: Toby Burgess, Diploma Unit 16 2006/07, Fog Harvester
seven metres, flooding coastal areas and displacing
and Dune Stabiliser
up to 100 million people. In response to this threat,
the UN has passed a resolution (A/RES/58/214)
that seeks to reduce the impact of natural disasters
on the built environment and challenges architects
to conceive of their designs as active agents in
vulnerable physical, economic, social and political
contexts.
The unit will take up this challenge. Our
interest lies not in infrastructural mitigation or in
‘visionary architecture’ but rather in exploring
designs situated within dramatically altered
environments: in some areas temperatures are
predicted to rise by 1° to 6°, while Northern Europe
may become much cooler. A particular concern is
how the co-evolution of environments and
buildings may affect social, economic and political
situations, particularly in large cities where climate
change may provoke mass migrations.
We strongly encourage design-based research
projects where an engagement with spatial,
temporal and organisational issues is combined
66
COMPLEMENTARY.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 15:05 Page 67
C O M P L E M E NTA RY STUD IES

Three kinds of Complementary Studies courses in
History & Theory, Media and Technical Studies are
an essential part of every year of the Undergraduate
School. In term-long courses or shorter projects
students obtain knowledge and gain experience related
to a wide range of architectural learning. Third and
Fifth Year students additionally take one Professional
Practice course as part of their RIBA Part I and II
requirements. These courses also provide opportunities
for students approaching architecture from the
different agendas of the units to come together in
shared settings.
History & Theory Studies includes courses that
develop historical and theoretical knowledge related
to architectural discourses, concepts and ways of
thinking. Media Studies helps students to develop
skills in traditional forms of architectural
representation as well as today’s most experimental
forms of information and communication technology.
Technical Studies offers surveys as well as in-depth
instruction in particular material, structural,
environmental and other architectural systems, leading
to Technical Submissions that build upon the ideas
and ambitions of projects related to work within the
units. Together, the various courses on offer in
Complementary Studies allow students the
opportunity to establish and develop their own
individual interests and direction within the school.
H ISTOR Y AND THEORY STU DIE S

Mark Cousins
time during the term to work on their History

and Theory submissions. The submissions have a
renewed significance in the new courses and a full
range of seminar and tutorial times will be provided
to help with this. Overall, the programme of the
Intermediate School is now fully integrated and
aims to provide a clear common ground of
knowledge for all students approaching Part 1.
The Diploma School continues to seek to offer
new courses as well as more established courses
that bear directly upon work and issues which are
influential within the school as a whole. Like the
Intermediate School, the Diploma School offers an
opportunity for students from different units to get
to know a wider range of architectural problems
and solutions and to provide a critical framework
which enables students to consider and debate the
different strands of architectural work which are
represented by the units.
The History and Theory Studies courses in the History and Theory Studies also organises an
First Year and Intermediate School are now into evening programme of lectures, workshops and
their second year in their revised form. The major discussions, conferences and symposia as well as a
functions of the courses have been to lay out a full programme of freestanding lectures that have
fundamental and comprehensive introduction to the objective of connecting students’ own design
major architectural categories, concepts and ways work to a wider architectural discourse and a wider
of looking at space and design. In this sense they concern with social and intellectual issues.
are much closer to the everyday issues of The Prospectus contains a brief summary of
architecture than traditional history and theory the timetabled courses on offer. Full details of the
courses are. syllabuses and a statement of the submission
In the First Year students are introduced to requirements will be found in the Student
the elements of architectural discourse and practice Handbook available at the beginning of the
so that they can readily understand questions of Autumn Term. All events organised by History
architectural representation (plans, sections, etc.) and Theory Studies are advertised in the weekly
as being part of a discussion as to what architecture Events List:
is and does. In the Second Year this is developed aaschool.ac.uk/diary
by looking at architecture and its pasts. This is aaschool.ac.uk/lectures
radically different from an architectural history
course, being based on the way in which architects, Mark Cousins
rather than historians, look at the past. In the Third Director of History and Theory Studies
Year a number of concepts and strategies for

architecture are examined with a view to Courses for First, Second and Third Year students
demystifying them and enabling students to enter take place in the Autumn and Spring Terms.
into critical exchanges with each other without
feeling excluded by what can seem to be the
technical character of much current architectural First Year
discourse.
The courses each term are delivered in two The Foundations of Architecture
blocks of four with one week’s gap in between. This Pedro Ignacio Alonso and Frances H Mikuriya
is designed to enable students to participate in This course looks at elements of architecture that
school-wide activities while also allowing them are so basic they are frequently overlooked. It
68
discusses the nature of architectural representation Third Year

– in the form of drawing, computing, plans,
sections, models, etc. – so that students will From Architecture to Architecture
understand that they are not simply technical issues Mark Cousins, Marina Lathouri, Shumon Basar,
but are themselves the embodiments of Brett Steele assisted by Valeria Guzman Verri
architectural assumptions as well as the outcome and Tania Lopez Winkler
of long histories. The course moves to the issue of Between design and architectural theory there is a
building in terms of site and construction and constant exchange of categories. Each week during
makes a central issue of the student’s need to be the course we aim to identify one particular
able to analyse and describe buildings in both category, beginning with the one which seems self-
words and graphic representation. evident – architecture – and to show something of
A weekly lecture will be followed by a seminar its history and something of its use through texts,
workshop, where students are asked to engage with architectural and urban projects as well as
the given topics through different forms of drawings. This is a practical way of beginning to
experimentation, combining writing, drawing, study theory. At the same time, it will serve to
photography and model-making. demystify these categories and make the discourse
of architecture more intelligible.
In order to make these discussions more
Second Year relevant, each lecture will be followed by a brief
presentation by unit teachers from the Intermediate
Architecture and Its Pasts and Diploma Schools explaining how the category
Mark Cousins assisted by Pedro Alonso and is used within their own unit programme.
Frances H Mikuriya Following that, there will be seminars which begin
This is not a course on architectural history; it aims to relate the presentations to work assignments for
to present something which is more directly relevant each student.
to architecture and design. Firstly we look at the
relation of architects to buildings of the past,
starting with the relation of Le Corbusier to the Diploma Courses
Parthenon. From there we look at how architects
have understood the classical both in the Courses for Diploma students are held in the
Renaissance and in the modern period. This enables Autumn Term only.
us to pass on to the question of style, to consider
how architects have interpreted national traditions, The Project of Autonomy: Politics, Poetics,
religious traditions and political ideologies as the Production within and against Capitalism
basis for design proposals. This includes architects’ Pier Vittorio Aureli
interpretations of vernacular architecture and of In 1989 the philosopher Cornelius Castoriadis
modernism itself. These will all be shown to have delivered a lecture with a provocative title:
a relation not strictly to architectural history, but The Retreat from Autonomy. For Castoriadis,
rather to the way architects experience the past. In autonomy is the deliberate act of deciding on a
conclusion we will consider the nature of the city as different relationship between individuals and the
a site for the coexistence of architectures of the past inherited system of knowledge. From the time
and of the contemporary. of the Enlightenment, ‘autonomy’ in western
A central feature of the course will be the civilisation has meant the struggle of politics and
requirement for students to fulfil a number of the arts against the heteronomy imposed by
exercises and projects that demonstrate their capitalism’s powerful system of knowledge and
understanding of the various types of relations to production. In recent decades, however, this
the past. These exercises will include drawing, the struggle has lost its relevance. Politicians, artists,
interpretation of buildings and the appreciation of writers and architects no longer question their own
how film and novels represent aspects of the intellectual integrity, and ‘autonomy’ has become
architectural past. a form of retreat. This could be seen in the
69
architecture of the 1970s and the idea of ‘discipline the idea of the architectural event within
autonomy’ – the conception of architecture as architectural design; this is frequently associated
an escape from the commercialisation of the with the work of Bernard Tschumi. The second is
profession. the more general concern within philosophy and
Against this interpretation, the seminar will historical speculation as to what exactly we mean
focus on a more proactive idea of autonomy: by designating something an event. What exactly is
architectural form as a mode of questioning a historical event? Can the idea of a historical event
architecture’s complicity with power and its and the architectural event enrich each other? This
representations. In order to sustain this alternative question is asked with reference to recent urban
conception, the seminar will attempt a genealogy events through the filters of catastrophe and
of the idea of autonomy itself by providing an intervention.
integral vision of its evolution as seen through
politics, poetics and productions that have Bookbuilding
challenged the cultural hegemony of capitalism. William Firebrace
Architectural theory and the evolution of the city Suppose, just for a few short weeks, we consider
over the last three centuries will be seen as the the matter of buildings. Yes, those constructions
synthesis of this challenge. of glass, brick, steel and timber, sometimes banal,
sometimes fantastic, occupied in any number of
Curating Content ways, which were once a central concern of
Shumon Basar architecture.
This course focuses on contemporary manifestations Each student will create for himself/herself
of ‘content curation’ and the current discourses a book based on six existing buildings. Simple
surrounding them. It is structured into four topics – enough? But what seems like an elementary
The Magazine, The Book, The Exhibition and exercise quickly becomes fluid and complex.
The Biennial – each explored via a talk by AACP First, we will consider how buildings can be
Director Shumon Basar and a conversation with described, what can be achieved in words that
invited guest editors, curators and critics. ‘Curating cannot be achieved in images. Second, we will
Content’ will measure the mutations of form taking question how and why we choose to include
place in contemporary culture, both as theoretical particular buildings. Why are certain buildings
dilemmas and as instrumental praxis. considered interesting or worthy? Which ones go
with which? How do these buildings create a set,
Goodbye Dubai so that one follows on and develops from another.
Paul Davies What are the rules for such a set? Size/shape/
In the recent past some architects have treated colour? Buildings beginning with a particular letter
Dubai as if it were design’s Promised Land. of the alphabet? And third, how is all this to be
Magazines are full of the clean luxury and rarely presented? A book needs the same care and thought
offer any serious representation of other dimensions with materials and form as a building. It also is a
of the site. This course shows the results of a recent kind of construction, with its own paper technology,
trip to Dubai and seeks to capture the less than its own relationship to the hand and eye.
ideal aspects of the place and some of the Ah, bookbuildings: this could be a life project,
absurdities currently being produced by architects. a passion. It could develop endlessly, like a complex
Davies’ interest lies in the notion of Dubai as ‘Vegas game. Maybe it could even make money.
with no fun’ and in contextualising the city within Bookbuilding will be completed, without fail,
global postwar development. on time and on budget, and with due elegance.
Event Dis/Order: A Brief Tour of Entropy

Christiane Fashek Brian Hatton
This course will examine the intersection of two Order is the goal of design. But all order is subject
different sources of the category of the ‘event’. One to decay and disintegration in the universal
is architectural and concerns the development of tendency known in physics as ‘entropy’. This
70
course examines the nineteenth-century discovery rethinking these issues. The meaning of complexity
of entropy in thermodynamics and its diffusion as and the status of design in the context of digital
an idea among writers, artists and designers. production will be examined. Through a series of
Among those studied are Olmsted, Bataille, readings and discussions we will explore the
Pynchon, Smithson and Matta-Clarke, in a ‘tour’ relationships between complexity and ornament,
ranging from the picturesque garden, via the ruined and the engineered, computation and
formlessness and feedback, to current probes into consciousness, the primitive and the prima donna,
chaos and emergent ‘complexity’. the automatic and the authored.
Formalism Right Now: bOOMa: The Paper Architecture of OMA

Classic Statements of Analytic Formalism Brett Steele
George L Legendre One of the essential technologies connecting all
This seminar serves the modest but critical forms of architectural knowledge is the printed
objective of delivering the words needed to page. In an era when information and
communicate intelligibly about form. The seminar documentation of all kinds are disappearing into
introduces seven classic texts and is largely a series networks, databases and other electronic forms,
of precept-directed reading sessions. This year’s the concept of a ‘paper architecture’ takes on a
offering will feature new texts. renewed, skewed, status. This course will examine
one extreme contemporary form of ‘paper
A Fourth Landscape architecture’: the books of OMA.
Sandra Morris This seminar will serve as a postscript to Brett’s
This course offers lectures on aspects of the three-year ‘monography’ seminars, which surveyed
landscape, focusing on issues of water, wind and and analysed the influence of print media of all
forest that currently contribute to social and kinds within modern and contemporary
political unrest worldwide. Landscape will be architectural culture. Following introductory
considered as a process that has over time passed lectures on the modern legacy of architectural
from the wilderness (remembered as traces of the monographs and media, the course will foreground
earliest known landscape) to the productive the public as well as privately produced books of
landscape (as transformed by man to ensure his OMA, an architectural practice founded initially by
survival). The artificial landscape, garden and park the building of a single book, Delirious New York,
are historic forms that continue to preoccupy whose thirtieth anniversary will coincide with the
designers. But what sort of landscape will be AA’s ‘bOOMa: The books of OMA’ exhibition,
appropriate for an uncertain future of changing and planned for 2008/09.
extreme weather conditions, transforming different
parts of the world in different ways? This we will Grids to Dust: X Unorthodox Ways to Read the
consider as a fourth landscape. City (Representations, Constructions, Dynamics)
Teresa Stoppani
Rethinking Complexity, The city and its processes are understood
Authorship, Computation intellectually not only by reference to the urban
Martin Self cultural context but also by drawing categories
Contemporary architectural tools encourage a from other disciplines, from art theory and history,
free-for-all of formal invention and geometric architectural manifestoes and theory, as well as
complexity. It is increasingly difficult either to land surveying, cartography, film theory,
discuss this output in the conventional language philosophy and cultural studies. Through an open
of form or to justify it as, for example, structural reading of these categories the course identifies a
expressionism. The eccentric and the complex are series of ‘figures’ that are ambiguously placed
favoured as ends with (digital) formalism as the between the representation and the construction of
primary means. How do we prevent the output space. It then analyses how these ‘figures’ have been
becoming just an expression of the digital tool? employed at different times and in different visual
This course aims to provide a framework for disciplines beyond architecture and in relation to
71
changing notions of space, and traces the role Open Courses/Lecture Series
they have played in the shift towards the dynamic
in contemporary theory and design research in Nothing
architecture and the city. Mark Cousins, Fridays at 5.00pm in the Autumn
and Spring Terms
The Nature, Possibilities and Limits of This lecture course takes up the issue of the
Representation Nothing and the way it plays a productive role in
Dalibor Vesely different arenas of culture. It will start by
Most of the questions facing architecture today considering the issues of negation in terms of
are linked, directly or indirectly, to the problem propositions and the relation of negation to what
of representation. This is clearly apparent in the the series will analyse as negative objects and
growing preoccupation with the new possibilities negative spaces. It will then consider issues of
of digital representation and virtual realities. The nowhere, of nobody and of never.
course will address the changing nature and role
of representation in the formation of projects, Artist Talks
in the creation of new spatial configurations, and Organised by Parveen Adams, Fridays at 7.00pm
in the resulting physiognomy of structures and in the Spring Term
buildings. Another important question will be the A series of Artist Talks will be held in the Spring
possibilities and limits of drawings, models and Term. A full schedule will be published during the
digital representation. All these issues will be Autumn Term.
discussed in a contemporary as well as a historical
context. The main intention is to establish closer History and Theory Studies Director
Mark Cousins directs the AA’s Histories and Theories
links between the work in the studio and the new
programmes at both undergraduate and graduate levels. In
ways of thinking presented in the lectures and addition he is Visiting Professor of Architecture at Columbia
seminars of the course. University and Visiting Professor designate at the University of
Navarre, Pamplona. He is a founding member of the Graduate
Myths and Theories of Sustainable Architecture School at the London Consortium.
markcousins@aaschool.ac.uk
Simos Yannas
Many architects and students take sustainable
History & Theory Studies Staff
environmental design for granted, as if it were Parveen Adams works in the fields of art, film, performance and
now standard practice. Others see environmental psychoanalysis and currently directs the Postgraduate
performance as a mere genetic corollary of the Psychoanalytic Studies programme at Brunel University and is also
digital revolution. For others still, energy and on the teaching faculty of the London Consortium. Her
publications include The Woman in Question, and The Emptiness
environment are technicalities best dealt with
of the Image.
outside architecture. The course will start by Pedro Ignacio Alonso has practised independently and taught
dispelling such myths, which continue to obscure design and theory of architecture at the Universidad Católica de
the development of an architectural discourse of Chile, where he received his masters. He was Visiting Professor at
sustainable design. Far from being an issue of the Universidad Central de Venezuela in 2001 and is currently a
PhD candidate at the AA.
engineering, the environmental performance of
Pier Vittorio Aureli studied architecture at IUAV in Venice and at
buildings is fundamentally a matter for architecture, the Berlage Institute. He is about to complete his PhD thesis at the
being a direct outcome of programmatic, formal Berlage/TU Delft. Aureli coordinates the second-year research
and operational choices made, or ignored, by programme at the Berlage and is Guest Professor at the Accademia
design. Sustainable environmental design requires di Architettura in Mendrisio and at TU/Delft.
Shumon Basar is a writer, editor and curator and AACP Director
essential architectural knowledge that recent
and AA Summer School co-director. Co-founder of sexymachinery
generations of architects simply did not receive. and contributing editor at Tank magazine. Recent edited books
The course will introduce key concepts and criteria, include With/Without (Moutamarat/Bidoun) and Cities from Zero
providing the cognitive grounding and critical (AA Publications). With Stephan Trüby, Shumon is co-curating
framework needed for design research and The World of Madelon Vriesendorp, which will tour
internationally after its debut at the AA.
applications.
Paul Davies has lectured at the AA since 1997, predominantly on
the subject of Las Vegas and entertainment architecture. He writes
72
for Modern Painters and other magazines, and is coeditor of The Tania López Winkler is an architect and exhibiting artist. Her
Architect’s Guide to Fame (2005). photographs and art installations have been shown and published
Christiane Fashek is an architect. She has received degrees from internationally. She has lectured in England, France, the US, Italy,
the University of Notre Dame, the DRL and the London Spain, Poland and Mexico. She holds architecture degrees from
Consortium. Previously she worked at Eisenman Architects on the ITESM in Mexico and the AA, where she is currently pursuing her
Santiago City of Culture. PhD which explores the urban as a form of reading, and proposes
William Firebrace is author of Things Worth Seeing. He is the private detective’s clue as a semantic device for understanding
currently finishing one book, Wake Up, and starting another, this process.
Memo for Nemo. Simos Yannas is Director of the AA’s MSc & MArch programmes
Valeria Guzman-Verri completed a degree in architecture at the in Sustainable Environmental Design and the academic
University of Costa Rica. Between 1999 and 2004 she worked as coordinator of the School’s PhD Programme. See those pages for
an architect and consultant, and in 2000 received an Honorable a fuller bio.
Mention at the V Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism in Costa
Rica. She obtained a masters degree in Histories and Theories of Opening image: Zamri Arip and Neill Grant, scale studies, HTS
Architecture at the AA and is currently working on a PhD which 2006/07
looks to frame twentieth-century modifications to the notion of
the ‘faraway’ .
Brian Hatton has taught at the AA for more than 20 years. A critic
for many art and architecture journals, he has written studies of
Dan Graham, Cedric Price, Zaha Hadid and Langlands & Bell,
among others.
Marina Lathouri studied architecture in Greece and then at the
Berlage Institute and at the Sorbonne. She has taught studio at
Pennsylvania and at Cambridge. She recently completed her PhD
on twentieth-century urbanism.
George L Legendre is Unit Master of the AA’s Diploma Unit 5 and
has been Visiting Professor at ETH Zurich and Princeton
University since 2003. He is the author of IJP: The Book of
Surfaces (AA Publications, 2003). His practice, IJP Corporation
(ijpcorporation.com), is presently building a 1,000-foot-long
bridge in Singapore.
Frances H Mikuriya received her masters from the Graduate
School of Architecture at Columbia University and BArch from
the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently completing her
PhD at the AA on ‘Time Space Pathologies’.
Sandra Morris has been lecturing on landscape issues at the AA
for many years. In addition to History & Theory Studies, she is
currently teaching in the AA’s Landscape Urbanism graduate
programme.
Martin Self holds a degree in aerospace engineering and is
currently completing the Histories and Theories MA at the AA.
He was a founder member of the Advanced Geometry Unit at
Arup, where he has worked as a structural engineer with many
internationally prominent architects.
Brett Steele is Director of the AA School. His research and
writings can be found online at resarch.net
Teresa Stoppani has taught architectural design and theory at the
IUAV and at the AA and is currently Senior Lecturer in
Architecture at the University of Greenwich, where she directs the
MA in Architecture programme and co-ordinates the Architecture
Histories and Theories programme. She is working on a book
entitled Manhattan and Venice: Paradigm Islands of Space.
Dalibor Vesely was an AA Diploma Unit Master in the 1970s.
Since 1978 he has taught a Diploma Studio at Cambridge as well
as graduate courses in the history and philosophy of architecture,
and has developed work in the phenomenology of artificial
intelligence, on the nature and meaning of communicative space,
and the poetics and hermeneutics of architecture. Recent
publications include Architecture in the Age of Divided
Representation (2004).
73
MED IA ST UDI ES
Eugene Han
scale paintings and other installations. In the past

decade precursors like these gave way to the rise
of a wide range of digital-based forms of research
within units and the school’s graduate programmes
which seek to investigate the potential of today’s
machinic and parametric design systems in
innovative ways. Media Studies emphasises the
integration of established techniques in design with
the potential of progressive media and production
methods.
Required Courses
Media Studies courses are a required part of the
First Year and Intermediate School, furnishing
Introduction students with the knowledge and skills associated
with a wide range of contemporary design,
Media Studies at the AA includes required courses communication and fabrication media. Under-
for First and Second Year undergraduate students. graduate students in their Fourth Year are actively
Courses that are available for Second Year students encouraged to expand their knowledge and
are also open to Fourth Year Diploma students. interests by participating in courses available to
Additionally, Media Studies offers a range of the Intermediate School as an elective option.
computing classes as well as optional events and These weekly courses are taught by AA Unit,
short-term projects that are available to students AV, Workshop and Computing staff, as well as by
from across the Undergraduate and Graduate invited outside architects, artists, media and other
Schools. Together the many classes and special technical specialists. Each term-long course focuses
events comprising Media Studies expose students to on the conceptual and technical aspects of a
the work of architects, artists and other specified topic of design media, and emphasises a
practitioners, to the innovative skills associated sustained development of a student’s ability to use
with traditional forms of architectural media and design techniques as a means for conceiving,
representation as well as today’s most experimental developing and producing design projects and
forms of information, communication and strategies.
fabrication technologies. Like many other design In a change from previous years, AA First Year
disciplines, architecture has been profoundly students are now required to participate in four
affected in recent years by the development of new introductory First Year Media Studies courses
design technologies. The link between architectural throughout the Autumn and Spring Terms,
innovation and creative thinking has long been a completing their Media Studies requirement with
motor of the school’s sustained experimentation a bound submission containing their work
with new media. throughout the year. Second Year students are
At the AA, as long ago as the 1960s, pioneers required to select one course in the Autumn Term
such as Archigram engaged with new mediums of and one course in the Spring Term from those on
communication as an essential extension of their offer in the Intermediate school. These courses
radical architectural experiments. In the 1970s the culminate in a bound submission containing the
AA’s newly founded unit system included the term-long development of their projects, which
creation of a workshop for the construction of together with the installation of a final project
large-scale installations and other projects, which serves as the basis for student assessment. The
remains an essential part of the school today. In the course requirements as outlined must be successfully
early 1980s important architectural groups such as passed by every First and Second Year student.
NATØ emerged out of the AA’s unit system and Any Third Year student with an outstanding Media
challenged the conventions of architectural Studies submission from the previous year must
representation by working collectively across large- select and successfully pass one course from the
74
Autumn Term offerings. Students who are not translation of objects into drawings and the
required take a Media Studies course and are new interpretation of sets of drawings into models.
to the AA are still encouraged to enrol in order to
familiarise themselves with the department’s Life Drawing
teaching staff as well as the full range of facilities Trevor Flynn
at the school. The figure will be used as a departure point as we
work through several exercises that enable us to
Resources and Facilities study tone, mass, line and simple underlying
Through their Media Studies courses students will structures, in a range of drawing media and in short
become familiar with the workings of key facilities and longer poses from male and female models.
in the AA School. These include the Electronic We will also explore concept sketches, viewpoint,
Media Lab; the newly established Digital biomorphic improvisations and remind ourselves
Prototyping Lab, which instructs students in of Matisse’s maxim ‘exactitude isn’t truth’.
techniques of laser-cutting, 3D printing and CNC
milling; the Workshop in Chings Yard, which Introduction to Information
features tools and fabrication facilities for large- Eugene Han
scale wood, steel and other materials; the Model This course will offer an introduction to the
Shop for fabricating plastic, acrylic sheet material, management and communication of quantity-
wood, vacuum-forming and other scale models; dependent numerical systems. Students will learn
Hooke Park, a 350-acre woodland site in Dorset to develop techniques enabling them to manage,
which operates as a showcase for experimental utilise and explain information-based
sustainable construction; the Digital Darkroom, environments.
Audiovisual Department and other facilities.
Materiality of Colour
Antoni Malinowski
First Year: Autumn Term Courses The potential of subtractive colour in creating and
manipulating space is the theme of this course. A
Site-Specific Portraiture series of workshops will allow students to develop
Sue Barr a sensitivity to the use of colour and tone in relation
Inspired by the work of August Sander, Walker to the dynamics of space and movement. Through
Evans and contemporary photographers such as this will be encouraged to find an individual
Philip Lorca di Corcia, the course will examine perspective to their research.
the relationship between photographic portraiture
and location. Students will discover how the
location or site of a portrait can inspire/conspire Intermediate: Autumn Term Courses
with a narrative within the image.
Epi-Textures 01
Is Drawing Projecting? Monia De Marchi
Valentin Bontjes van Beek The course will focus on CNC machining of a
The course will teach scaled drawing, orthogonal fabrication system based on the development of
projection, isometric projection and the principle local geometry variations. Criteria for projects
of perspective drawing. We will look at translations will be based on the 3D layering combination of
from a physical object to a drawn representation. complex surfaces. We will cover techniques such as
Nothing is real, everything is only more or less a double-side cutting and the use of different tools for
blurry projection – of reality? different layers in parallel with CNC fabrication.
Translation from Object to Drawing Customised Computation

Shin Egashira Eugene Han
An examination of the link between procedures This course will focus on the manipulation of
used in representing and making space through the digital geometry using scripted techniques within a
75
NURBS modelling environment. We will cover the Juicy-Structures

basics of using scripted logic to customise geometry. Anne Save de Beaurecueil
Students will also be introduced to the basics Digital fabrication course translates different curve
behind the theory of computation and processing dynamics and tessellation types into ornamental
as a means to establish intelligent geometrical structural models using Maya, Rhino and laser-
systems and apply them to their ongoing unit cutting technologies.
projects.
Grandfather Paradox
Geometry of Curves and Surfaces Goswin Schwendinger
Toni Kotnik The course looks at the paradox that emerges in
Open Course (also part of Technical Studies) time travel, when you alter the past while making
Recent advances in digital technologies and their the present impossible. If you go back in time and
integration into the design and production process kill your parents before you are born, then your
have given rise to a renewed interest in geometry very own existence is impossible. We will
in architecture. The use of non-uniform rational investigate the resolution of this paradox in terms
B-splines (NURBS) – a geometric description of of alterations of space–time through photography.
curves and surfaces inherent to modern CAD We will construct a single image comprising
systems – has, in particular, expanded the formal multiple universes of manifestation/understanding/
language of architecture. This course will explore interpretation. The filmic work of David Lynch will
geometric aspects of this formal expansion and be a starting point in understanding the perforation
relate them to questions of construction and of space-time.
detailing.
Print on Demand First Year: Spring Term Courses

Zak Kyes
What happens when the designer assumes the role One-to-One Instruments
of editor, publisher and distributor? This course Shin Egashira
will provide an introduction to the history, graphics Students will learn techniques for constructing
and production of architectural publications. Each performative instruments, including collage and
student will edit/publish/distribute their own small bricolage, to be tested through their application to
book. the city. We will be working both on drawings and
physical assemblages to develop design concepts.
Video: Intermediate
Joel Newman Life Drawing
An introduction to the ever-expanding world Trevor Flynn
of video production. We will watch video, make The figure will be used as a departure point as
video and then watch what you’ve made. We will we work through several exercises that enable us
predominantly be using Final Cut Studio 2. to study tone, mass, line and simple underlying
structures, in a range of drawing media and in short
Keyboards Are Dead_Proximity and longer poses from male and female models.
Nicholas Puckett We will also explore concept sketches, viewpoint,
Building upon last year’s work, the course will biomorphic improvisations and remind ourselves
introduce students to MEL scripting in Maya of Matisse’s maxim ‘exactitude isn’t truth’.
through the design of custom-hardware input
devices. Using the MAKE controller as an interface, Introduction to Information
the course will focus on proximity sensors as the Eugene Han
basis of the input. Students will be asked to explore Students will be introduced to the management and
new relationships between physical and digital communication of quantity-dependent numerical
control to develop precise instruments which have systems, and will learn to develop techniques to
the sensors at their core. manage, utilise and explain information-based
environments.
76
Colour and Light school, examining the relationship of material

Antoni Malinowski structures and physical resolution. The course will
The course focuses on the interaction of subtractive culminate with the fabrication of a final project at
and additive colour. We shall be considering the Hooke Park.
micro-structure of pigments and other materials as
a source of the perceptual interdependence of Epi-Textures 02
micro- and macro-scales. We shall be searching for Monia De Marchi
pigments, materials and surfaces that reflect and The course will focus on digital and physical
refract light in the most interesting ways, and production in parallel with a speculative
looking at the potential of different sources of light manipulation of surfaces. A studied surface will
in manipulating colour. be sculpted and machined using CNC fabrication
processes.
Video: First Year
Joel Newman GUI
This video course aims to provide First Year Eugene Han
students with the opportunity to learn how to For the Spring Term, students will be developing
make a video piece and to start to question video’s the designs of custom Graphical User Interfaces,
relevance in architectural production. The course looking at the relationship of interaction and
will start with screenings and discussions; the executed geometry. As a departure from research
following technical sessions will be a grounding into scripted systems, the primary focus will be on
for shooting, editing and authoring. the development of the front-end of customised
applications.
Testable Predictions
Goswin Schwendinger Lost & Found
We will engage in the realm of M-theory, working Zak Kyes
in 11-dimensional space–time to develop a singular This course takes up the spatial and material
image. One size fits all, or nothing comes from potential of the typographic as a means to navigate
nothing. Each dimension signifies one student and physical space. By investigating the possibilities of
we will cater for a single collective picture. sign and navigation systems we will propose and
Photography cannot therefore be understood solely design a signage system for a location to be
as a tool to record reality; instead it should be seen determined.
as a mediator between ourselves and our immediate
surroundings. Mind + Matter
Nicholas Puckett
This course seeks to push the current discourse and
Intermediate: Spring Term Courses methodology in component-based design through
the use of artificial intelligence. Specifically we will
The Idealised Architectural Image be using Massive Prime, the industry-leading
Sue Barr software in Special FX, to investigate new
Students will explore how images of architecture possibilities in aggregate structures by examining
can be represented and idealised through the use of different types of interactions and hierarchies
digital photography and computer manipulation. between components.
Pending Structures Light-Skins

Valentin Bontjes van Beek Anne Save de Beaurecueil
Going beyond the scale of the standard model, Digital fabrication course developing different
this course focuses on developing a working types of articulated surfaces to fabricate light-
understanding of fabrication through designing at diffusing installations using Maya, Rhino and laser-
actual 1:1 scale. Throughout the term, students will cutting technologies.
be developing projects that address the design and
construction of installation pieces within the
77
Screen Interface Antoni Malinowski is an artist whose practice comprises painting

Vasilis Stroumpakos and large-scale drawing installations. He has exhibited widely in
the UK and Europe and his paintings are in most major
This course will introduce students to screen-
collections, including the Tate’s. He is currently working as artist-
based interface design, including dynamic visual colourist with MJP Architects on the redevelopment of the BBC’s
organisation of information as well as modes and Broadcasting House.
methods of interactivity. Joel Newman was born in 1971 in rural Hertfordshire. He studied
fine art at Reading University and has exhibited in the UK and
abroad. He has run the AA’s Audio Visual department since 1994
Algorithmic Geometry
and taught Video within Media Studies since 1998.
Toni Kotnik Nick Puckett is a First Year unit master and a visiting lecturer at
Open Course the Royal College of Art. He has previously taught
The use of computers in architectural design scripting/programming at the Southern California Institute of
enables the handling of complex geometry. In Architecture and the Institute of Experimental Architecture in
Innsbruck.
general, such geometries are not described by a
Anne Save de Beaurecueil is co-principal of SUBdV (subdv.com),
process of successive modelling of the final form working on architecture and urban design projects worldwide,
but rather by means of an algorithmic formalisation primarily in Brazil and China. She has taught design studios at the
of the inherent organisational logic. This course Pratt Institute Graduate School of Architecture and has worked
will be an experimental introduction to the with Bernard Tschumi, Ken Yeang and Zaha Hadid. She is Unit
Master of Diploma 2.
algorithmic description of geometry and its use
Goswin Schwendinger was born in Belgium, became an architect
as an organisational principle in architecture. in Switzerland, went to Spain to learn photography and moved to
London to live. He has been teaching at the AA since 1999 and
aa-mediastudies.net recently collaborated with Paul McCarthy on a Tate Modern
publication.
Head of Media Studies
Eugene Han is the founder of AVA-Studio, researching and Opening image: Joyce Billet, Site-Specific Portrait
developing systems in industrial design and architecture.
eugenehan@aaschool.ac.uk
Media Studies Staff

Sue Barr heathcotebarr.org
Valentin Bontjes van Beek trained as a carpenter in Germany
before attending the AA, from where he graduated in 1998. He
has practised architecture in Berlin, New York and London and
has taught First Year at the AA since 2001.
Monia De Marchi is an architect who studied in Italy and
completed her MArch at the AA. Her current area of research
involves system performance and fabrication techniques.
Shin Egashira worked in Tokyo, Beijing and New York before
coming to London. Artworks and installations include ‘English
House’ at the Camden Arts Centre, ‘Impossible Vehicle’ at the
Spiral Garden, Tokyo, and ‘Slow Box/Afterimage’ for the Tsunami
Triennale 2000. He has taught at the AA since 1990 and is
currently Unit Master of Diploma 11.
Trevor Flynn is course director of Drawing At Work and is
freehand drawing tutor at several architectural and engineering
offices including Foster + Partners, Future Systems and Rogers,
Stirk, Harbour + Partners. He is visiting tutor at Central Saint
Martin’s College of Art and Design and RISD.
Toni Kotnik studied architecture and mathematics in Germany,
Switzerland and the United States. He has taught at the ETH
Zürich and the University of Applied Sciences in Lucerne and runs
his own practice in Zürich.
Zak Kyes is a Swiss-American graphic designer working in
London. Kyes is the Art Director of the Architectural Association
and runs his own studio Zak Group. He is visiting faculty at the
London College of Communication.
78
T E CHNICAL ST UDI ES
Michael Weinstock
of their unit portfolio, with the guidance of

Technical Studies tutors. Assessment is by a panel
of Technical Studies tutors and unit staff.
Fifth Year students undertake a Technical
Design Thesis, a substantial individual work
developed under the guidance of Technical Studies.
The thesis is contextualised as part of a broader
dialogue in which the technical and the architectural
agendas that arise within the unit are synthesised,
and its critical development is pursued through case
studies, material experiments and extensive
research and consultation. Assessment is by a panel
of Technical Studies tutors and unit staff.
Michael Weinstock
Master of Technical Studies
The Prospectus contains a brief summary of the

courses on offer. Full details and a statement of the
course regulations will be found in the Student
Handbook.
The Technical Studies programme stands as a

complete and coherent technical education over First Year
five years, and constructs a creative collaboration
with the material demands of individual unit Workshop Introduction
agendas. The programme continues to evolve from Making is an important part of the programme for
detailed discussions with lecturers drawn from the year, and students spend a significant portion of
leading engineering practices and research their time in the Workshop. The induction sessions
institutions engaged in a wide range of disciplines are run by the Workshop staff and cover the use of
and current projects. It is founded on the provision tools, machines and facilities, including correct
of a substantial knowledge base, developed through safety procedures.
critical case studies of contemporary fabrication
processes, constructed artefacts and buildings. Case Study
These studies include critical reflection and Jennifer Degaetano Boheim and Michael Weinstock
experimentation with the ideas and techniques Working in small teams, students will undertake a
taught. Knowledge acquired in this way generates case study of an exemplary contemporary building
a ‘means’, a set of precepts capable of negotiating within London, as a way of developing drawing,
the technical requirements of construction in modelling and analytical skills. The study will be
unforeseen futures and unpredictable contexts. organised into three broad ‘chapters’: Materials,
Lecture courses form a portion of each year’s Structure, and Space + Light. Photographs, models,
requirements, particularly during the First, Second drawings and other descriptive and analytical
and Fourth Years, when students concentrate on techniques (both digital and analogue) will be used
critical case studies, analysis and material to explore the unique qualities of the building.
experiments, undertaking two courses each year. Students will be required to visit their building
In the Third Year, lecture coursework, numerous times in order to study different
workshop experiments and technical ambitions are topics/aspects and complete the required weekly
synthesised in a detailed Technical Design. Students assignments/presentations.
conduct design research and experiments to explore The case study programme will take place on
and resolve the technical issues of the main project Thursdays in the Autumn Term. In each session
79
there will be a morning lecture with TS staff, who building carry load. Well-known buildings are
will present the various ‘chapters’ of the study and analysed to show how strength and safety can be
aspects of the building along with appropriate predicted by calculation. Physical models are made
methods of analysis. Weekly work assignments and load-tested to illustrate deformation and
will be given for the small teams for each afternoon failure. Emphasis is also placed on finding idealised
session. During selected afternoon sessions staff conceptual models to demonstrate structural
will introduce students to the tools, methods and behaviour, in particular the stability of the whole
techniques of observation, representation and building structure. Examinations are made of how
analysis needed to investigate and explore the forces create stresses and deformations in
buildings. At the final session in December, each architectural structures, taking into account
team of students will present its case study ‘in material properties.
progress’. A comprehensive printed case study
document must be submitted during Hand-In Material and Technologies
Week, after the break, for final assessment. Second Year Optional Course
Carolina Bartram
Structures This course conducts an investigation of a range
Phil Cooper, Anderson Inge of materials used in contemporary structures,
This course aims to develop a feel for forces in including concrete, timber, brick and blocks, glass,
structures. Basic structural behaviour is fabrics and composites. Material properties,
demonstrated through models and theory, so that methods of manufacture, durability, cost and
students can see how shape and material influence appearance are significant factors that will be
the performance of real structures. To design a reviewed, leading to an understanding of how
structure requires making choices about materials, different materials can be used in a variety of
assembly and performance in use, so it is essential applications.
to have the tools to predict the behaviour of the
unbuilt object when it is still only an idea. After an Engineering the Future
introduction to the development of structural form Second Year Optional Course
through past centuries, common structural Ian Duncombe
elements and configurations will be examined in This course informs students about the broad and
order to gain an understanding of the behaviour fast-evolving role of environmental engineering in
of structures under load. During the lecture architecture, inspiring them to develop concepts for
programme students will design, make and test their own projects. As well as teaching some
a structural model as a competition. fundamental principles, lectures will demonstrate
ways in which cutting-edge technologies and
computer simulations can be used to develop design
Intermediate School concepts through an iterative process of ‘virtual
prototyping’, similar to design methods already
Second Year students take Structures and one used for many years in the car and aircraft
of two other courses offered. Third Year students, industries. Extensive use is made of case studies to
in addition to the Structures course, undertake a illustrate the principles and techniques.
Technical Design study as part of their main
project, which synthesises their individual Structures
architectural ambitions with an account of the Third Year Compulsory Course
material production of the proposal. Phil Cooper and Anderson Inge
The course introduces structural model analysis,
Structures inviting students to make and test scale models to
Second Year Compulsory Course predict the static and dynamic behaviour of
Phil Cooper and Anderson Inge structures under load. The theory and practice of
This course uses lectures and student presentations the effects of scale will become obvious from the
to examine how the structural elements of a model testing, and this will promote better intuition
80
for predicting the behaviour of real, full-size confidently recreate them within the framework
structures. Analytical skills will be demonstrated of their own architecture. We will address
and used to make predictions. Observed behaviour manufacturing processes at either end of the
of physical models under load is used to establish technological scale, from craft to mass
the parameters of a detailed digital model which can standardisation. Students will make a study in
be analysed by computer. which components are isolated, analysed, altered
and reintegrated, to explore the appropriate use
Third Year Design Project of natural resources, energy, human effort and
Javier Castañon and Wolfgang Frese technology.
Students undertake a comprehensive design study
that explores and resolves the central technical Process in the Making
issues of their projects, in collaboration with Wolfgang Frese
individual unit agendas. The study records the The realisation of architecture requires a synthesis
strategic technical decisions made as the design between the quality of design and the way in which
develops, integrating knowledge of the environ- it is made. It is the joining of the processes that
mental context, use of materials, structural forms links the design of architecture with the art of
and processes of assembly. It also documents the building. This course aims to highlight and explain
research carried out in the process of developing the the complex forces at work when transforming
design. The individual projects are developed with architectural designs into built form. Particular
support from technical teaching staff within the attention is paid to the importance of inter-
unit and from tutorials with Javier Castañon and disciplinary collaboration, since the architect as
Wolfgang Frese. Seminars on specific relevant lead consultant has to constantly adjust and
subject are organised by the technical teaching staff evaluate his designs to address these often
and guest speakers as a means of further support. contradictory forces. The lecture series addresses
Assessment is by a panel of Technical Studies tutors these aspects through project case studies
and unit staff. highlighting the impact of various project members
on the design process. Guest speakers from other
consultancies and specialist manufacturers are
Diploma School invited to talk about their experiences of
collaboration within a project team.
Fourth Year Seminar Courses
Fourth Year students choose two courses from the Algorithmic Geometry
selection on offer and may attend others according Toni Kotnik
to their interests. The utilisation of computers in architectural design
facilitates the handling of complex geometry. In
Building Block Interrogation, general, such geometries are described, not by a
Technology and Systems (BITS) process of successive modelling of the final form,
Simon Beames but rather by means of an algorithmic
Built architecture is an organisation of component formalisation of the inherent organisational logic.
elements: BITS. In order to determine which BITS This course will offer an experimental introduction
are necessary to complete a design, choices have into algorithmic descriptions of geometry and their
to be made in relation to an understanding of use as organisational principles in architecture.
functional limits, manufacturing potential and
assembly criteria. The lecture series will explore Studies in Advanced Structural Design
material selection, tooling, manufacturing processes Wolf Mangelsdorf
and assembly at building, urban and global scales Structures are complex systems providing strength
in order to give students not only a basic and stability in buildings. This course will analyse
knowledge of individual materials, processes and these systems by disassembling them into finite
applications but also the ability to scrutinise the components and examining the geometry,
technology of these building elements and boundary conditions and material properties that
81
define each element and its behaviour within the becomes input to modelling and simulation studies
global context. This approach, which has its using software aimed at achieving thermal and
parallels in element-based computer analysis visual comfort with minimum use of non-renewable
methods, provides a simple means of understanding energy sources. Students should bring their laptops
even the most complex structures. so that software demonstrations can be followed by
workshop sessions.
Technology Transfers or Technomimetics
John Noel Form, Energy and Environment
This course pushes the boundaries of previous Mohsen Zikri
studies by exploring the relevance of the The course explores the territories where
manufacturing of everyday objects and the architecture and engineering meet, focusing on
formation of living things to the technologies, the links between building form, energy and the
processes and materials used in the construction micro/macro environment. It reviews the
industry. From studies of food packaging development of building skins, as a critical
techniques, through automobile chain production influence on the behaviour and carbon footprint of
processes, to nanotechnology material research, a building, and presents passive energy design and
the aim of the course is to expand the student’s different methods of exploiting natural forces in
technical awareness beyond the realms of real projects. Sustainability issues are examined in
traditional construction and encourage the terms of their impact on building design and as an
application of these technology transfers to opportunity to generate exciting solutions that meet
architectural design. the occupants’ needs and generate good value. The
application of modelling tools is demonstrated in
Sustainable Urban Design the context of stretching the design boundaries of
Randall Thomas buildings. Completed buildings that have benefited
This course provides a detailed examination of from modelling by Computational Fluid Dynamics
the concepts and techniques associated with the (CFD) are critically reviewed, with a focus on
idea of the sustainable city, beginning with urban human comfort and energy use. To conclude the
morphologies and densities, particularly in relation course, students will be asked to undertake an
to energy. The design of individual buildings is assignment that combines case studies of completed
studied in this context, as are the urban effects buildings in the different climatic zones with the
of spatial planning, materials, light and water. conceptual design of a ‘building of the future’.
The course includes a case study of a large urban
regeneration project. Fifth Year Technical Thesis
The Technical Design Thesis is a substantial
Environmental Modelling and Simulation individual work developed under the guidance
Simos Yannas of Technical Studies staff. Tutorial support and
A hands-on technical course on the use of guidance is provided both within the unit and by
environmental design software for the generation Nikolaos Stathopoulos, Wolf Mangelsdorf, John
and assessment of climate data and the simulation Noel and Toni Kotnik. The central concerns of the
of solar, thermal and lighting processes in and thesis may emerge from current or past design
around real or virtual buildings. The course starts work, or from one of the many lecture and seminar
with an introduction to fundamental environmental courses the student has attended in previous years.
design parameters and with manual computations The thesis is contextualised as part of a broader
that illustrate the range of values these parameters dialogue synthesising technical concerns and
take and the effect they can have on the architectural agendas arising within the unit, and
environmental performance and energy balance its critical development is pursued through case
of buildings. This is followed by a study of adaptive studies, material experiments and extensive
comfort mechanisms relating to the different research and consultation. Assessment is by a
climatic, programmatic and operational conditions panel of Technical Studies tutors and unit staff.
characterising unit projects. All of the above then
82
Open Course
Geometry of Curves and Surfaces

The advance of digital technologies and their
integration into the design and production process
has given rise to a renewed interest in geometry in
architecture. In particular the use of non-uniform
rational B-splines, a geometric description of curves
and surfaces inherent to modern computer-aided
design systems, has expanded the formal language
of architecture. This course will explore geometric
aspects of this formal expansion and relate them
to questions of construction and detailing.
Master of Technical Studies

Michael Weinstock (mweinstock@aaschool.ac.uk) studied and
has taught at the AA since 1987. He is also Visiting Professor at
Yale University and ESARQ Barcelona.
Technical Studies Staff

Simon Beames works at Grimshaws and is project architect
for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. He also works
with COTE, a non-governmental organisation involved in
construction and re-socialisation following conflict and disaster.
Javier Castañon is in private practice as director of Castañon
Associates (London) and Castañon Asociados (Madrid). He has
taught at the AA since 1978 and at other schools including the
University of Pennsylvania.
Philip Cooper is technical director of Cameron Taylor Bedford,
Consulting Engineers, in Cambridge. He has taught at Cambridge
University and at Leeds University (as Professor of Structural
Design) as well as at the AA.
Wolfgang Frese studied at Stuttgart and the Bartlett. As an
associate at Alsop Architects he has worked on the Theatres on
the Bay in Singapore and Federation Square in Melbourne, among
other projects.
Anderson Inge studied architecture at the AA and at the University
of Texas at Austin before completing additional academic training
in structural engineering (at MIT) and sculpture (at St Martins).
Toni Kotnik studied architecture and mathematics in Germany,
Switzerland, and the United States. He has taught at the ETH
Zurich and the University of Applied Sciences in Lucerne and runs
his own practice in Zurich.
Wolf Mangelsdorf studied architecture and civil engineering at
Karlsruhe University. He is Group Manager and Project Leader at
Buro Happold for projects including the Battersea Power Station,
London, and the Museum of Transport, Glasgow.
Simos Yannas studied at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de
Lausanne, the National Technical University of Athens and the
AA Graduate School. Registered as architect-engineer in Greece,
he has practised as architectural and environmental consultant in
Athens and London. Author of books and design manuals on
sustainable housing design, on design of educational buildings,
on tropical architecture and on natural cooling techniques.
Opening image: Dan Marks, Diploma Unit 16 2006/07,

storm watershed
83
PROF E SS ION AL / FUT URE PRAC TI CE

Javier Castañon, Hugo Hinsley
Future Practice for Fifth Year

The context and conditions of architectural work
are changing rapidly. Practice needs to adapt, both
conceptually and practically. Being a good designer
is not, in itself, enough to succeed in practice. This
course provides an opportunity to investigate how
design work is implemented in the real world, and
the implications of this for developing a practice of
architecture. There is no standard model of
practice, and each student should address the
question of how to design a concept and structure
of practice that will best support the type of work
they aim to achieve.
A series of lectures and discussion sessions
explores issues relating to the changing context of
design and production of the built environment,
and different concepts and models of practice.
These issues include the changing context in which
projects are realised; different responsibilities to
clients and users; economic and cultural impacts;
Professional Practice for Third Year political and legislative considerations;
This course prepares Third Year students for their environmental issues and ethical implications.
year out, a time for practical training taken after There are also more practical points, including
completion of RIBA Part I. In giving an idea of ways to involve other disciplines and consultants;
what working in an architectural practice entails, effective ways to engage with the construction
this course aims to teach students how to ‘make process; and suitable models and scales of an
themselves useful’, the idea being that the sooner ‘office’. Students work with a tutor to develop a
they are perceived as useful, the sooner they will critical paper of around 3,000 words. This should
become part of the action in the office and the more discuss, in relation to the issues covered in the
they will get out of the experience. course, some implications for developing a practice
The first lecture, titled ‘Roadmap to of design, and possible mechanisms and techniques.
Architectural Registration’, describes the steps ARB/ RIBA validation procedures for Part II
required for registration as an architect. Four require evidence of Professional Studies. Fifth Year
additional lectures cover a wide range of subjects, students must achieve a pass in this course and
illustrating issues with real-life examples and well- include the assessed paper in their final portfolios.
known case studies. The final lecture consists of a Hugo Hinsley
15-minute presentation by four groups of students
on a topic selected from those covered in the Javier Castañon is in private practice as Director of Castañon
Associates (London) and Castañon Asociados (Madrid). He has
previous sessions. Those students not participating
taught at the AA since 1978.
in this presentation will need to submit a short Hugo Hinsley is an architect with experience in housing,
written essay. Since AA students come from all community buildings and urban development projects. He also
over the world, and many of them intend to teaches in the Housing & Urbanism programme in the Graduate
practise back home, the essays are encouraged to School. Recent research includes London’s design and planning,
particularly in the East End and Docklands, European urban
be comparative in nature, for example studies of
policy and design, and housing and urban density.
situations arising both in Britain and in home
countries. The essays should present concepts, Image: Redevelopment of Spitalfields, London by Foster +
facts, points of law, etc., clearly and succinctly, Partners, construction view c. 2004
in no more than 1,500 words.
Javier Castañon
84
GRADUATE.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 15:08 Page 85
G R A D UAT E S CH OOL
The Graduate School offers eight programmes to
students with prior academic experience in architec-
ture and related fields who wish to pursue advanced
degrees in one of the world’s most dynamic design
environments.
The programmes can broadly be divided into
four types: the Graduate Design programme offers
studio-based, full-time, one-year or 16-month courses
focusing on advanced forms of architectural design,
and includes the Masters in Architecture and Urbanism
(MArch) from the Design Research Lab, the AA’s
innovative team-based course in experimental
architectures; Emergent Technologies & Design
(MSc/MArch), emphasising forms of architectural
design that proceed from innovative technologies;
and Landscape Urbanism (MA), investigating the
ways in which the processes and techniques that have
historically modelled the landscape are integrated
into the domain of contemporary urbanism.
The Graduate School also includes programmes
that offer one-year or 16-month full-time degrees in
Sustainable Environmental Design (MSc/MArch),
Histories & Theories (MA) and Housing & Urbanism
(MA). An AA Diploma (Conservation) is awarded in
the Graduate School’s two-year part-time Building
Conservation Programme. Advanced degrees are
awarded to candidates in the AA’s PhD programme.
All Graduate degrees are validated by the Open
University.
DE SIGN RE SEA RCH L AB

Directors: Yusuke Obuchi, Patrik Schumacher, Theodore Spyropoulos, Tom Verebes
Staff: Tom Barker, Lawrence Friesen, Hanif Kara, Kristine Mun, Christos Passas
Design teams act as nodes within the studio’s

networks, directing the development of collective
proposals across a variety of design, production and
communication systems. The DRL Studio at John
Street is the centre for this team-based approach to
teaching and learning, where networks connect all
members of the design team with each other as well
as with the work of previous years’ design research,
with aadrl.net serving as the online archive of this
networked studio environment.
Introduction
Course Structure
As the world’s most internationally diverse
graduate design programme, with nearly all The DRL is a 16-month post-professional course
students and staff originating overseas, the DRL in architectural design, leading to a masters of
continues to explore the potential of today’s highly Architecture and Urbanism (MArch) degree. The
distributed digital design networks and tools four terms of study are divided into two phases.
targeted towards design innovations in architecture Phase I, a three-term academic year beginning
and urbanism. The tenth cycle of DRL students will each autumn, introduces skills, topics and
graduate in January 2008 and a series of special objectives through a combination of team-based
events are being planned to mark this anniversary. studio, workshop and seminar courses. In Phase II,
Over the past decade many of the world’s most beginning the following autumn, small self-
innovative architects, designers and theorists have organised design teams carry forward the first
visited the course as guest critics, including: Iñaki year’s work in the form of comprehensive thesis
Ábalos, Stan Allen, Wiel Arets, Andrew Benjamin, design projects. At the end of January these projects
Carolyn Bos, Mark Burry, Peter Cook, Xavier are presented to the entire school and to a panel
Costa, Lise-Anne Couture, Nathalie De Vries, of internationally distinguished visiting critics.
Hernan Diaz-Alonso, Winka Dubbeldam, Mark After this, in March, each team documents and
Goulthorpe, Nicholas Grimshaw, Zaha Hadid, presents the work completed in both phases in a
Jeffrey Kipnis, Rem Koolhaas, Tom Kovac, Sanford final book-length thesis submission.
Kwinter, Bart Lootsma, Ross Lovegrove, Greg
Lynn, Winy Maas, Detlef Mertins, Farshid Parametric Urbanism
Moussavi, Kas Oosterhuis, Wolf Prix, Ali Rahim, In January 2008 the DRL will complete the second
Jesse Reiser, Dagmar Richter, Robert Somol, Lars of three cycles of its Parametric Urbanism agenda,
Spuybroek, Ben van Berkel, Tom Wiscombe and with Phase II thesis projects proposing innovative
many others. forms of accelerated urbanisation for the Expo
2010 site in Shanghai, one of the fastest-expanding
Innovation, Collaboration and Parametric and densifying cities in the world. Phase I studio
Tools: Open Source Studio v.10.2 + 11.1 projects will shift towards an agenda concerning
The DRL explores the design thinking and skills distributed and compounding global urbanisation,
required to capture and control the endless with studio briefs deployed across four sites on four
proliferation of information in the distributed continents, including Moscow, New York, Brasilia
electronic realm of today’s rapidly evolving digital and Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE.
design disciplines. Self-organised teams address The DRL contests the perpetuation of urban
common topics through shared information-based design techniques that are incapable of managing
diagrams, models and scripts, applying new forms the extremely complex qualities of interaction,
of associative logic towards the conception and communication and exchange that characterise the
materialisation of comprehensive design proposals. twenty-first century city.
86
Our approach to Parametric Urbanism Phase I Design Workshops: Parametric Matter

addresses the ways in which associative design Yusuke Obuchi, Theodore Spyropoulos, Tom
systems can control local dynamic information to Verebes, DRL technical tutors, Autumn Term
effect and adjust larger urban and global life- The Autumn Term of Phase I is organised around
processes, by embedding intelligence into the four workshop modules consisting of an initial five-
formation, organisation and performance of urban day individual charrette and three sequential team-
spaces, uses, activities, interfaces, structures and based workshops led by the DRL Directors and
infrastructures. supported by a team of technical tutors and
One of the primary areas of research pursued engineers. The primary aim of these workshops is
by the DRL is the relation between material and to develop and explore generative systems through
digital methods of exploring urban and architectural material and computational experimentation.
design systems, their behaviours, and the ways in The analogue workshop will explore material
which the formation of material organisation is behaviours through component-based assemblies
informed by advanced forms of scripting and that will be tested through the development of
simulation. The DRL’s interest in new parametric prototypical structural systems. After this the DRL
design systems requires a new generation of will collaborate with the RCA Industrial Engineering
designers able to negotiate these complex tools, department on a one-week workshop to test and
interfaces and networks. develop a large-scale 1:1 installation at Imperial
College. The final workshop will build on the
Phase I Design Studio: knowledge gained through the exploration of
Global Urbanisation material behaviours, deployed through generative
Yusuke Obuchi, Patrik Schumacher, Theodore and associative computational design systems. The
Spyropoulos, Tom Verebes results will be presented to jury panels of internal
2007 marked a turning point in global urbanisation, and invited critics.
with over half the world’s population now living in
cities. In this context Phase I studio briefs will Phase II Design Workshop: Parametric Systems
investigate distributed forms of global urbanisation and Structures
in four diverse sites. Engaging in a series of exercises Yusuke Obuchi, Theodore Spyropoulos, Tom
for a range of design scales, topics and themes Verebes, DRL technical tutors, Autumn Term
related to a parametric understanding of urbanism, Phase II thesis projects will begin with a five-
design teams will instrumentalise their initial para- week workshop addressing a detailed part of the
metric models, structures and prototypes so as to structural and material system of each team’s thesis
develop concrete project briefs and comprehensive project. The objective of the workshop is to describe
Phase I design proposals. a range of spatial and structural configurations and
The studios will investigate strategies for states of the chosen material system. Material and
radical urban development and transformation, structural prototypes are to be conceived and
aiming to progress from familiar models of executed as design instruments rather than as static
emblematic internationalism towards new iterative detail mock-up models, with an emphasis on
organisational models for high-density urbanism, modelling techniques that seek local behaviours and
specified and differentiated to local contextual principles which in turn act as feedback mechanisms
forces. Conventional forms of contemporary for the testing and development of the larger-scale
urbanism are conceived as spatially and temporally design proposals. A presentation in November will
complete. By contrast, the AA DRL programme serve as a first major interim review.
promotes innovative and radically new modes of
spatial occupation, focusing on temporal Phase II Design Studios: Shanghai Expo 2010
development sequences and the longer-term Yusuke Obuchi, Patrik Schumacher, Theodore
capacities of design proposals to grow incrementally Spyropoulos, Tom Verebes, Autumn Term
while allowing for adaptation to changing Phase II studio engages with the vast rate, scale and
performance criteria. density of urbanisation in Shanghai, addressing its
87
changing physical, social, economic and political will be analysed and presented in relation to
space. Design projects begun in 2006/07 will be contemporary research on computation and
further developed, focusing on the 5.3km2 site of information systems. Team-based presentations
the Expo 2010 and its potential for post-Expo will examine these working methods and resultant
growth and densification. outputs as case studies for studio-based
Design teams will implement a range of experimentation.
parametric design procedures and urban strategies
aimed at intensifying specific programmes, Design as Research II: Computational Space
infrastructures and new spatial organisations, Yusuke Obuchi, Spring Term
working across scales of urbanism, architecture, An overview of computational approaches to
and material and structural systems. Briefs for the architectural design, strategies and processes.
Expo 2010 include distributed housing, vast forms Weekly readings on software technologies and
of interior urbanism, a commercial, cultural and design systems will relate computational work in
consular core, and mixed-use developments. art, music, new media, science and other sources
to contemporary architectural discourses around
parametric design. Teams will make weekly
Phase I Core Seminars presentations related to the readings and an
analysis of selected projects.
Design as Research I: Open Source
Yusuke Obuchi, Theodore Spyropoulos, Critical Projects: Urban-Isms
Tom Verebes, Autumn Term Tom Verebes, Spring Term
Pursuing design as a form of research raises a This survey of urban strategies and their associated
series of questions that this course will examine design techniques aims to orient and articulate the
in relation to larger technological, economic and current DRL agenda of Parametric Urbanism. It
cultural contexts. The seminar will explore ways of will investigate key projects of urbanism over the
associating design with forms of research, as well as last 50 years, comparing and debating two case
the implications of this for architectural practice, studies in each seminar session. Teams will make
representation, products, design documents and weekly presentations related to course reading.
media. Weekly sessions will include presentations
related to course reading.
Phase I Optional Seminars
Synthesis: Project Submission
Writing & Research Documentation Digital Tools: 3D Studio, Maya, Rhino,
Kristine Mun, Autumn & Spring Terms Catia & Macromedia: Software & Scripting
These weekly sessions will review the basics of Shajay Bhooshan, Kristof Crolla, Eugene Han,
writing, research and project documentation Chikara Inamura, Autumn & Spring Terms
related to DRL course submissions. Presentations These optional workshops provide an introduction
will cover research resources in London, the to the digital tools and systems used in the DRL,
preparation of thesis abstracts, writing styles and introducing basic skills needed to build and control
issues related to essays, papers and project parametric models and interactive presentations.
booklets. Tutorials will discuss ongoing research Sessions will build up to advanced scripting,
topics and seminar and studio presentations. programming and dynamic modelling techniques.
New Anatomies of Architecture: Phase I Design Workshop and Seminars:

Examining the Parametric Information Beyond Nature
Theodore Spyropoulos, Autumn Term Kristine Mun, Spring Term
An examination of key concepts of parametric This intensive studio-based design module
design through the interplay between physical and investigates the recent fusion of ‘information’ and
digital forms of computation and experimentation. ‘nature’ in architectural thinking and practice. It
The works of Otto, Le Ricolais, Fuller and Dieste does so through the examination of metallurgic
88
material behaviours deriving from methodologies Theodore Spyropoulos is director of the experimental design
and processes directly connected to new practice Minimaforms and is a visiting research fellow at the MIT
Center for Advanced Visual Studies. He co-curates the AA New
technologies, considering their relation to micro-
Media Research cluster and has previously worked with the
scale structural diagrams in digital and analogue offices of Peter Eisenman and Zaha Hadid Architects.
modes of design production. theo@minimaforms.com
Tom Verebes is cofounder of OCEAN and OCEAN UK, and is
Phase I Design Workshop: a partner in ocean D. He studied architecture at McGill, LoPSiA
and the AA. The work of ocean D has been widely published and
Visualising Information
exhibited and Tom has lectured and taught across Europe, North
Spring Term America, the Middle East and Asia.
This Phase I workshop module will explore tverebes@oceanD.com
the systematic analysis of dynamic information
visualisation and its classifications. Visualisation DRL Programme Staff
Tom Barker has extensive applied experience in advanced
techniques will be examined in relation to
structures and new materials, as well as electronics and digital
references from information engineering, interface software. Projects include the capsules and boarding system of
design, ArtTechnology, economics and science. the London Eye, photovoltaic solar products for BP Solar, folding
shelters and Curvatex, a curved building composite technology.
Parametric Structures II: Lawrence Friesen studied at Dalhousie University, Canada, and
worked at a number of architectural practices in Canada before
Seminar Series and Design Tutorials
setting up the design geometry studio at Buro Happold. In the past
Tom Barker, Lawrence Friesen, Hanif Kara nine years he has participated in a number of complex projects
Spring & Summer Terms whose innovative realisation entailed digital fabrication.
This series provides a general overview of recent Hanif Kara is a co-founder of Adams Kara Taylor, a design-led
engineering and technical advances by presenting structural engineering practice whose collaborations include the
Phaeno Science Centre and Sarajevo Concert Hall. He has assisted
cutting-edge developments in the industry from the
various diploma units at the AA since 1998. Currently an
perspective of a range of multidisciplinary design examiner for the Institute of Structural Engineers.
professionals. The tutors will also meet regularly in Kristine Mun received her masters from the Cranbrook Academy
the Spring Term with Phase I design teams to give of Art and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the AA. She has
technical advice on ongoing studio projects. previously worked at NOX with Lars Spuybroek and is a co-
founder of ASPX, an experimental architecture studio in London
and Italy.
Christos Passas is an architect, completing AAGradDes in 1998.
Special Events He has since worked with Zaha Hadid with whom he led the
design for the Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, and is
A series of events will be held to mark the tenth currently working on projects exploring technology and design.
anniversary of the DRL, including DRL TEN, a
Visiting Staff & Workshop Consultants
major exhibition of the work of the DRL students,
Shajay Bhooshan, Kristof Crolla, Eugene Han, Chikara Inamura
staff and alumni, a book launch and a symposium
coinciding with a reception for the 300+ graduates Opening image: P_FAX DRL Phase II team, DRL-07, Verebes
of the programme. Studio
aadrl.net
DRL Directors
Yusuke Obuchi studied at Princeton, SCI-ARC and the University
of Toronto. He has worked at ROTO Architects and Reiser +
Umemoto and is cofounder of Foresites, based in London and
Berlin. He is currently on sabbatical from his role as Unit Master
of Intermediate Unit 8. yobuchi@aaschool.ac.uk
Patrik Schumacher is a director and project partner at Zaha
Hadid Architects. He studied philosophy and architecture in
Bonn, Stuttgart, London and the Institute for Cultural Science
at Klagenfurt University. He is a visiting professor at Columbia,
Harvard, Linz and other universities.
patrik_schumacher@hotmail.com
89
E M E RGENT T E CHN OLOGI ES AND DESIGN

Michael Weinstock, Michael Hensel, Achim Menges, Nikolaos Stathopoulos
Course Structure
The programme takes place over four terms (from

October 2007 to October 2008) for MSc
candidates and over five terms (October 2007 to
January 2008) for MArch candidates. Phase 1 of
the Emtech programme offers a wide range of
theories, concepts, methods and techniques that
are designed to help students develop their skills,
explore across the boundaries of contingent
disciplines and practices and engage with the
theoretical discourses in Emergent Technologies.
Students are also encouraged to attend relevant
courses in Technical Studies and those offered
elsewhere in the Graduate School.
Successful completion of Phase 1 is a prior
condition of progress to Phase 2 of the programme.
At the end of Phase 1 students present their
dissertation proposals to programme staff. Once
these are approved, they commence the dissertation
Introduction phase. During Phase 2 students develop a
dissertation in teams of two, working with
The Emergent Technologies and Design programme programme staff and external advisers. Seminars
is open to graduates in architecture, engineering and tutorials guide the progress of the dissertations,
and industrial design who wish to pursue design which are reviewed by external examiners.
research that proceeds from innovative technologies.
The programme is focused on the development of Experimentation and Construction
skills and knowledge that is located in new Construction experiments are an important part
production paradigms. of the programme – last year two lines of design
Phase 1 of the programme includes seminar experimentation resulted in full-scale constructions.
courses, a Core Studio and supervised research. One set of experiments investigated ruled surfaces
Phase 2 consists of further supervised research and the articulation of complex double curvatures
culminating in the Design Dissertations for MSc within straight material elements. The principles
and MArch. devised in the experiments were used as the basis
Seminar courses provide the theoretical context, for a viewing platform and shelter for Hazienda
setting out the origins, theories, instruments and Quitralco in Chilean Patagonia, developed in
practices of Emergent Technologies, and exploring collaboration with Juan Subercaseaux and Buro
relations to contemporary architectural debate. The Happold. A group of students travelled to the site
courses are extensively cross-linked, thematically to construct the project. Another set of experiments
and instrumentally, with the Core Studio. Outputs examined the environmental performance capacity
of the seminar courses are critical and technical of a membrane canopy made from varied
analyses that are connected to design strategies and components. Buro Happold engineers worked with
material systems and located in industrial processes the students on the design development, detailing,
and production. These in turn provide inputs to the manufacturing and assembly strategies for the
Core Studio modules and experiments which lead canopy for the terrace of the AA.
to fully articulated design projects. In 2007/8 we will explore three-dimensional
nets for the design and construction of an interior
cable-net and membrane assembly at the FRAC
centre in Orléans, France and a bridge at Hazienda
Quitralco in Chile.
90
Phase 1 Core Studio North Whitehead, through Turing’s work on

Terms 1 & 2 cryptographic analysis and on the mathematics of
The Core Studio begins with an intensive period biological development, to the development of
of intellectual and skill-building sessions. Studio evolutionary algorithms. The conceptual structures
discussions and readings focus on the concepts of and philosophies of Emergence in Evolutionary
morphogenesis, emergence and self-organisation, Computation and Artificial Life will be reviewed,
while workshops develop advanced digital and the course will conclude with a series of digital
modelling methods including Rhino modelling, experiments in algorithmic design.
scripting and associative parametric modelling in
generative components. This is followed by the Natural Systems and Biometics
introduction of material self-organisation and Michael Weinstock with George Jeronimidis
form-finding as design methods that lead to and Nikolaos Stathopoulos, Term 2
performance-oriented design. This year the studio This course examines the ways in which biological
will focus mainly on three-dimensional nets, organisms achieve complex ‘emergent’ structures
culminating in the design, detailing and and performances from simple components, relating
construction of two structures. this to an exploration of current architectural/
Material, manufacturing and assembly logics, industrial component design, prototyping and
together with the behaviour and performance of the production. The aim is to suggest the possibility of
designed system, are key elements of the integral a radical bottom-up programme for architectural
design approach of the programme. This strategy design proceeding from a component strategy
deploys the inherent properties and behaviour of derived from an analysis of biological component
materials in material assemblies that respond to the strategies. The course will show how the boundary
specific pressures of their context. Modelling and between the ‘natural’ and the man-made has been
analysis of natural and manufactured systems are reconfigured by biomimetic engineering, and will
introduced to provide the techniques necessary for introduce students to the thinking that has led to the
the development of morphological complexity and evolution of new materials that may play a
high-level functionality in the designs for significant role in shaping the future of our built
construction. environment. It aims to explain how materials can
be designed to produce varied properties, such as
concrete that can ‘heal’ itself, glazing that can
Seminar Courses change its optical properties, and materials that have
a memory. It explores the concepts behind the
Emergence and Design implementation of new materials, particularly in
Michael Weinstock, Term 1 ‘smart’ or adaptive structures, and examines these
‘Emergent’ is defined as that which is produced materials for potential contributions to new agendas.
by multiple causes, but which cannot be said to An introduction to the ways in which organisms
be the sum of their individual effects. It has been have evolved their form, materials and structures in
an important concept in biology and mathematics, response to varied functions and environments will
in artificial intelligence, information theory and be followed by an account of the way in which
computer science, and in the newer domains of engineering design principles have been abstracted
weather and climatic studies and the material from nature in current research projects for industry
sciences, particularly biomimetic engineering. and material science. An in-depth study of
Commonplace terms such as ‘self-organising articulated shell morphologies (general form) and
structures’ and ‘bottom-up systems’ have their anatomy (structure) will be carried out, and their
origin in the science of emergence, and are interrelations explored using digital geometric
encountered in fields as disparate as economics modelling and digital structural analysis. Exact
and urbanism. The seminar course will commence geometric models created in Rhino and Maya will
with a survey of the origins of the science and then be converted and imported into the ‘ANSYS’
technologies associated with emergence, analysis software.
commencing with D’Arcy Thompson and Alfred
91
Design and Technology Studio Master

Michael Weinstock with Michael Hensel Achim Menges (AA DiplHons) received the FEIDAD Outstanding
Design Award in 2002, the Archiprix International Award 2003,
and Jennifer Boheim, Term 2
RIBA Tutor Prize 2004 and the International Bentley Educator of
This course aims to provoke a re-examination of the Year Award 2005. He is a partner in OCEAN NORTH and
the theories and practices of design from the point the Emergence and Design Group.
of view of their embedded material implications. achimmenges@aaschool.ac.uk
It reveals the ways in which ‘design’ and the
Tutor
‘technical’ exist within the general culture of
Nikolaos Stathopoulos is a design engineer at Buro Happold,
architecture, indicating the processes that lead to London, working on international projects including large-span
technological innovation in material objects and tensile structures. He has also taught at Yale School of
the particular role of the prototype in the design Architecture and the University of East London, and has been a
and production of artefacts and buildings of visiting critic at the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and
Imperial College, London.
different scales, in both mass-produced and
individually crafted architecture. The relations of Visiting Staff
material forms and formulations of thought in Professor George Jeronimidis is the Director of the Centre for
architectural projects in the twentieth century will Biomimetics in the School of Construction Management and
be set out, and a discussion opened up around the Engineering at the University of Reading. He is an active member
of the Smart Materials and Structures Committee of the Institute
ways today’s material practices are undergoing a
of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3). He has recently been
substantial reconfiguration. The historical context invited to join the scientific advisory board of the Max Planck
of these forces will be examined through the work Institute for Colloid and Interface Research in Golm, Germany
of Buckminster Fuller, Charles and Ray Eames and and the editorial board of the International Journal of Virtual and
Jean Prouvé: material agendas will be identified Physical Prototyping.
through focusing on the contradictions and

Project Consultant
oppositions between the universal and the Juan E Subercaseaux (MArch with Distinction, Emergent
individual, between the mass-produced object and Technologies & Design 2006) trained as an industrial designer in
the ‘tailored’ craft product. Contemporary and the School of Architecture & Design of Universidad Catolica de
historical positions, projects and procedures are Valparaiso in 1998, then practised in Chile, designing and building
at various scales from products to museums. He currently works
compared, with particular attention given to the
in the Computation Geometry Group of KPF London.
origin and relations of prefabrication and modular
construction and their associated design practices Opening image: Membrane canopy, AA terrace, July 2007
and drawing techniques. (photo Karola Dierichs)
emtechlog.net
Emergent Technologies and Design Directors

Michael U Hensel (Dipl Ing Grad Dipl Des AA) is an architect,
researcher and writer. He is a partner in OCEAN NORTH (ocean-
north.net) and the Emergence and Design Group, innovation
fellow at the University of Technology in Sydney, board member
of BIONIS – the Biomimetics Network for Industrial
Sustainability, editorial board member of AD Wiley and JBE –
Journal of Bionic Engineering, Elsevier Scientific Press.
michaelhensel@aaschool.ac.uk
Michael Weinstock studied and has taught at the AA since 1987.
He is also Academic Head and Master of Technical Studies at the
AA, and member of the PhD advisory board at Delft School of
Design. He has held visiting professorships at Yale, ESARQ in
Barcelona and in Rome. He is a partner in the Emergence and
Design Group.
mweinstock@aaschool.ac.uk
92
L A NDS CAP E URBANIS M

Eva Castro, Eduardo Rico, Alfredo Ramirez, Sandra Morris, Lawrence Barth
Prototypical Urbanities:
Pingshan, Hebei Province, China
China’s economic boom, combined with migration
from the rural areas, is fuelling a high-speed
urbanism that is producing new cities in the
shortest imaginable time and completely changing
the face and character of the country’s older towns.
This directional urbanisation, propelled from
within the coastal zones into the countryside, has
brought even the smallest villages face to face with
the phenomena of globalisation, foreign capital and
generic architecture.
Introduction At the same time, the pace and scale of
development, particularly in the mega-cities of
Contemporary social and environmental conditions Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan, has
pose significant challenges to normative design highlighted the interrelated problems of mass
practices, stemming as they do from an increasing migration, pollution and the loss of arable land.
scarcity of resources and consequent shifts in The lack of an overarching urbanisation policy
economic, political and material processes. means that there are no mechanisms of negotiation
Landscape Urbanism sets out to develop new between economic interests, cultural traditions,
modes of practice that directly engage with these developmental pressures and existing ecologies. At
new conditions and the ways in which they a larger scale, China risks seeing its urban identity
continuously reconfigure the city. swamped by a generic pattern of indiscriminate
Landscape Urbanism’s methodology is urban sprawl.
multidisciplinary by definition. Expanding upon
the legacy of landscape design to consider the 400 New Cities
complexity of contemporary urban dynamics, it In 2000 the former civil affairs minister, Doje
integrates knowledge and techniques from a range Cering, formulated a plan to build 400 new cities
of disciplines such as environmental engineering, by the year 2020, to accommodate the migration
urban strategy, landscape ecology, the development from the countryside into urban conglomerations.
industry and architecture. According to this plan, 20 new cities need to be
The programme operates by synthesising established each year.
the dynamic and temporal forces that shape LU takes this formulation as the framework for
contemporary urban landscape with the generative the year’s research, testing the applicability of our
and organisational potentials of material developed methodology to the limit, then adjusting and
through abstract organisational systems. reformulating it.
The Landscape Urbanism MA programme is The resulting work will generate ‘proto-
a 12-month studio-based course designed for strategies’ for new large-scale agglomerations as
students with prior academic and professional a way of critically addressing the phenomenon of
qualifications. It comprises a design studio, mass-produced sprawl urbanisation. The test-bed
interrelated workshops and a series of lectures and for the year’s project will be Pingshan and the brief
seminars that serve as a backbone to the will be the documentation recently provided by
development of the projects. Chinese planning authorities, requesting its change
of status from county to a new city.
We will operate critically, seeking to produce
alternative templates of urbanisation based on
strategies that stem from embryonic processes
seeking the integration of cultural tradition,
regional ecological systems and economic
globalisation.
93
Design Studio within various individual cells, hence also master-

ing degrees of self-differentiation, specificity and
1. Indexical Models: Mediation between responsiveness. These properties then contribute to
Typical Organisational Paradigms and Local the robustness of strategically integrated systems of
Conditions transformation of the territory at various scales and
Term 1 times of implementation. At this point, the projects
The Design Studio begins with a series of intensive will have acquired a certain relevance based on a
workshops that explore ways of applying the tangible argument and will be clearly positioned
techniques acquired to the development of new within the field, thus initiating a clear contribution
organisational models, based on an analysis of to the (re)definition of Landscape Urbanism as a
various city structures as well as a sensitive reading discipline. The maturity of the proposals should be
and analysis of existing conditions. The structure of reflected in the Projects Review publication and
these models will derive from a parametrically exhibition, which is held at the end of the term.
controlled internal logic with a latent capacity to
incorporate further external information. The first 4. Actualisation:
term culminates with a field trip to China that will Regulatory Plans
students to engage at first hand with a large-scale Term 4
urban project and a body of consultants made up of The fourth term, which runs over the summer, aims
local planners and architects. to establish and communicate the expanding
rationale under which the projects must operate.
2. Sensitive Systems: Students will seek mechanisms of validation based
Development of a Prototype on a direct feedback loop between the projects and
Term 2 their localities, which promotes a continuous
Following the field trip, the organisational models reassessment of the strategies deployed. During this
acquire a sense of local ‘urgency’ that both informs period the work will develop an underlying logic
top-down strategic intentions and allows for a fluid directly related to the existing political framework,
negotiation with bottom-up local conditions. This thus assuming the character of a time-based plan.
process drives the development of their mechanics Investigations developed during the year will be
by zooming into individual cells and opening a presented as a final design thesis in a public review
discussion of their relevance, materiality and at the end of September.
performance. Central to this phase will be the
development of a prototype, a malleable model
capable of continuous transformation. Progressive Seminars and Lectures
testing will be carried out in relation to one or
several assigned assessment criteria. Complexity Critical Urbanism
will thus emerge from a gradual specificity acquired Lawrence Barth, Terms 1 & 2
during the process, which gauges responsiveness to This course will explore urbanism’s role as an
variation and differentiation. During the Easter instrument of diagnosis and critique. Beginning
break we will conduct an intensive workshop in with lectures and readings in the first term and
Barcelona in conjunction with the Metropolis building towards a seminar format in the second
Foundation. The objective here will be to synthesise term, the course explores the ways in which
the prototype’s formative process and investigate its architecture has generated a range of critical and
scalar limitations. Students are expected to take an reflexive responses to the city over the past four
active tutoring role during this workshop. decades. Emphasis will be placed on developing
students’ facility with the critical analysis of
3. Network Urbanism: contemporary urban projects, while background
Global Behaviour readings will include Koolhaas, Rowe, Rossi,
Term 3 Eisenman and Tschumi, extending into present-
In this term work is directed towards developing day writings on post-criticality by Somol and
the different logics of proliferation that inhere others.
94
assimilation into a larger context, students will be

Ecology & Environment propelled to define their own coordinates within a
Ian Carradice & Ove Arup Associates, Term 1 larger cultural geography, so opening up the
This lecture series by experts from the Ove Arup possibility that they will actively contribute to the
Environmental Unit addresses environmental (re)definition of landscape urbanism as a new
concerns, introducing a wide range of techniques operative field.
for sustainable management and design. Water Speakers will include: Charles Waldheim,
management, environmental architectural University of Toronto, Canada, Douglas Spencer,
principles, energy provision, water and air Buckinghamshire Chilterns University, Gareth
pollution, the impact of transportation networks Doherty, Harvard University Graduate School of
and climate are some of the processes that will be Design, Kelly Shanon, KU, Leuven, Belgium,
studied. Opportunities will be provided for students Richard Weller, University of Western Australia
to meet with specialist consultants to discuss
problems that arise during their study of the site.
This year we will work with experts from the Workshops
Arup Urban Design Group who will share their
experiences of large-scale urban development in Diagramming Cities
China as an introduction to the topic. Arup Urban Eva Castro, Alfredo Ramirez, Eduardo Rico and
Design Group will also function as intermittent AUD Group, Term 1
consultants to the year’s projects. This workshop initiates a long-term discussion
about the different role of drawings and diagrams
Contemporary Landscapes within city planning and design. Students will be
Sandra Morris, Terms 1 & 2 introduced to various graphic techniques that are
This series of lectures focuses on ways in which used to establish a clear reading of the city’s supra-
landform, hydrology and climate determine the organisation. The direct relationship between the
development of urbanism. It looks at a series of means utilised and the product generated will be
projects in which the methods and techniques of revealed, as a guide to strengths and weaknesses
landscape have been used in combination with of the various approaches. The workshop will start
those of engineering and biology to create more with research on a set of projects proposed by the
sustainable urban environments. The first term’s staff, followed by sessions where critical aspects of
lectures will concentrate on landscape issues the project and its relation to the diagram are
relevant to the chosen site: physical and cultural discussed in individual tutorials. It will conclude
diversity; the politics and management of water and with individual presentations by each student to the
its recycling; the management and recycling of overall group.
waste; and the possibility of a sustainable city based
on historic precedents. Projects undertaken in other Indexing Territories
parts of the world will serve as case studies in order Eva Castro, Alfredo Ramirez, Eduardo Rico
to provide a broad platform for consideration. The Term 1
second term will focus more specifically on topics The workshop is aimed at developing students’
chosen by students after visiting the site. As capacity for reading information from a field and
preparation for developing their topics in essay then decoding, synthesising and systematically
form, students will make presentations to the class . translating it into diagrams. Introductory sessions
will look at diagramming techniques (meshing,
Landscape Urbanism Talks triangulations), mathematical concepts (field,
In this new series of informal presentations network, etc.) and specific 3D software (Rhino or
practitioners and academics from around the world Maya) followed by student tutorials. In parallel
will discuss issues of key relevance to the discipline. there will be two seminar sessions discussing the
The different strands and views presented in the different roles of drawing and diagrams within the
talks may inform the rationale of the students’ own creative process in specific relation to landscape
design theses, but far from seeking a smooth urbanism.
95
Scripting Towns 01 multidisciplinary context formed by the LU team

Eduardo Rico, Alfredo Ramirez and invited guests and the local experts and consultants. The
Term 1 workshop will conclude with a final public
The purpose of the workshop is to explore different presentation of the project to the client body.
scripting techniques as a means of creating flexible
design tools that are capable of accommodating aaschool.ac.uk/lu
change and a degree of indeterminacy within the
design process. The exercise starts with a set of Landscape Urbanism Director
Eva Castro is the director of the Landscape Urbanism programme
introductory lectures by staff and invited experts on
as well as Unit Master of Diploma 12. She studied architecture
the most common problems faced by master- and urbanism at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and
planners, which will serve as an initial guide for the subsequently completed the AA Graduate Design programme. She
experimentation. This will be followed by a is cofounder of Plasma Studio and the collective Groundlab.
two/three-day introduction to software techniques ec@plasmastudio.com
and individual tutorials leading to a public
Landscape Urbanism Staff
presentation of results.
Lawrence Barth lectures on urbanism in the AA’s Graduate School
and has written on the themes of politics and critical theory in
Relational Urbanism 02 relation to the urban. He practises as a consultant urbanist on
Eduardo Rico, Term 2 large-scale projects, and is engaged in research on urban
This part of the course acts as an extension of the intensification and innovation environments.
Sandra Morris is a landscape historian. In addition to teaching in
previous workshop, whereby more complex 3D
Landscape Urbanism she has been lecturing in the History &
spatial arrangements are applied to the structures Theory Studies programme on landscape topics for many years.
explored during the first term. The medium- and Eduardo Rico studied civil engineering in Spain and graduated
small-scale input in the decision-making process is from the AA’s Landscape Urbanism programme. He has acted as
conceived as the next level of a series of nested consultant and performed research in the fields of infrastructure
and landscape in Spain and the UK. Currently he is involved in the
design strategies – a design plug-in. This phase of
development of infrastructural strategies for large-scale urban
the design studio will proceed with an introduction projects within the Arup engineering team as well as being part of
to the software, followed by a set of individual the collective Groundlab.
tutorials and a public presentation. Alfredo Ramirez studied architecture at the Universidad
Iberoamericana in Mexico City, where he received his Diploma in
Architecture in 2000 and subsequently completed the AA
DFC (Digitally Fabricated Cities)
Landscape Urbanism programme in 2005. He has practised in
Eva Castro, Eduardo Rico, Alfredo Ramirez several architectural offices and institutions both in Mexico City
Term 2 and London where he concentrated on architectural and urban
This workshop explores different digital fabrication design projects. He is currently involved in the design of the 2012
techniques, going beyond their representational London Olympic Park as well as being part of the collective
Groundlab.
capacity and into their creative potential. The
purpose is to acquire an instrumental deployment Opening image: Matt Wilson, LU 2006/07, Horticultural
of these tools and to create a feedback loop Landscape
between the digital and the physical that will
overcome the traditional bi-dimensional reading
of the city.
Metropoli 2007/08
Eva Castro, Eduardo Rico, Alfredo Ramirez and
Fundacion Metropoli, Spring Break
This is the first of a series of workshops to be held
annually during the spring break in conjunction
with different LU collaborators. It is intended to
serve as an intensive test-bed for applying the
acquired techniques to a real project in a new
political context. The work will be developed in a
96
H I S TORIE S AN D THE ORIE S OF A RCH I T E C TURE

Mark Cousins, Marina Lathouri, Mark Campbell
having developed a particular interest in issues of

space, buildings, landscapes and cities. A strong
emphasis is placed upon the development of writing
skills, and students are encouraged to publish their
work and to present it at conferences and seminars
within and outside the school.
The Histories & Theories programme also
provides research facilities and supervision to
research degree candidates (PhD and MPhil)
registered under the AA’s new joint PhD
programme, a cross-disciplinary initiative
supported by all of the postgraduate programmes.
Courses
Histories & Theories is a 12-month programme
designed to enable students to acquire a critical Architectural Form and History
understanding of contemporary architecture and Mark Cousins, Autumn Term
debates. We believe this is best achieved through an This course addresses the issue of how architecture
approach to architecture as an outcome of is experienced and judged. After looking briefly at
knowledge of histories and forms of practice. the contribution of thought in antiquity and in the
Our point of departure is modernism, considered in Renaissance, it moves directly to the central role of
terms of its architectural and urban projects, its Kant’s Third Critique, which establishes a discourse
narratives and controversies. Central to the courses of aesthetics that becomes a test for any doctrine of
is the investigation and critical reassessment of the experience of art within modernity. It shows the
twentieth-century architecture and urbanism, in link between Kant and Hegel and pursues that
terms of formal analysis and spatial organisation relation through the field of contemporary thought
and the different theories that engage with them. in Derrida, Benjamin and Freud.
A common concern of the different courses is the
relation of architectural theory to particular Modernist Narratives
projects. Systems of representation in architecture Mark Campbell, Autumn Term
are examined in order to develop a critical view of This seminar examines the formation and critical
both the design of architecture and the experience reception of several key texts in early modernist
of its effects. architectural discourse. It examines how ideas of
During the second term, students are required modernism were discussed and how these
to propose a thesis topic. In the third term, after discussions guided the architects of the modern
further development through research, seminars movement. Through a detailed consideration of
and individual supervision, the thesis outlines are these texts, the seminar will provide a forum to
presented to an invited audience of architects and examine how an identifiably modernist vocabulary
critics. The fourth term is devoted to the individual and agenda that was constructed during the first
work needed to finalise the 15,000-word thesis. half of the twentieth century came to be dismantled
In order to foster an external and collective in the years immediately prior to 1968.
pursuit of architectural issues, the course also
organises an annual trip to study some aspects of a Reinventing the Contemporary
city or an architect’s work. Recent trips have Marina Lathouri, Spring Term
included visits to Porto, Como, Marseilles, Paris Architecture has gradually assumed an increasingly
and Venice. important role in critical discourse. Not only has it
The course recruits a wide range of students. transformed itself by appropriating thinking from
Not all of them are trained architects, and some other disciplines but it has also started to transform
come from the humanities and social sciences, that very thinking. Seminar-based sessions will
97
investigate themes and ideas deployed in Other Events

contemporary theoretical and design procedures, The programme invites a number of academics and
looking at how they emerged as strategic within practitioners from around the world to contribute
architectural debates and practices, and how their to its activities during the year, among them
field of implications might be defined. A series of Anthony Vidler, Sanford Kwinter, Catherine
detailed case studies will emphasise the forms and Ingraham, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown.
the uses to which these themes are put in arguments Histories & Theories students are also encouraged
and projects. to attend courses from the Diploma School and
other Graduate School programmes, and to take
From Design to Theory full advantage of the evening lectures and other
Marina Lathouri, Spring Term events in the school, including the lecture series on
To enable students to pursue certain questions and the Nothing given by Mark Cousins in the Autumn
problems in an informal setting, the H&T and Spring Terms.
programme holds its own seminar series with
invited architects, theorists and historians. Each www.aaschool.ac.uk/ht
session includes a short introductory lecture
followed by a discussion, and students are asked to Histories & Theories Directors
Mark Cousins directs the AA’s Histories & Theories programmes
prepare questions and observations based upon
at both graduate and undergraduate levels. He is also Visiting
preliminary reading. A theme that will cut across Professor of Architecture at Columbia University and a founding
the discussions this year is that of the changed member of the Graduate School at the London Consortium.
relationship between theory and practice and markcousins@aaschool.ac.uk
theory and design. As a commitment to research Marina Lathouri studied architecture at the Aristoteleion
University of Thessaloniki, Greece and the Berlage Institute,
has developed as one dimension of practice, so
philosophy of art at the Université de Paris I, Sorbonne and
elements of theory, especially theory related to
completed her PhD in the Graduate School of Fine Arts at the
design, have been internalised within practice and University of Pennsylvania. She has taught at the AA and the
design processes. On one level, this makes theory School of Architecture at Cambridge University since 1999.
more relevant; on another, it perhaps makes its marina.lathouri@aaschool.ac.uk
overall role more obscure. These discussions will
Histories & Theories Staff
offer the students an opportunity to engage more
Mark Campbell is a PhD candidate in the School of Architecture
intensively with the issues raised by the speakers at Princeton University, completing a dissertation on the
and to enhance their research skills. architectural aesthetics of Geoffrey Scott and Bernard Berenson.
His other research interests include American culture between
MA Thesis Seminar 1955 and 1975, paranoia, cultural exhaustion and dreams. A
practising architect and critic, he has taught at Princeton
Mark Cousins/Marina Lathouri, Summer Term
University and the Cooper Union.
In contrast to most MA programmes, the student
thesis is developed in a collective setting – a context
of critical discussion that turns the topic initially
proposed by the student into a problem which is
seen to be both possible and interesting. The
collective dimension of this process enables each
student to contribute to the progress of his/her
colleagues and to respond to questions and
challenges from the beginning. This leads up to a
formal presentation to visiting critics at the end of
June, after which students have until the end of
September to write up their thesis.
98
HOUS IN G AND U RBANISM

Jorge Fiori, Lawrence Barth, Nicholas Bullock, Kathryn Firth, Hugo Hinsley,
Dominic Papa, Elena Pascolo
patterns of workspace associated with today’s

innovation economy. What these themes have in
common is the fact that they all expose the
limitations of prevailing practices in urbanism and
urban design and call for alternative approaches.
The design workshops, both in London and
abroad, explore these themes in real project
situations, collaborating with the relevant
stakeholders in a quasi-consultancy format.
Design Workshop
The Design Workshop is the core course of the

programme, providing a framework for linking
design investigation to a politically and historically
informed approach to issues of contemporary
urbanism. The course extends over the whole year
and has two main components. One is the Group
Workshop, in which students and tutors form small
teams working to explore and develop design
responses to well-defined urban challenges. The
other is the Urban Seminar, which opens up a debate
on different approaches to key themes in the
The Housing & Urbanism programme is concerned programme’s areas of research and includes
with the interplay of urbanism as a spatial presentations by both students and visiting scholars
discipline and the political processes of the city. and practitioners.
It addresses the relation between spatial design The course consists of individual and group
strategies and new urban institutions, critically work, with students presentations of design
examines current theory and practice in urbanism, projects as well as written texts. While each of the
and encourages experimentation with alternative Group Workshop teams pursues distinctive lines of
design methods. Its MA course is structured around investigation, the Urban Seminar and individual
three primary types of student work: design work give the opportunity to evaluate and reflect
workshops, which offer the opportunity to upon different approaches to important issues
investigate urban areas and to test design strategies; within urbanism today. The H&U programme
lectures and seminars, which provide the theoretical places particular emphasis upon the urban inner
underpinnings to the concepts and approaches periphery, where the complexity of the urban
developed in the design work; and thesis work, process is plainly visible, and our project work in
which allows students to develop an extended and the Design Workshop reflects this emphasis. Each
focused study within the field. team will define the balance and integration of
The course acts as a testing ground for certain social, political and architectural concepts that
lines of investigation, consultancy and funded drive its work, giving each project a distinctive style
research being developed within the programme. and character.
Currently, its main themes include the Our primary site for design investigation will
transformation of housing and the pursuit of urban be an inner-peripheral area of northeast London.
intensification; the search for an urbanism and Engaging with the urban process of this site within
social policy attuned to contemporary challenges of the larger frame of London and its metropolitan
irregularity and informality in global urbanisation region will involve considering our site’s
trends; and the investigation of the emerging connections both to inner-city districts and to the
99
knowledge-economy environments around in urbanism through the analysis of contemporary

Cambridge, the growing airport at Stansted, and urban projects. Background readings will include
the eastward expansion of London. A shorter Koolhaas, Rowe, Rossi, Eisenman and Tschumi.
intensive design workshop held in Vietnam will
provide the opportunity to collaborate with other Shaping the Modern City
urbanism programmes and to test our design and Autumn & Spring Terms
conceptual approaches in a different context. The various national and local strategies evolved by
the state to meet the challenge of urban expansion
during the twentieth century are examined in this
Courses and Seminars course. Rather than presenting a continuous
narrative history, the lectures and seminars will
Cities in a Transnational World look at events, projects and texts that illustrate
Autumn Term contemporary responses to the opportunities and
This course explores the social and economic problems created by growth. The course will focus
context of housing and urbanism as it interacts on post-1945 housing and planning in a number of
with the formulation and implementation of European and US cities, offering a vantage point
strategies of urban development and with the from which to consider critical issues such as
redefinition of the role of architects and planners in density, regeneration, mixed-use and new working
the making of cities. It offers a comparative analysis and living patterns. It will also review the
of the changing nature of cities and housing in the development of ideas about housing form and
context of globalisation, economic adjustment and production.
political restructuring, placing strong emphasis on
issues of policy and planning and on current Housing and the Informal City
reforms in systems of urban governance. Spring Term
This course uses housing as a strategic vehicle for
The Reason of Urbanism investigating the evolution of ideas and approaches
Autumn Term to the informal and irregular processes of city
This lecture and discussion series provides the making. In particular, it offers a critical review of
foundations for an engagement with the urban as a the growing despatialisation of strategies to deal
problem-field in the reasoning of western with urban informality and the social conditions
governments. The course will trace the twentieth- associated with it, and explores the role of
century development of urbanism so as to highlight urbanism and spatial design in addressing those
the inherent political issues, and will develop a conditions. It draws from the extreme
theoretical perspective through an engagement with circumstances of irregularity and socio-spatial
the work of Arendt, Foucault, Sennett and others. segregation of the cities of the developing world.
Through this perspective students will investigate With reference to relevant projects and
the relationship of key political concepts to the programmes, it attempts to identify appropriate
generation of new urban spatialities. tools and instruments of spatial intervention and
design and examines their articulation in the
Critical Urbanism redesigning of urban institutions and rules.
Autumn & Spring Terms
The graphic space of urbanism will be explored as Domesticity
an instrument of diagnosis, critique and urban Spring Term
development. Beginning with lectures and readings These seminars explore trends in contemporary
in the first term and building towards a seminar multi-residential housing against the backdrop of
format in the second term, the course will look at a discursive formation linking domesticity with
the ways architecture has generated a range of urbanism. Taking Mies van der Rohe’s patio houses
critical and reflexive responses to the city. Emphasis of the 1930s and Karel Teige’s 1932 critique of the
will be placed on developing students’ facility with minimum dwelling as opening counterpoints, this
the role of architectural concepts and graphic tools course investigates the broad spatial and political
100
domain upon which the challenge of securing urban design practice and policy, and lectures internationally on
personal autonomy is drawn into an engagement issues of urbanism and urban design. She has taught at the GSD
and the Rhode Island School of Design in the US, at the University
with the forces of urban living. The essay draws on
of Toronto and most recently at the London School of Economics
the theoretical and historical writings of Michel Cities Programme. Her primary interests centre on urban
Foucault, Jacques Donzelot and Nikolas Rose. regeneration and the design of the urban public realm.
Hugo Hinsley is an architect with experience in housing,
Dissertation Seminar community buildings and urban development projects. He works
mainly in London and has been a consultant to many projects in
Summer Term
Europe, Australia and the US. He is a member of the research
This seminar is organised around the students’ committee of Europan and has taught, lectured and published
work towards the final dissertation and provides a internationally. Recent research includes London’s design and
forum for students to discuss work in progress with planning, particularly in Docklands and Spitalfields; urban policy
members of staff and invited critics. and structure in European cities; and housing and urban density.
Dominic Papa is an architect and urban designer involved in
practice, teaching and research. He is a founding partner of the
Amsterdam practice S333 .
Other Events Elena Pascolo trained and practised in South Africa and London in
the field of housing, urban planning and policy development. She
Students are encouraged to attend complementary is currently generating tools for assembling urban futures,
repurposing badlands and exploring ways of seeing transactive
courses offered by other Graduate School
urbanism.
programmes and by History & Theory Studies. The
programme also invites a number of academics and Opening image: Fitzrovia Study: layering of surfaces and volumes,
practitioners from all over the world to contribute H&U 2007
to its activities during the year.
aaschool.ac.uk/hu
Housing & Urbanism Director

Jorge Fiori is a sociologist and urban planner. He studied in Chile
and has worked in academic institutions there and in Brazil and
England. Visiting lecturer at several Latin American and European
universities, and consultant to a number of international and
national urban development agencies. He researches and publishes
on housing and urban development, with a particular focus on the
interplay of spatial strategies and urban social policy.
fiori@aaschool.ac.uk
Housing & Urbanism Staff

Lawrence Barth lectures and writes on architectural urbanism and
political theory. He consults on urbanism and urban strategy, has
collaborated regularly with Zaha Hadid Architects and S333 on
large-scale projects, and led a multidisciplinary team in the
refinement of a masterplan for an innovation environment in
Singapore. He lectures widely on issues of urbanism and the
knowledge economy, and has recently initiated a research cluster
at the AA on the Architecture of Innovation. He is involved in
ongoing research in urbanism and the geography of innovation
and in strategies for urban intensification.
Nicholas Bullock studied architecture at Cambridge University, and
completed a PhD under Leslie Martin. Research on questions of
housing and housing reform with a special interest in Germany; on
postwar housing design and policy; and on the architecture and
planning of reconstruction after World War II.
Kathryn Firth is a Senior Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox
Associates in London, where she has led numerous international
projects in masterplanning, urban design and urban regeneration.
She has been involved in topical research projects that inform
101
S U STAINABLE ENV IRON MENTAL DESIGN

Simos Yannas, Klaus Bode, Ruchi Choudhary, Werner Gaiser, Raul Moura, Rosa Schiano-Phan
structured around a series of studio projects that

are undertaken in teams. Studio projects provide
vehicles for exploring the principles and tools of
sustainable design introduced in the lecture courses.
Project work combines environmental design
research with innovative building experiments.
Design applications focus on real-life projects.
Lecture courses and design workshops review the
theories and practices of sustainable design, define
criteria for an environmentally performative
architecture, present case studies by leading
researchers and designers, and provide training in
the use of environmental simulation software. The
second stage of the course is organised around
individual dissertation projects. MSc dissertation
projects combine design research with analytic
work and case-studies related to students’
Introduction backgrounds. MArch dissertation projects comprise
two phases. Phase 1 encompasses the preliminary
The main research object of the masters research and analytic work and is completed within
programme in Sustainable Environmental Design is the academic year. Phase 2 extends into the design
the relationship between architectural form, application, which may include fieldwork
materiality and environmental performance, and undertaken over the summer vacation, and is
how this should evolve in response to climate continued into the following Autumn Term.
change and newly emerging programmatic In 2007/08 the masters programme in
requirements in urban environments. Sustainable Sustainable Environmental Design is embarking on
environmental design is not a fixed ideal but an its third cycle with a much larger intake of new
evolving concept that must be redefined and MSc/MArch candidates as well as an enlarged
reassessed with each new project. Thus its Phase 2 MArch studio. Studio projects will
pedagogy has itself become a major research continue developing the formal and constructional
concern. The knowledge and skills introduced by language of sustainable environmental design for
the MSc and MArch options at the AA point to different climatic conditions and building
radical alternatives to the current processes and programmes. Last year’s studio focused on fast-
practices of architecture and urban design. growing urban environments in extremely hot
The MSc option runs over 12 months (October climates. This year projects will deal with a wider
2007 to September 2008) and is offered to both range of climatic conditions and building types. A
architects and engineers. It provides conceptual, new initiative will explore a closer connection with
experiential and analytic skills for sustainable practice, aiming at investigating options for joint
environmental design research and practice in research with a number of major London-based
architecture and urbanism, making extensive use of architectural practices.
advanced digital tools and seeking creative Applicants to the programme must have a first
collaborations between the disciplines. The MArch professional degree in architecture, engineering or a
option is addressed to architects and teachers of related discipline and must normally select either
architectural design. Its 16-month duration (from the MSc or the MArch option from the outset. Both
October 2007 to January 2009) enables the are post-professional options. UK nationals offered
exploration of more detailed design agendas that a place are eligible to apply for the Eden Scholarship
may include the development of experimental awarded on the strength of design portfolio and
structures and prototypes. The taught programme academic merit. Applicants of any nationality
is in two stages. The first stage (October-April) is offered a place on the MSc or the MArch may be
shared by the MSc and MArch groups and is eligible to apply for a bursary towards tuition fees.
102
Studio Projects Models & Prototypes

Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms Autumn & Spring Terms
This year’s studio will include a series of short and As in previous years the school’s Ching’s Yard and
longer projects on a variety of climatic conditions, Hooke Park facilities will be used for the
building types and environmental design construction of scale models and full-scale
requirements. The year will start with an intensive prototypes aimed at testing design ideas relating to
real-life project involving an improved studio projects and dissertations.
environmental agenda for a commercial building in
a Mediterranean setting. This will be followed by
studies of large public buildings in London focusing Lecture Courses
on issues of daylighting and solar control using
observations and measurements, as well as Myths & Theories of Sustainable Architecture
modelling and simulation techniques introduced in Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms
the taught course, to draw conclusions that can Many architects and students take sustainable
inform building design. A field trip to Germany at environmental design for granted, as if it were now
the end of the Autumn Term will provide the standard practice. Others see environmental
starting point for the next stage of studio work, performance as a mere genetic corollary of the
which will focus on the design of innovative digital revolution. For others still, energy and
learning environments. environment are technicalities best dealt with
outside architecture. The course will start by
Dissertation Projects dispelling such myths, which continue to obscure
Summer Term the development of an architectural discourse of
The dissertation project is the main vehicle for sustainable design. Far from being an issue of
undertaking a significant piece of individual engineering, the environmental performance of
research that relates to students’ professional buildings is fundamentally a matter for architecture,
interests, background and special skills. MSc and being a direct outcome of programmatic, formal
MArch dissertation project topics are decided by and operational choices made, or ignored, by
the end of the Spring Term. MSc dissertation design. Sustainable environmental design requires
projects will run from the end of April to the end of essential architectural knowledge that recent
September 2008. MArch dissertation projects will generations of architects simply did not receive. Its
run till January 2009. key concepts and criteria are introduced in the
course, providing the cognitive grounding and
MArch in Practice critical framework needed for design research and
Autumn & Spring Terms applications. In the Spring and Summer Terms the
This is a new initiative aiming at exchanges on course continues with more technical topics relating
current issues of sustainable design with major to the principles of daylighting, ventilation, solar
architectural practices. In the Autumn Term this control, passive and mechanical heating and
will involve the programme’s Phase 2 MArch group cooling; other means and uses of renewable
whose dissertation projects will then have reached energies; new and traditional materials, their
an advanced stage. The exchange will be continued ecology and performance; interdisciplinary
into the Spring Term through regular workshops collaboration in research and design.
exploring options for joint research projects.
Sustainable Design in Practice
Applications Workbook Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms
Autumn & Spring Terms In the Autumn Term the course looks at historical
The use of software and analytic techniques as well as contemporary approaches and uses
introduced in the taught course will be tested and typological studies and built examples from the
consolidated through weekly design research research and practices of the programme’s teaching
exercises which will collectively form an staff to discuss conception, design development,
Applications Workbook. construction, and post-occupancy operation and
103
performance. In the Spring and Summer Terms the thermal and visual comfort in buildings with little
course continues the discourse on the theory and or no need for conventional energy sources and
practice of sustainable environmental design as seen mechanical appliances.
by its practitioners. These presentations provide the
opportunity to study some of the best
contemporary examples of environmental Other Events
architecture. Recent contributors to this course
have included Catherine Harrington and Ben The programme’s projects and pedagogic approach
Humphreys of Architype Architects, Bill Dunster of have been presented and exhibited in many
Zed Factory, Ian Taylor of Feilden Clegg Bradley countries. In the course of the last academic year
Architects, Brian Ford, David Lloyd Jones of Studio we had work published, presented and exhibited at
E, Mark Hemel of IBA, Rab Bennetts of Bennetts the PLEA 2006 Conference in Geneva, at
Associates, Richard Soundy of Corrigan Soundy Nottingham University’s School of the Built
Kilaiditi, Daniel Wright of Rogers Stirk Harbour & Environment, at the Institute of Greek Architects
Partners, Francis Aish and Irene Gallou of Foster & in Patras, the Engineering Excellence Forum in
Partners, Jolyon Brewis of Grimshaw & Partners, Abu Dhabi, the American University of Sharjah,
Andy Ford of Fulcrum Engineering, Dean Hawkes, Kuwait University Department of Architecture, the
Mario Cucinella and David Hirsch of MCA Federal University of São Paulo, the Catholic
Architects, Peter Chlapowski of PCKO Architects, University of Louvain, the Metropolis City
Alexandros Tombazis and other UK and Debates organised by the British Council in
international practices with a stated commitment to Athens, and at Harvard University. A major
environmentally responsive architecture. exhibition of selected projects and prototypical
structures from the programme’s last five years was
Environmental Modelling & Simulation held at Mile End Park’s Arts Gallery in East
Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms London in January 2007. Dynamic Structures, a
This is a hands-on course on the use of selection of last year’s projects, was shown at the
environmental modelling and simulation software International Conference on Building Low Energy
for studying solar, thermal and lighting processes in Cooling in the 21st Century, held on Crete, Greece,
and around real or virtual buildings. The course 27–29 September 2007. Recent publications have
starts with an introduction to fundamental included technical papers presented by staff and
environmental design parameters and their effects students in international scientific conferences,
on the performance and energy balance of several books marking longstanding collaborations
buildings. This is followed by the study of adaptive with research colleagues abroad and major articles
comfort mechanisms relating to climatic, in a number of architectural journals. Design
programmatic and operational conditions for research undertaken for the development of Lulu
different architectural typologies and urban Island in Abu Dhabi will be published in the
environments. Autumn Term.
The digital tools introduced in this course allow
designers to generate and analyse climate data, aaschool.ac.uk/ee
predict microclimatic conditions on urban sites,
SED Director
perform shading, daylighting, airflow, heating and
Simos Yannas studied at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de
cooling simulation studies, predict indoor Lausanne, the National Technical University of Athens and the AA
temperatures and other environmental conditions, Graduate School. He has been involved in environmental design
calculate energy requirements and assess research, teaching and consultancy since the 1970s and has lectured
environmental impact and life-cycle costs of in some 30 countries. His writings have been translated into a dozen
languages. His latest book Roof Cooling Techniques: A Design
buildings. Software demonstrations are followed by
Handbook was shortlisted for the RIBA Bookshops International
practical workshops. The purpose of using such
Book Award in Architecture. He was awarded the Passive and Low
software on team and individual projects is to Energy Architecture PLEA International Achievement Award in
provide reliable predictions that can inform design 2001. He is also the Academic Coordinator of the AA School’s PhD
decisions by guiding the research towards achieving programme.
104
SED Staff
Klaus Bode studied building engineering at the University of Bath
and worked for Sir William Halcrow & Partners, K-Konsult and
Roger Preston & Partners with whom he was project engineer on
Foster + Partners’ Commerzbank, and on Rogers Partnership and
Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s Potsdamer Platz developments
in Berlin. He is a founding partner of the London-based BDSP
Partnership.
Ruchi Choudhary studied architecture in Gujarat, India and was
awarded an MSc in Architecture and PhD in Architectural
Technology from the University of Michigan. She worked in
architectural practice and as an energy consultant in New Delhi
and as an environmental researcher in the US. She has taught at
the University of Michigan and since 2004 at Georgia Institute of
Technology, College of Architecture.
Werner Gaiser studied architecture in Biberach, Germany and at
CSU Pomona, USA and attended the AA Graduate School’s MA in
Environment & Energy Studies in 2002–03. He worked as project
designer with Atelier Brückner in Germany and for the Design
Partnership in San Francisco before joining BDSP Partnership in
London where he was involved in the development of SUNtool, a
tool for sustainable urban planning. He is currently a partner with
Planquadrat-Gaiser Architekten.
Raul Moura studied architecture and urbanism at the Technical
University of Lisbon and worked for the Department of Strategic
Planning of Lisbon City Council, where he was principal urban
designer of the Alcântara-Rio Urban Redevelopment project. He
received an MA in Environment & Energy Studies from the AA in
1998 and has been teaching in the programme since 1999. He has
worked as a sustainability consultant with WSP Environmental
since 2002.
Rosa Schiano-Phan studied architecture in Naples, Italy followed
by an MSc in Architecture at the University of North London and
PhD at the AA specialising in the application of passive
evaporative cooling systems in residential buildings. She has
worked as an environmental researcher and sustainability
consultant with Brian Ford & Associates and WSP Environmental
and is currently a research fellow at the School of the Built
Environment, University of Nottingham.
Opening image: Tiffany Broyles, MArch Dissertation Project

2006/07, ‘Defining an Architectural Typology for the Urban Farm,
New York’
105
B UILDIN G CO NSERVATIO N
Andrew Shepherd, Judith Roebuck, David Heath
The Second Year extends the scope of these

studies including the issues associated with the
development and repair of historic interiors, the
introduction of services into historic buildings, and
ongoing philosophical developments. After a site
visit, students are required to prepare a
specification for the assessed repairs. Their
principal work is to write a thesis of 10,000 to
15,000 words on a subject of their choice to be
approved by the staff. This is developed with the
assistance of a specialist external tutor for
submission to external examiners.
Those directing the programme also benefit
from the expertise of its advisors, Richard Halsey,
Elain Harwood, John Redmill (Past Director) and
Professor Robert Thorne. Many former students
show their continuing commitment to the course by
The stewardship of the historic environment returning to lecture to current students. There are
requires heritage practitioners with special skills in informal links with international practitioners, and
understanding, listening, investigating, managing, there is usually an annual study tour.
facilitating, renewing, enhancing, communicating For over 30 years the AA’s Building
and sharing the legacy of the past. It is the Conservation programme has been recognised as
ambition of this programme to inspire the one of the leading courses of its kind. The course is
participants to build upon their existing knowledge designed to meet the ICOMOS Guidelines for
and skills so as to become more effective, Education and Training, but is also informed by
competent and confident practitioners. more recent developments in conservation practice.
This two-year, part-time programme takes place
on 32 Fridays over each of the two academic years aaschool.ac.uk/bc
and is designed to offer a comprehensive and
innovative approach to the conservation of historic Building Conservation Staff
Andrew Shepherd is an architect and has run a practice
buildings. It attempts to address why we conserve,
specialising in conservation work, principally in the ecclesiastical
what it is that is being conserved, and how the field, for nearly 30 years. He is involved in international training
particular artefact is to be conserved. Philosophical programmes and is a past graduate of the course.
issues and craft techniques are explored and Judith Roebuck is an archaeologist and an Ancient Monuments
modern value systems of assessing significance are Inspector for English Heritage. She is also a past graduate of the
course.
investigated. The programme includes site visits
David Heath was latterly Chief Conservation Architect to English
connected with study exercises and current
Heritage, and is the Thesis Tutor. He is also a past graduate of the
conservation issues of interest, together with visits course.
to craft workshops.
The First Year engages the students in Image: Building Conservation trip to St Paul’s Cathedral
developing their own conservation philosophies,
allied with the study of early and medieval building
types. Students begin to learn about causes of
defects to buildings, as well as their diagnosis and
repair. Amongst the required pieces of written work
are a Materials Essay/Investigation, a Church
Development study, a Conservation Statement
exercise and a Fabric Condition survey of a
building.
106
P HD PR OG RAMME
Simos Yannas, Lawrence Barth, Andrew Benjamin, Nicholas Bullock, Mark Cousins, Jorge Fiori,
Hugo Hinsley, Marina Lathouri, Rosa Schiano-Phan, Peter Sharratt, Teresa Stoppani
Study for the PhD at the AA is full-time, with a

minimum duration of three calendar years and a
maximum of four in which to complete the degree.
In their first year, candidates are required to work
on the formulation and planning of their research
projects in parallel with attending courses that
provide research training and engagement with
research areas of interest. Each PhD candidate is
guided by two members of staff appointed by the
programme’s Research Committee to act as
supervisors. By the end of their first year candidates
are expected to have had their PhD research
proposals formally approved and registered. The
main body of PhD research, including any
fieldwork outside the school, is undertaken in the
The AA’s PhD programme fosters critical discourse second year, supported by regular supervisions and
and innovative research in the fields of architecture assessments. The final year is mostly devoted to the
and urbanism. Within these fields the thematic and writing of the dissertation. On completion, PhD
methodological origins of current projects derive projects are submitted to a two-stage examination
from three main areas of research: architectural by a panel of examiners. PhD (and MPhil) research
theory and history (mainly the critical reassessment degrees at the AA are administered by the Graduate
of twentieth-century architecture and urbanism); School’s Research Committee in conjunction with
architectural urbanism (its role in addressing the Open University.
central issues in contemporary urban conditions
and debates); and sustainable environmental design
(its critical dimension and innovative applications PhD Research Topics
in architecture and urbanism). With between 30
and 40 doctoral candidates enrolled at any given Current PhD projects and staff research can be
time, the PhD programme combines advanced grouped under the following areas:
research with a broader educational agenda that
prepares graduates for practice in global academic Architectural Theory, History & Historiography
and professional environments. Major . Twentieth-century architecture and urbanism
developments under consideration include teaching . Architectural theory as related to design and
assistantships allowing eligible PhD candidates to modes of representation
acquire teaching experience; special bursaries for . Relations of architectural theory to human
PhD applicants with exceptional research skills; sciences, especially psychoanalysis
and extending the programme to encompass new
options for PhD research focusing on design and Architectural Urbanism
practice as central elements of discourse. . Housing densities and urban intensification
The preferred route to the PhD programme is . The urbanisation of ‘innovation environments’
through one of the Graduate School’s one-year and ‘knowledge-based’ clusters
taught masters programmes, which introduce . Urbanism and the irregular city
candidates both to promising research topics and to . Spatial strategies and urban social policies
teaching staff with expertise in these topics, as well . Domesticity and multiresidential housing
as leading to post-professional MA, MSc or MArch
degrees. Applicants aiming to gain admission into Sustainable Environmental Design
the PhD programme from outside the school must . Environmental masterplanning
already hold an appropriate post-professional . Effect of climate change and diversity on urban
masters degree in their proposed area of research. and building design
107
. Environmental assessment of historical and unfulfilled, expectation of most graduates in

contemporary architectural forms and building architecture who have ventured into doing a PhD.
types Extending the research degree opportunities within
. Design of adaptive building systems and the AA PhD programme to include options for PhD
components by Design and PhD by Practice is a major objective
. Natural heating, cooling and lighting design in for the current academic year. There will be
different climates opportunities to register interest in these options
within the school. Potential applicants are
encouraged to contact the AA PhD programme for
PhD Seminars more information.
Research seminars organised by the PhD aaschool.ac.uk/phd

programme are selected each year to reflect the
evolution of research interests and training Opening image: Tony Vidler leading a Histories & Theories
seminar, 2007
requirements. Seminar series are commonly of one
or two terms’ duration. Research seminars this year
will include courses by Lawrence Barth on The
Architecture of Urban Change, Mark Cousins on
Writing and Speaking and Marina Lathouri on
From Design to Theory. New and continuing PhD
candidates can select one or more of these seminars
as needed. A new seminar series bringing together
staff and students across the whole PhD
programme is scheduled for the Autumn Term with
the intention of setting out research agendas for a
Symposium to be held early in the Spring Term.
Special Events
Symposium: The Critique of the New

A number of the programme’s PhD candidates have
come together to initiate a project on the theme of
‘The Critique of the New’, culminating in an
international symposium to be held at the AA in
January 2008. The aim of this initiative is to
provide opportunities for exchanges between
academic research based in the Graduate School
and activities in other parts of the school, as well as
in other institutions. A series of seminars is planned
for the Autumn Term involving contributions from
across the school on specific issues and key
questions under the proposed theme.
PhD by Design/PhD by Practice

Placing architectural design and practice at the
centre of the PhD discourse, in the sense of
formulating research hypotheses as well as
providing testing criteria and desirable research
outcomes, has been a longstanding, but as yet
108
VISITING SCHOOL.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 15:12 Page 109
V I S I T IN G SCHOOL
Participation in the academic life of the AA is not
limited to full-time enrolment. Several shorter Visiting
School Programmes attract those who want to
participate in and contribute to the AA’s lively
architectural culture. Each school has a programme
tailored to a different length of study, topic and focus,
offering a full range of academic and professional
possibilities for experiencing the AA School both in
London and abroad.
The One-Year Visiting Students Programme in the
AA’s Undergraduate School units and Complementary
Studies courses offers the equivalent of a full year of
academic credit while the Spring Visiting Students
Programme attracts architecture students who wish to
pursue a semester-long course of study. The Summer
Architecture School is a three-week programme for
those who are contemplating a career in architecture
or a change from existing careers; the Winter
Architecture School in Dubai is a ten-day intensive
design workshop organised in collaboration with The
Third Line and the American University of Sharjah.
The Summer D-Lab is designed to attract advanced
students and mid-career professionals looking for an
intensive immersion in today’s most advanced design
software, hardware and production systems. Running
throughout next spring and summer will also be a
series of shorter workshops introducing design
projects and the AA’s teaching methodology to cities
across the world. A summer Visiting Teachers
programme welcomes groups of teachers sent by their
universities for a short course exposing them to the
full academic life of the AA; and finally, AA Abroad
Workshops offer overseas schools the opportunity to
arrange events featuring AA students and staff, where
they can experience AA teaching and learning within
their own venues.
VSP ON E-YE A R PRO GRA MME

AA Unit Staff
Study Credits
Many overseas schools are prepared to grant credit
to their students during their study at the AA, and
arrangements for this should be made by the
students prior to their arrival in the programme, to
help clarify the kinds of Complementary Studies
courses, in addition to the unit work, they will be
required to attend. In recent years students have
come to the AA from countries throughout the
world to participate in the unique cultural life and
activities of the school.
Fees for the one-year Visiting Students
Programme for the 2007/08 academic year are
£13,839. Fees for larger groups are negotiable, and
enquiries should be made to the Registrar’s Office.
Applications should be made via the main
undergraduate application form.
For further information please visit:
aaschool.ac.uk/shortcourses/vsponeyear.shtm
or contact:
Alice Hudson
Registrar’s Office
admissions@aaschool.ac.uk
t +44 (0)20 7887 4051
The AA offers places to students from schools of f +44 (0)20 7414 0779
architecture overseas who wish to participate in the
activities of the AA as a year away from their home Image: A visiting student model-making in the AA’s Morwell
institutions. Students are accepted into the Second, Street studio, 2007
Third or Fourth Year, depending on their previous
experience and upon an assessment of a portfolio of
work submitted as part of the application process.
Students are expected to stay for the entire three
terms of the AA’s academic year, which begins in
October and concludes the following July.
Curriculum
The three-term, 32-week programme involves
students in all aspects of undergraduate life at the
AA, including participation in Intermediate or
Diploma School units, Complementary Studies
courses and the AA’s evening lecture series,
exhibitions and other special events. As part of the
programme students have access to the full range of
resources at the AA, including the workshops,
libraries, digital prototyping, computing and
audiovisual labs, and other facilities.
During the four-week break between terms,
students (subject to their visa status) are able to
travel abroad, experiencing the architecture and
cities of Europe.
110
VSP 15-WEEK PR OG RA MME

Sam Jacoby, Monia de Marchi
Each student will develop a unique design

proposal on a chosen site in the city to test and
adapt their initial strategies against the specific
physical, cultural and programmatic conditions of
the metropolis.
Schedule and Applications

This year’s 15-week programme will run from
14 January to 9 May 2008, with a week’s break at
Easter. The tuition fee is £7,195. In addition to the
course, the studio will take a trip to a European
destination. For more information please visit:
aaschool.ac.uk/vsp15
VSP 15-Week Programme For further information please visit:
14 January to 9 May 2008 aaschool.ac.uk/shortcourses/vsponeyear.shtm
or contact:
The Spring Visiting Students programme is a full- Alice Hudson
time 15-week intensive design course open to Registrar’s Office
talented undergraduate and graduate students from admissions@aaschool.ac.uk
around the world who have studied for architecture t +44 (0)20 7887 4051
for a minimum of two years. f +44 (0)20 7414 0779
The programme occupies studios in the AA’s
buildings in Bedford Square, at the hub of London’s Coordinators
Sam Jacoby graduated from the AA and is an architect in private
rich cultural life, and gives visiting students an
practice. He previously worked for offices in the UK, Germany, US
opportunity to gain exposure to the international and Malaysia, and also trained as a cabinetmaker with Erich
activities of the AA’s seminars and lectures, public Brüggemann. He has been teaching at the AA since 2002 and is
reviews, exhibition openings and other events. currently a doctoral candidate at the TU Berlin in Germany.
The design-based curriculum combines Monia De Marchi is an architect who studied in Italy and
completed her MArch in the AA Graduate Design Programme.
conceptual and material research and encourages a
Her current areas of research include architecture and fabrication.
process of radical criticism and rigorous production
She also teaches on AA Diploma Unit 9.
of architectural projects and ideas. The programme
is intended to be transferable as a full semester of Image: Brian Briggs, VSP 15-Week Programme 2007, Rusty
architectural studies: studio work can be combined Brown’s Transformations
with courses from the AA’s Complementary Studies
programmes.
Students develop individual projects and work
together in small teams. The studio will also include
digital workshops and seminars related to the year’s
topic. In addition to regular individual tutorials
with the studio masters there will be interim and
final presentations with a range of invited critics.
A certificate of completion will be awarded at the
end of the programme.
Studio Agenda
As in previous years the site will be located in
London and the studio will continue to explore
alternative architectural strategies based on
methods of diagramming, representation and
organisation in order to develop new design tools.
111
SUMME R SCHO OL
Shumon Basar, Natasha Sandmeier
emphasises techniques of interpretation, recording,

drawing, making and thinking through diverse
media types, both analogue and digital. You will
work in groups, between the studio and city at
large.
The programme will run from 14 July to 1
August 2008, a period that coincides with the AA’s
Projects Review exhibition. Fees will be £1,300.
Updates will be posted on the AA website in
Autumn 2007. To obtain further information and
to register, visit:
aaschool.ac.uk/summerschool
or contact:
Sandra Sanna
ssanna@aaschool.ac.uk
t. +44 (0)207 887 4014
f. +44 (0)207 414 0782
Coordinators
Shumon Basar is a writer, editor and curator. Studied at the AA
and Cambridge University. AACP Director and AA Summer
School co-director. Co-founder of sexymachinery and contributing
editor at Tank magazine. Recent edited books include
With/Without (Moutamarat/Bidoun) and Cities from Zero (AA
Publications). With Stephan Trüby, Shumon is co-curating The
World of Madelon Vriesendorp, which will tour internationally
Summer Architecture School
after its debut at the AA.
14 July to 1 August 2008
Natasha Sandmeier (nss@fromform.net) is an architect and
partner of fromform and Big Picture Studio. She is Unit Master of
The three-week full-time Summer Architecture Diploma 9 and also co-directs the AA Summer Architecture
School offers an exciting approach to anyone School with Shumon Basar. She was project architect for the
interested in exploring architecture as a profession Seattle Public Library at OMA, and at other offices in the US.
or as an extended field of research. It presents a

Image: Summer school final jury presentation, 2007
challenging programme of design studios, based
on the AA unit system, with up to 85 students
engaging in field work, seminars, intensive design
sessions and special visits. The school is aimed at
a truly global audience from various backgrounds:
those just leaving school, those making a career
change, or students who wish to experience at first
hand how the AA works. Tutors are drawn from
AA alumni and a broad London and international
network of architects, designers and theorists.
We use London as an experimental urban
laboratory, yielding unexpected discoveries, ideas
and innovative proposals. This year, the focus will
be on the forces – ecological, social, technical – that
might potentially conspire to bring about the city’s
end. As more and more people move to cities than
ever before, what are the imminent and long-term
emergency scenarios, and how might we either
avert or design away the disasters? The course
112
WIN T ER SCHOOL
Markus Miessen
involvement. We will not pretend to deliver

expertise from the outside, but will strategically
unite key practitioners and theorists from the wider
region. We understand practice as a means of
critical engagement: to be political outside the
realm of politics or – as curator Anselm Franke
says – ‘to break the image while expanding the
narrative’.
The workshop will take place at The Third
Line, the Emirates’ most prominent contemporary
art gallery. Tutors will include some of the most
challenging practitioners in architecture, urbanism,
criticism and curatorial practices. Lecturers will
In collaboration with The Third Line include Rem Koolhaas (OMA), George Katodrytis
and the American University of Sharjah (American University of Sharjah), Antonia Carver
4 January to 13 January 2008 (Bidoun magazine), Shumon Basar (AA) and Sunny
Rahbar (The Third Line).
Learning From Dubai The course is an intensive studio-based
programme and requires full-time participation.
The recycling of the Disney fatwa says more The deadline for applications is 31 November
about the stagnation of Western critical 2007, although late applications will be considered
imagination than it does about the Gulf cities. if space is available. An AA certificate will be
Rem Koolhaas, Al Manakh awarded upon completion of this programme. Fees
for the 2008 workshop will be £695. A one-day
This year, for the first time, the AA is offering a trip prior to the start of the workshop will visit
nine-day international visiting programme in some of Dubai’s major sites of change as well as the
Dubai. Combining the AA’s unit system with local nearby Hajjar Mountains. A package deal with a
intelligence, it will run a design-based curriculum major hotel-chain and a number of accommodation
that unites radical criticism with the rigorous alternatives will be offered to those who do not
production of ideas. Each tutor-led unit will have local accommodation available.
investigate different aspects of the emerging spatial For further information please contact:
realities of the Gulf region, from workers’ housing Sandra Sanna
to urban infrastructure, with a local focus on Dubai. ssanna@aaschool.ac.uk
Based on a relentless belief in architecture as a t. +44 (0)207 887 4014
tool for modernisation, the spatial ambitions of f. +44 (0)207 414 0782
Dubai are unprecedented. The city is constantly
churning out superlatives, ranging from the world’s Coordinator
Markus Miessen (miessen@studiomiessen.com) is a London-based
tallest structure to the largest shopping mall. Large-
architect, researcher, and writer, editor of The Violence of
scale developments such as Business Bay or the Participation (Sternberg Press, forthcoming), co-editor of
Dubai Waterfront (which will be seven times the With/Without (Bidoun, with Basar and Carver) and Did Someone
size of Manhattan) are some of the many sites Say Participate (MIT/Revolver, with Basar), and co-author of
targeted to attract international investment, high- Spaces of Uncertainty (Müller+Busmann, with Cupers). As a
spatial consultant, he works with the European Kunsthalle and the
end labour-migration and package-tourism. But
Serpentine Gallery’s Public Programmes. At the AA, he teaches as
what are the (often hidden) infrastructures that
Unit Master of Intermediate 7 with Matthew Murphy. He has
enable such change? been a visiting lecturer at Columbia University, Cooper Union and
There is an urgent need to understand the Gulf’s the Royal College of Art, and is currently working on the setting
transformation in a different light; not with the up of a cultural institution in the Middle East.
goggles of pessimism, but to take seriously what is studiomiessen.com
often being ridiculed. Rather than delivering a mere

Photo Markus Miessen
critique, we will start a critical practice of
113
SUMMER D-L AB
Eugene Han
Applications
The AA Summer D-Lab is open to current
architecture students, recent graduates and mid-
career professionals wishing to further their
understanding of digital and computational design
concepts, operations and their applications.
Applicants should have a working knowledge of
computers, and some previous software modelling
experience is preferred. It is recommended that
participants bring their own laptop, but this is not a
requirement. Computers and equipment, software
and prototyping materials will be provided.
Summer D-Lab
4 August to 15 August 2008 Registration & Timetable
The programme runs from Monday 4 August until
Over the past decade, advanced design experimen- Friday 15 August. Interested applicants are
tation within the AA has played a groundbreaking encouraged to contact the school as soon as
role in teaching the potential of digital design, possible. Fees for the course are £1,550.
manufacturing and communication technologies in An application form is available online at
the conception, design and development of new aaschool.ac.uk. For further information contact:
architectural and urban projects. The new Summer Sandra Sanna
D-Lab offers visiting architects and students an ssanna@aaschool.ac.uk
opportunity to explore this important new area of t. +44 (0)207 887 4014
architectural work in the context of the AA’s f. +44 (0)207 414 0782
renowned teaching environment and culture of
architectural innovation and experimentation. Image: Summer D-LAB students, 2007
The AA Summer D-Lab offers participants an

intensive introduction to the basics of digital
modelling, scripting, the flow of projects between
software applications, and experimentation in the
ways in which the design processes related to these
applications can be integrated with modelling and
production facilities. Participants will explore laser-
cutting, CNC-milling, 3D printing and other ‘hard’
forms of design output, pursuing an opportunity to
work directly with these and other advanced design
technologies while furthering their knowledge,
skills and understanding of some of today’s most
advanced digital design tools.
Course Organisation
The D-Lab is organised as an intensive two-week
course combining seminars and design workshop
exercises with presentations and discussions with
teaching staff and visiting critics. Each student’s
work will be guided towards a design thesis
presented as a finished design workshop project at
the end of the two weeks. These projects will
provide a solid foundation for the further
development of their interests and abilities.
114
GL OBAL SCHOOLS
Fibrous Structures Workshop Series v2.0 Mexico City School

Istanbul/London Mexico City
November 2007 Spring 2008
Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto, Nilüfer AA Staff & Graduates
Kozikoglu, with AKT Engineers The Mexico City School is a seven-day exploration
This design research project investigates the of the hybrid, multi-use buildings that are
emergent properties of complex fibre-reinforced increasingly prevalent in the fast-developing urban
concrete structures. The workshop is conceived as connurbation of Mexico City – one of the world’s
an intensive collaboration between students from most vibrant architectural settings. The workshop
the AA and ITU University and involves the digital will investigate existing hybridised precedents and
parametric design of complex fibrous assemblages then set up programmes for the analysis and design
and the large-scale physical prototyping of the of alternative models.
resulting structures. Tools, techniques and material
components will be introduced to allow the making China Superdensity
of a ‘fibrous room’ for an exhibition at the Garanti Shanghai
Gallery in Istanbul in January 2008. The workshop August 2008
will be open to previous participants as well as to Tom Verebes
students who are experienced in parametric design This intensive nine-day studio-based course (a
and/or physical prototyping. follow-up to last summer’s inaugural Shanghai
workshop) will connect the realms of contemporary
Mumbai School urban theory with cutting-edge computational
Mumbai design techniques in the context of one of the
4–13 April 2008 fastest-growing, most densely-occupied cities in the
Nikolaus Hirsch world. Shanghai will be both the setting and topic of
The Mumbai School is a nine-day-programme our work during the course.
which explores the spatial parameters of knowledge
production and education. The intensive studio- Prototyping the City
based course will investigate the potentials and Turin
limitations of the school model as a collective Spring/Summer 2008
activity and an active social project in the urban Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto, Cesare Griffa,
realm of Mumbai – one of the fastest-growing, most Caterina Tiazzoldi
densely occupied cities in the world. Prototyping the City will be held in Turin in
Spring/Summer 2008 and will constitute a
Breeding Design triangular exchange between the AA, Columbia
Singapore University and Turin Polytechnic. The focus will be
July 2008 on blurring boundaries between architecture and
Nathalie Rozencwajg, Michel da Costa Gonçalves industrial design by way of architectural
Breeding Design – a 10-day workshop in Singapore experimentation and large-scale prototyping. The
– is open to anyone with an interest in exploring the workshop will be run in partnership with a number
architectural field and a willingness to investigate of local manufacturers and will involve the
different approaches to practice through group fabrication of architectural ‘products’ for the city of
learning and multidisciplinary discussions. Working Turin. Results will be exhibited in Turin in July
in a studio environment and developing their own 2008 as part of a year-long events programme in
proposals, participants will be introduced to collaboration with the UIA Congress.
contemporary methods of physical and digital
modelling as well as advanced design processes. For further information on each of these schools
Applications will be open during the second term of and workshops contact the AA’s Visiting Schools’
the school year. coordinator, Sandra Sanna(ssanna@aaschool.ac.uk).
115
VIS I TING T EACHERS/ AA ABRO AD
Visiting Teachers Programme AA Abroad Workshops
The AA’s innovative teaching tradition attracts the Each year AA staff and tutors participate in short-
interest of academic visitors from all over the term architectural design, research and other
world. In response to this interest we offer a short workshops at schools of architecture and cultural
programme to give teachers of architecture an venues throughout the world. In recent years AA
opportunity to participate in the teaching and events have been arranged in more than two dozen
research of the school and engage in a debate about countries, exposing students and staff in many
the aims and strategies of architectural education. diverse settings to the unique forms of creative
The programme offers involvement in the teaching, teaching, learning and exploration that are the
review and assessment activities throughout the hallmark of the school.
school and the opportunity for detailed discussion As part of these activities the AA welcomes
of ideas and methods of education. Immersion in the opportunity to arrange workshops and other
the culture of the school through its programme of events relating to the ongoing areas of research and
lectures, seminars and exhibitions is encouraged. design within all parts of the Undergraduate and
Visits are also organised to important examples of Graduate Schools. In recent years AA staff and
architecture and planning in London, a city that students have participated in projects in Italy,
offers a rich historical and contemporary record Germany, the Netherlands, the US, Greece, Hong
and is a laboratory of urbanism and architecture. Kong, China, Japan, Estonia, Croatia, Mexico and
The programme is open to a small group of many other countries, benefiting from the exchange
participants who are currently teaching architecture of learning that these shared events offer. Many of
or related subjects, and will run for three weeks in these events have been arranged during the four-
June 2008. Applicants will be selected on the basis week breaks between terms, and during our July to
of a short written proposal which should include a October summer holidays.
statement of their teaching and research experience An important part of the year-long architectural
with an outline of the issues of architectural agendas within the units in the Undergraduate
education that they find particularly interesting and School and the programmes of the Graduate School
challenging. are unit trips taken at strategic points of the year to
Applications, with an attached curriculum visit projects, offices, schools and cities throughout
vitae, should be submitted as early as possible, and the world. During these visits students and staff
no later than 7 March 2008. There is no fee for the have presented their work or pursued research
programme. projects investigating all aspects of architectural
and urban life at these destinations.
Enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Overseas institutions seeking further
Registrar’s Office information regarding the possibility of arranging
AA School ofArchitecture visiting workshops, as well as exhibitions, symposia
36 Bedford Square and other special events, should contact:
London WC1B 3ES Brett Steele
t. +44 (0)20 7887 4000 Director, AA School
f. +44 (0)20 7414 0779 director@aaschool.ac.uk
116
ADMIN&SERVICES.qxd:Layout 1 20/9/07 15:14 Page 117
R E SOU RCES
Westminster Lodge, by Edward

Cullinan and Buro Happold, features a
grass roof and the use of unmilled,
untreated timber. Located around a
central common room are eight double
study-bedrooms, each with its own
shower and toilet, in pods that
penetrate the exterior wall of the
building. In addition there is
accommodation for another two
people in a cabin close by.
Hooke Park is open to registered
students and staff from all sections of
HOOKE PA RK the school. The A V Custerson Annual
aaschool.ac.uk/hookepark Award provides funding to carry out
Hooke Park is a 350-acre woodland projects associated with timber at
site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Hooke Park. The 2007 winner of the
Beauty in west Dorset, approximately award was Jesse Randzio (Inter 7),
four miles from Beaminster, near the who proposed a small-scale open-air
village of Hooke, and 12.5 miles from structure ‘to encourage a community
Dorchester. Hooke Park provides the of temporary users to form a bond WO RKS HOP
AA with a platform from which to through the private space they share’. 10.00am–6.00pm Monday to Friday
research future material concepts in Projects are open to all registered AA 10.00am–2.30pm Saturday (term time)
the building industry and operates as students in the Undergraduate or aaschool.ac.uk/workshop.shtm
a showcase for experimental sustainable Graduate Schools. See the Scholarships The Workshop is well equipped with
construction. & Bursaries section of this Prospectus machine and hand tools for working
The facilities were originally for more details. in wood and metal. Facilities are
developed by an institute researching available for working in steel and
new uses for working with wood in MAEDA WORKS H O P some nonferrous metals, and for
modern construction. This ‘laboratory precise working in hardwoods,
of experimentation and research’ will softwoods and panel products.
be further developed in a way that We have a limited capacity for
takes account of the biodiversity of the working in stone, concrete and
natural environment, which includes ferrocement, as well as in some plastics
woodlands, wetlands, boundary banks and composites. A link with the
and meadows. Electronic Media Lab has brought a
The spacious facilities and outdoor new dimension to the work produced,
environment provide a setting for enabling new production techniques to
workshops and projects that might be be joined with traditional craft skills.
problematic to carry out in the confines Workshop facilities may be used by
of Central London. Students are able all registered students and members of
to explore techniques ranging from staff; external registered students may
model-making to object fabrication Generously supported by the Maeda do so at the discretion of the
and prototyping and to produce work Corporation in Japan, who have Workshop management and on
on a larger scale, supported by sponsored exhibitions and other events payment of a prearranged fee. Hand
specialist staff based at the site. at the AA for more than a decade, the tools and portable power tools may
The existing structures at Hooke Maeda Workshops have brought in a be borrowed when available. All First
Park were designed by teams dedicated series of visiting artists who have Year and new students will be required
to pushing the boundaries of building worked closely with AA students and to attend a short induction course on
with wood. The Workshop, a staff on intensive short-term projects safe working practices before they can
collaboration by Frei Otto, ABK and leading to installations within the use the Workshop.
Buro Happold, experiments with school. Workshops have been led by The Workshop staff have a broad
bending ‘green’ wood and carrying internationally renowned artists range of experience in design,
loads across large spans on small- including Richard Wilson, Krzysztof materials and processes. Their aim is
diameter roundwood beams. The Wodiczko, Tadashi Kawamata and to encourage and support individual
Refectory, by the same team, is a others. A new three-year cycle is projects as well as units whose
prototype for a house in which the focusing on the use and long-term programmes depend upon the use
structure hangs like a tent on four development of Hooke Park as a vital of the Workshop.
A-frames. part of the school.
118
production. Integrated at an early and medals, together with over 250

stage, the introductions are intended plans, drawings and paintings. The
to raise awareness of the potential of Archive contains the institutional
digital fabrication technologies and memory and history of the AA and
capitalise on their possibilities in the serves as a key resource for the study
contemporary design process. of architectural education over the
last 160 years.
The Library’s loan, reference and
information services are available only
to staff and registered students and
MODEL WORKSHOP members of the Association. Most
10.00am–6.00pm Monday to Friday materials may be borrowed from the
aaschool.ac.uk/modelshop.shtm Library, although periodicals and some
The Model Workshop offers technical books are for reference only. Up to
assistance and equipment to construct eight books at a time can be borrowed
small-scale objects. It is equipped with by members and undergraduate
small power tools and a plaster sink. LIB R A RY students. Graduate students can
Term-time hours: borrow a maximum of ten books.
10.00am–9.00pm Monday to Friday The Library website provides
11.00am–5.00pm Saturday information about opening hours and
aaschool.ac.uk/library policies and acts as a portal through
The Library was founded in 1862 with which architectural research can be
a stock of ten books, various societies’ undertaken on the internet. The online
Transactions and Proceedings, and a catalogue allows users to check the
number of journals. It now has almost Library’s holdings and their availability,
40,000 volumes, with books and as well as to reserve and renew books
journals on the history of architecture online.
DIGI TAL PROTOTYP ING of all countries and periods, current
L AB architectural design, architectural
10.00am–6.00pm Monday to Friday theory, building types, interior design
aaschool.ac.uk/digitalprototyping and landscape design. It holds rare
Set up in the summer of 2007, the and early works – the earliest is the
Digital Prototyping Lab is a new facility Nuremburg Chronicle of 1493 – and
containing various rapid prototyping special collections on the modern
machines and a teaching space. The movement, the AA, international
lab currently has two laser-cutting exhibitions, the nineteenth century and
machines, two CNC-milling machines garden cities. A large collection of CD-
and an STL printer, and is designed ROMs/DVDs is available. In addition P HOTO L IB R A R Y
to evolve in future years to keep pace to online access to the Avery Index, the 10.00am–6.00pm Monday to Friday
with the latest developments in Art Index (full text) and the Barbour (Latest viewing time for films: 4.00pm)
hardware and software technologies. Index, the Library has full text aaschool.ac.uk/photolib
The lab is available to all parts of subscriptions to a number of art and The Photo Library holds around
the school, to the units that incorporate architecture journals. The library also 150,000 slides of both historical and
digital fabrication technologies into receives print editions of more than contemporary buildings, 25,000 slides
their briefs as well as the graduate 137 periodicals and holds a substantial of AA student work and several
programmes. Registered students are number of important historical valuable archives of b/w photographs.
able to reserve machine-time through magazines, including Wendingen and There is a new, fully searchable
an online booking system. All those L’Architecture Vivante. website with 8,000 images from the
interested in using the lab facilities are The Library has just begun the collection, launched in 2005, which
first required to attend an induction process of organising the Archive of AA students and staff may use to
course. the Architectural Association, and download low-res images along with
The Digital Prototyping Lab staff making it available to users. The comprehensive information about
have experience with digital design Archive (approximately 450 cubic feet each building featured.
processes and knowledge of 3D and of documents) primarily contains the The collection was originally created
parametric modelling applications. organisational and administrative by AA students and staff returning
To support the work of the units and records of the Association and the from school trips and other travels.
programmes, the Lab will offer School. Dating back to 1847, it also Many were members of the AA
tutorials and short courses on how to holds a wealth of AA ephemera Camera Club, which began in 1893
design and prepare models for digital including posters, leaflets, photographs and was relaunched last year. Though
119
the collection is primarily for use Microstation, Rhinoceros, 3D Studio technology, supporting teaching
within the school, we operate as a Max and Maya. throughout the AA. It lends equipment
commercial photo library, lending The software workshops for First to staff and registered students, assists
slides for publication in books and Year students will take place on guest speakers presenting lectures,
journals worldwide. We also publish Mondays, those for Intermediate and documents public events and operates
cards and postcards from the collection Diploma students on Wednesdays. a Video Studio within the Electronic
and hold regular exhibitions featuring They will consist of a six-hour Media Lab.
the work of photographers who have teaching session (10.00am–1.00pm AV equipment for teaching and the
made the biggest contributions to the and 2.00pm–5.00pm) and will be held public lecture series is booked through
collection in recent decades. in Morwell Street Studio Room 101. an established procedure. Staff and
The Photo Library holds the video The advanced software courses students should liaise with the relevant
archive of AA lectures, dating back to consist of six weekly sessions, starting coordinator at least one week prior to
the 1960s and including titles by in Week 3 (from 15 October). They when the equipment is required. The
Cedric Price, Robin Evans, Reyner will be held in the back room of the department is unable to provide
Banham, Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Electronic Media Lab and will take the support for late or impromptu classes.
Hadid. There is also an expanding form of a two-hour teaching session Students wishing to borrow
collection of more than 500 feature (9.00am–11.00am) followed equipment (such as video cameras or
films by directors from Tarkovsky to immediately by a one-hour tutorial. sound recorders) should speak to the
Jarmusch, Herzog to Fellini, Kubrick In addition to the courses there will AV Manager to check availability and
to Wenders, to be viewed in the library be software-specific Tips & Tricks discuss conditions. Those borrowing
or borrowed overnight. sessions on Saturdays. These sessions equipment from the AV department
are open to all AA students and offer are fully responsible for its security
the possibility to discuss software- and care. An agreement form must
related questions about portfolio work be signed to this effect. Groups may
with the relevant course teacher. The borrow equipment as part of a well-
teacher will guide the group through defined unit project on or off school
different ways of achieving their goals. premises only after discussion with
The Spring Term programme offers the AV Manager. Students are
introductions to the advanced use reminded that loan requests should
of selected software packages for be made between 2.00pm and 5.00pm
interactive presentations, digital 3D and that most equipment is lent for a
modelling and the preparation of files period of two days.
for digital fabrication. There will be The Video Studio is an open area
eight full-day Saturday workshops in for those undertaking video and sound
the Electronic Media Lab back room, work. Courses run within Media
starting in Week 2 (from 14 January). Studies allow students to develop skills
in this area. For those not able to take
these courses, instruction can be found
E L E CTRONIC MEDIA L AB with the AV Manager. Programs
Term-time hours: commonly used include Final Cut Pro,
9.00am–9.00pm Monday to Friday Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects and
10.00am–2.30pm Saturday Garage Band, additional software is
aaschool.ac.uk/electronicmedia.shtm sourced based on demand. Outside
The proliferation of digital design of teaching times, the area is run on a
technologies has had a profound effect booking system that allows students
on architecture and other design to work in a focused manner. Staff and
disciplines. As part of its educational students must be aware that this area
remit, the AA intends to equip its is for video and sound work only, and
students to use the current leading that they may not occupy the space
design systems and software packages without prior agreement. Unit-based
to the fullest extent. projects (those outside of Media
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Studies) are possible if arranged in
Flash, AutoCad, Rhinoceros and Maya advance; teaching staff should speak
will be introduced as compact one-day AUDI OVI SUA L L A B to the AV Manager so time can be
workshops in the Autumn Term, with Term-time hours: allotted, and students are advised to
separate sessions for First Year and 2.00pm–5.00pm Monday to Friday discuss proposals at an early stage to
Intermediate/Diploma students. aaschool.ac.uk/audiovisual.shtm assess their viability.
Separate six-session courses will cover The Audiovisual Department is
more advanced software applications: concerned with display and sound
120
DRAWING MAT ERIALS BAR & R ESTAU R A N T THE AA: PARTICIPATORY

SHOP aaschool.ac.uk/restaurant D EMOC R AC Y AN D
10.00am–5.45pm Monday to Friday The Bar and Restaurant are open in M E M BE R S H IP
aaschool.info/drawingmaterials term time to students, members, staff, The AA is more than a school of archi-
The Drawing Materials Shop is located friends and guests from Monday to tecture. In its constitutional structure
on the ground floor of 34 Bedford Friday. Coffee, tea, croissants, pastries, it is first and foremost an association
Square. It stocks a wide range of sandwiches, snacks and drinks are of members, originally established by
stationery, drawing instruments, served in the Bar on the first floor from students in 1847.
computer consumables, videotapes 9.30am until 9.00pm. Lunch is served Currently there are 3,200 members
and other essential equipment and from 12.30pm to 2.00pm in the dining of the AA internationally, including
supplies – all at very competitive room in the basement, opposite the some of the world’s leading architects,
prices. This includes a range of AA Triangle Bookshop. who play a vital role in shaping the
merchandise items. The shop also runs identity and assisting in the develop-
an overnight ordering facility for items ment of the school. Registered students
not regularly kept in stock. Additional and staff of the AA automatically
services include photocopying, large- become members, and membership
scale printing on the plotter and fax is open to anyone with an interest in
sending. The Drawing Materials Shop architecture. Members participate in
website includes a complete stocklist lectures and events, visit exhibitions
to enable ease of ordering. and make use of the AA’s facilities.
For further information contact:
t 44 (0)20 7887 4076
membership@aaschool.ac.uk
AA Council
The AA Council – the governing body
of the Architectural Association (Inc.) –
is elected each year by the membership
of the Architectural Association
including staff and students. The
Architectural Association is governed
TRIA N GLE BOOKS HOP constitutionally as a charitable
10.00am–6.00pm Monday to Friday AAIR company, the primary object of which
t 020 7631 1381 f 020 7436 4373 listen: aaschool.ac.uk/radio is the running of a school of archi-
info@trianglebookshop.com contact: radio@aaschool.ac.uk tecture. The Architectural Association
trianglebookshop.com Created and produced by students (Inc.) is both a Registered Charity and
Situated in the front basement of the of the AA, AAIR broadcasts music, a Company Limited by Guarantee and
AA is London’s best architectural interviews, events, documentaries, its Council are the Trustees of the
bookshop, the Triangle Bookshop, field and found recordings, Charity and Directors of the Company.
which is run independently by Derek compositions, spoken word and The Council of the Architectural
Brampton and Alan Young. Triangle various other shows contributed by Association for 2007/08 is as follows:
aims to stock every recent book on listeners. AAIR projects include Radio President
architecture and has an extensive Anacapri (radioanacapri.com) James Eyre OBE BA(Hons) AADipl
range of both English and foreign and AAIR Salon evenings at the AA RIBA
titles. A large number of magazines are with live performances by students Vice Presidents
also stocked, and subscriptions can be and invited artists. Alex Lifschutz BSc
provided. The bookshop is able to The two images above show AAIR Dennis Sharp AADipl MA RIBA
supply recommended course books Salon, Runzelstirn & Gurgelstock, Honorary Secretary
and any title that is in print. May 2006, photo Martin Holtkamp. Kenneth Powell MA HonFRIBA
121
Honorary Treasurer running of the school, however, is D EV E LOP M E N T OFF I C E

Christopher Libby AADipl RIBA delegated to the AA Director. Since Since its founding in 1847, the AA has
Past President 1971, Council has chosen to exercise remained both independent and self-
Eric Parry AADipl MA(RCA) these responsibilities in a triangular supporting. A pioneering higher
MA(Cantab) RIBA relationship between itself, the educational UK educational charity,
Ordinary Members Director of the school and the School the AA School receives no statutory
David Adjaye MA RCA Community, a structure which has funding either for its internationally
John Andrews AADipl become an important hallmark of the renowned teaching activities or for its
Mary Bowman BSc(Arch) RIBA school’s independent status. acclaimed cultural programme, which
Cécile Brisac AADipl The Council also consults the School operates one of the world’s largest
Henrik Lønberg, AADipl Community on important governance calendars of lectures, exhibitions and
John Lyall RIBA FRSA decisions, such as the selection of the other public events dedicated to
Christina Smith Director of the school. Although the contemporary architectural culture.
Jane Wernick BSc(Hons) MICE Director is fully accountable to the Each year the AA attracts the world’s
FIStructE FRSA Council, his contract with the Council foremost architects, engineers,
Julyan Wickham AADipl RIBA is dependent on maintaining the designers, critics, theorists, artists and
Brendan Woods AADipl RIBA confidence of the School Community. other leaders as part of its academic
Nicky Wynne BA(Hons) MA The process of decision-making and cultural programmes.
Ken Yeang AADipl PhD(Cantab) between Director, Council and School The AA takes very seriously its
ARIBA APAM MSIA Community makes the school unique role as an independent setting for the
in the world of architectural education. teaching, learning, discussion and
The Council meets at least six times Along with the Council itself, all debate of contemporary architecture,
each academic year in order to monitor registered students and contracted including the vital role architecture
the Association’s financial health, members of staff (with the exception can play in bridging between public,
approve new business and review of the Director of the school) are professional and political interests in
current initiatives and activities. The constituents of the School Community, the future of the world’s cities and
meetings are open to all AA members where every individual has an equal built environment. Like the incredible
(including AA staff and students), and vote. The School Community has, at city of London that is its home, the
the approved minutes of past meetings particular times, influenced the future AA today is distinguished by its inter-
are made available for viewing in the direction, not just of the school but of national and multicultural make-up.
Library. the Association as a whole. School Maintaining the AA’s independence
On a yearly basis, the Council Community Meetings are therefore a is the key to the school’s ability to
endorses the school’s academic agenda, very important part of the Architectural remain at the forefront of architectural
reviews the educational and cultural Association’s governance. education, and its leading position is
development of the school and The Architectural Association is made viable and enhanced through the
Association, and considers and proud to have the benefit of an active generous support, both financial and
approves the Association’s financial and participatory democracy. Through in-kind, provided by many individuals
statements and proposed budgets. membership participation in its and organisations throughout the
On an ongoing basis, the Council governance, as well as student and world. The AA’s Development Office
confirms the appointment of all staff, staff involvement, the Architectural cultivates mutually beneficial
approves new applications to the Association has maintained and relationships between the school and
membership, ratifies all AA Diplomas developed as an independent, self- individuals, organisations, institutions
and other academic awards, and governing democratic body. It is this and corporate companies. Interested
promotes the work of the Architectural independence from state and parties are actively encouraged to join
Association through participation in institutional control, at times fiercely the AA’s international network of
its cultural events and support of its fought for, which has allowed it to supporters and partners, and can gain
fundraising initiatives. The Council sustain continual success and renewal. more information by contacting Brett
appoints a Company Secretary to For information concerning the Steele, Director of the Architectural
execute and administer the Architectural Association’s Council, Association School of Architecture, at
Architectural Association’s legal and or its charitable status, contact +44 (0)20 7887 4026. Direct funding
statutory affairs. Dr Kathleen Formosa, Company or sponsorship enquiries can also be
Secretary, on +44 (0)20 7887 4018. sent to development@aaschool.ac.uk.
Decision-making in the School Information on the Architectural
Community Association’s Constitution, minutes
As Trustees and Directors, the Council of past Council meetings, and the rules
carries ultimate responsibility for the governing School Community
proper conduct and execution of the Meetings, can be found in the AA
Architectural Association’s affairs. Library.
Day-to-day responsibility for the
122
ADMINISTRATION
graduate Bursary Committee, which Alvin Boyarsky Scholarship

meets in July to distribute the awards, Takanao Todo
bases its decisions on academic As AA Chairman from 1971 to 1990,
performance, recommendation from Alvin Boyarsky transformed the AA
the tutor and financial need.* into an internationally respected
Named Scholarship and Bursary school and a forum for architectural
Awards, with their 2007/08 recipients, experiment and debate. The
are listed below. See also: scholarship is for one-term’s fees.
aaschool.ac.uk/admissions
Martin Caroe Memorial Scholarship
How to Apply for a Bursary for Rosie Caley
Graduate School Students Established in memory of Martin
Bursary application forms are Bragg Caroe, whose collaboration
S C HOL A RSH IPS AND available from the Registrar’s Office with the AA was instrumental in
B U R SA RIES upon an official offer of a place. establishing the postgraduate course in
Completed bursary forms to be Building Conservation. Made possible
The AA is committed to giving as returned mid-March. The Graduate through the support of Martin Caroe’s
many talented students as possible the Bursary Committee, which meets architectural practice, Caroe &
opportunity to study at its school in in mid-April to distribute the awards, Partners, the scholarship is awarded to
London. Around one in six AA bases its decisions on academic a second year student of the Building
students receive financial assistance performance, recommendation from Conservation course based on an
from the Scholarship, Bursary and the Programme Director and financial assessment of merit and financial need.
Assistantship programme. need.*
* Bursary awards range from half a Eden Scholarship
What is the Difference Between a term to one and a half terms, covering The Eden Scholarship is an annual
Scholarship and a Bursary? a proportion of student fees per year. award worth £7,500 given to a UK
Scholarships are offered to new First, student on the AA SED masters
Second and Fourth Year applicants Adams Kara Taylor Scholarship programme on the strength of design
who demonstrate academic excellence Maciej Woroniecki portfolio and academic merit. It is
and financial need. They are available Funded by London-based structural sponsored by architects Nicholas
for two or three years, subject to engineers Adams Kara Taylor, this Grimshaw & Partners, structural
continuing progress. Bursaries are scholarship of one term’s fees is engineers Arup, quantity surveyors
offered to existing AA students and awarded to a student in the Diploma David Langdon & Everest, consulting
new Graduate School students, and School who demonstrates both merit engineers Anthony Hunt Associates
must be applied for on a yearly basis. and financial need. and Eden Project Ltd.
How to Apply for a Scholarship David Allford Scholarship Stephen Lawrence Scholarship
Undergraduate applicants must Colin Ashton Alex Osei-Bonsu
complete the main application form This full-fee (three-term) scholarship This award, in memory of the young
no later than 14 January 2008, stating has been set up to honour the memory man who was murdered in a racist
their interest in an AA Scholarship in of David Allford, a partner of YRM attack on 22 April 1993, has been
the ‘Scholarships and Awards’ section. Architects and trustee of the AA established with the support of
Students whose work is considered to Foundation. It is funded by David Stephen Lawrence’s family, the Stephen
be of scholarship standard will be Allford’s friends and family and is Lawrence Trust and a number of
asked, after an entry interview, to awarded to a British student who generous private donations. Appli-
complete a Scholarship application demonstrates both academic cations are particularly welcome from
form, provide financial information excellence and a need for financial aid. members of ethnic minorities entering
and prepare a portfolio for the the First Year. Applicants must
Scholarship Committee. For further Baylight Scholarships demonstrate both merit and the need
information contact: Toby Burgess, Ben Burley, William for financial aid.
t +44 (0)20 7887 4051 Paul, Edmund Fowles
admissions@aaschool.ac.uk Thanks to the generosity of the Eileen Gray Fund
Baylight Foundation, headed by Sarah-Louise Huelin, Korey Kromm,
How to Apply for a Bursary for AA Past President Crispin Kelly, a Anna Schepper
Undergraduate Students number of full-fee scholarships are The Eileen Gray Fund for AA students
Bursary application forms are available to British students entering was established in 1980 by the
available from the Registrar’s Office the Diploma School. Candidates need distinguished architect and furniture-
from the end of March and should be to demonstrate both outstanding merit designer’s niece Prunella Clough-Taylor.
returned by mid-May. The Under- and financial need. A bequest received from Ms Clough-
124
Taylor in 2000 has expanded the scope Nicholas Boas Travel Award
of this fund, which now awards a Jose Tovar-Barrientos, Sayaka Namba,
series of bursaries and scholarships Erlend Skjeseth, Jae Won Yi
every year to talented students in need A travel award open to AA students
of financial assistance. who wish to study Roman architecture
and urbanism has been established
Marjorie Morrison Bursary in memory of AA graduate Nicholas
Neill Grant, Ina-Marie Kapitola Boas (1975–1998). It provides funds
Marjorie Morrison MBE, AA Slide for a one-month architecture study visit
Librarian from 1935 to 1975 and based at the British School in Rome.
researcher until 1985, bequeathed a
generous sum to the AA Foundation. A V Custerson Award
The sum was increased by donations Jesse Randzio
from among Marjorie’s friends. Anthony Custerson was passionate
about Hooke Park and the use of
Enid Caldicott Bursary indigenous and sustainable sources of
Lawrence Lek, Sevil Pius timber, and he left a generous legacy to
A bursary was established in 1978 in support students working in this area.
memory of Enid Caldicott, who was Open to all AA students, the annual
involved with the AA first as a student award of £7,500 provides funding to
and then as a member of staff, working carry out projects associated with
for 35 years in the Library. It is timber and Hooke Park.
awarded annually to British students. F E ES
Anthony Pott Memorial Award
Max Lock Bursary Defne Sunguroglu Fees are reviewed annually. For the
Timothy Dempers As trustees of this fund, the AA offers academic year 2007/08 they are as
Max Lock studied at the AA from an award of not less than £2,000 to follows:
1926 to 1931 and taught at the school assist a study project related to
during the late 1930s. The bursary is architecture and design. The award is Undergraduate School
funded by his generous bequest to the intended to fund original study or the Foundation: £12,318
AA Foundation. publication of completed work. Further Five-year undergraduate
details available from the AA programme: £13,839
Elizabeth Chesterton Bursary Fund Secretary’s Office. 15-week Spring Visiting Students
Tessa Katz programme: £7,195
AA alumna and former Councillor Michael Ventris Memorial Fund
Dame Elizabeth Chesterton OBE left This award offers up to £2,000 to Graduate School
a generous bequest in support of bur- candidates of at least RIBA/ARB 12-month MA and MSc: £15,939
saries for British students at the AA. Intermediate status or equivalent. 16-month MArch: £21,270
The fund was established in 1957 in PhD: £14,280
Anne Gregory Bursary memory of Michael Ventris and in Graduate Building Conservation
Erin Dickson appreciation of his work in the fields of Diploma (day-release course):
A bursary is offered each year in Mycenaean civilisation and £4,659
memory of Anne Gregory, who died architecture. It is intended to promote
while in her first year of studies. study in those areas and is available There is an additional £30 member-
to support a specifically defined and ship fee and £35 student forum fee per
R D Hammett Bursary achievable project. The closing date for year.
Erlend Bakke-Eidsaa applications is 31 October 2007.
This long-term bursary is funded Further details are available from the AA Assistantships
by the generous bequest to the AA AA Secretary’s Office. A limited number of assistantships
Foundation of graduate R D Hammett. are offered to students who are
SOM Award and Internship experiencing financial hardship.
Mercers’ Bursary This award comprises of one-term’s Students work between seven and
Daniel Piker fees at the AA, as well as a paid 10- ten hours per week, providing
This one-term bursary has been made week internship at SOM, London over administrative or secretarial assistance
available since 2002 thanks to the the summer holiday. The award is open in return for an agreed remission of
generous support of the Mercers’ to new and existing AA students part of their fees. New students
Company, the City of London’s entering the Diploma School. Further wishing to apply will be told the
premier livery company. It is awarded details available from the AA procedure when they register at the
annually to a British student. Registrar’s Office. beginning of the academic year.
125
and financial need. For further

information see:
aaschool.ac.uk/admissions
The minimum academic require-
ments for students entering the First
Year of the course are two passes
(grade C or above) at A level with at
least five passes (grade C or above) in
other subjects at GCSE. If one A level
is in an art/design subject, it must be
accompanied by at least one non-
art/design subject. Maths and a
Science subject, together with English
Language, are compulsory at least at
GCSE level. The AA Foundation
Course is recognised by the RIBA
as the equivalent of an Art A level.
Therefore the minimum entry
requirements for students entering
the Foundation Course are as above
for GCSE level, but only one A level
U N DERGRADUAT E UND ERGRA DUAT E pass (grade C or above) in a non-
ADMISS IONS ENTRY RE QU IR EM E N T S art/design subject is required, although
two A level passes are preferred.
LEA and EU Awards All applicants are expected to submit Foundations in art and design must
The following information applies to a bound portfolio of art/design work be accompanied by one A level (or
undergraduate students on the five- (no larger than A3 and between 10 equivalent) in a non art/design subject.
year RIBA/ARB undergraduate course and 30 pages) accompanied by a Applicants for Fourth Year who
only and is subject to current govern- CD/DVD of additional material if so have studied for Part 1 in the UK (or
ment legislation. desired. Upon signature of the appli- other countries using the same grading
cation form applicants certify that the system) must have gained at least a
Tuition Fee Loan work submitted is entirely their own. 2:2 in their Degree.
New AA students (2007/8 onwards) Plagiarism is unacceptable in the Overseas applicants are required
from the UK and EU are eligible for academic setting. Students are subject to have the recognised equivalent to
a Tuition Fee Loan (non-income to penalties including dismissal from the above examinations, such as the
assessed). For further up-to-date the programme if they commit an act International Baccalaureate, Abitur,
information students should go to the of plagiarism. etc, plus the required English language
student finance section of the website Applications and portfolios will qualification. Applicants without
www.direct.gov.uk bearing in mind be assessed by the admissions panel, conventional entry qualifications are
that the AA is a private institution and and applicants will be informed if they also considered, provided they are able
so not all this information applies. are invited to an interview at the AA. to provide acceptable alternatives.
New students who have been The interview takes the form of a
offered a place should apply to their discussion around the applicant’s English Language
LEA/SLC. Those transferring from range of interests and focuses on the Qualifications accepted: IELTS 6.5
other British schools must inform portfolio of work in architecture, the (academic), O level, GCSE, IGCSE,
their LEA/SLC. arts or related areas. Students are Cambridge Certificate of Advanced
strongly encouraged to visit the AA English Grade C, bilingual IB, SAT
Student Loans before applying. reading 550, and most High School
Student loans are available to home Students are admitted into the English language qualifications from
students, or those who have lived Undergraduate programme at any level Commonwealth countries. Please note
in the UK for three years prior to except the Fifth Year. Both school- we do not accept TOEFL.
embarking on higher education, for leavers and mature applicants with For applicants to Diploma School
living expenses. The SLC website is previous experience are encouraged to we can accept three years of study in
www.slc.co.uk take advantage of the wide range of a UK university instead of an English
At the present time EU students are possibilities offered within the school. language qualification, subject to
not eligible for student loans for living Scholarships are available for new conditions below. The AA reserves the
expenses, unless they have been First, Second and Fourth Year right to ask you to gain an appropriate
resident in the UK for three years prior applicants who demonstrate both level of English before you apply or are
to embarking on higher education. outstanding merit in their portfolio interviewed. The AA reserves the right
126
to make a place in the school must have the AA Intermediate

conditional on gaining a further Examination (RIBA/ARB Part 1)
English language qualification if or have gained exemption from
deemed necessary. A recognised RIBA/ARB Part 1. This can be gained
English language qualification is either by successful completion of
required by 31 August prior to entry Third Year at the AA for a period of
to the school. one academic year (three terms) as a
full-time student, or by applying
Portfolio Guidelines directly to the ARB for Part 1
Suggestions on preparing your exemption. Part 1 must be gained by
portfolio can be found online at: 31 August prior to entry to the school. G R AD UAT E A D M I S SI ON S
aaschool.ac.uk/admissions/ In order to be eligible for the
portfolioguidelines.shtm AA Diploma and the AA Final Application Procedure: Mandatory
Examination (RIBA/ARB Part 2), the Requirements
Entry to Foundation Course Fourth and Fifth Years (minimum six All applicants are required to complete
It is hoped that all applicants will terms) must be successfully completed an application form, accompanied by
include in their portfolios a good at the AA School. the appropriate registration fee and
selection of work that reveals their original evidence of qualifications and
individual interests and skills. Essays, Acceptance of Places the standard attained (copies will not
photographs, video, photos of 3d To accept a place, a completed signed be accepted). Academic and/or work
objects or self-generated projects can admission form and a one term non- references should also be provided.
all be included. Offers of admission refundable deposit must be received by With the exception of Histories
are based on evidence of motivation the Registrar’s Office by the due date & Theories, and in addition to the
as well as intellectual and practical stated on the admission form. previous requirements, applicants to
creative ability. all programmes are required to submit
Open Days a portfolio of design work (no larger
Entry to First Year Foundation/First Year – Monday than A4 format) showing a
Students applying for First Year are 12 November 2007 combination of both academic and
not necessarily expected to submit Fourth Year – Monday 29 October professional work (if applicable). All
an ‘architectural’ portfolio. The panel 2007, Thursday 10 January 2008 applicants are encouraged to attend a
particularly likes to see evidence of Further details will be available personal interview. All documentation
current interests and activities in the on the AA website closer to the dates. is to be provided in English. Upon
form of freehand sketches, drawings, Individual or group visits for those signature of the application form
essays or photographs. interested in applying can also be applicants certify that the work
arranged with advance notice. For submitted is entirely their own.
Entry to Second or Third Year further details please contact the Plagiarism is unacceptable in the
(Intermediate School) Undergraduate Admissions academic setting and incurs penalties
Students with previous architectural or Coordinator (see below). including dismissal from the
design experience may apply to enter programme.
the Intermediate School. They will be Applications
expected to submit a portfolio of their The AA does not belong to UCAS, English Language
work to date, including not only and all applicants must complete an Overseas students from non-English-
finished drawings but also sketches, AA application form. These forms can speaking countries will be asked to
photographs and independent interests. be downloaded from the website or are demonstrate their fluency in written
Evidence of full-time architectural available from the Registrar’s Office. and spoken English, and will be
study is essential. Students entering The closing date for applications is required to pass the IELTS academic
the Third Year must be registered for 14 January 2008 (application fee £30); examination with a grade of not less
a period of one academic year (three late applications will be accepted up to than 6.5, Cambridge Certificate of
terms) to be eligible to submit for 14 March 2008 (fee £60). Applications Advanced English Grade C or three
the AA Intermediate Examination made after this date will be accepted at years’ study in a UK university instead
(RIBA/ARB Part 1) through the school. the discretion of the AA School. of an English-language qualification,
subject to the conditions below.
Entry to Fourth Year Enquiries to: TOEFL is not accepted. The AA
Many students apply to enter the Alice Hudson, Registrar’s Office reserves the right to make a place in
Fourth Year from other schools after admissions@aaschool.ac.uk the school conditional on gaining a
completing Part I. Applicants wishing t +44 (0)20 7887 4051 further English language qualification
to enter the Diploma School to gain f +44 (0)20 7414 0779 if deemed necessary. Any student
the AA Final Examination (RIBA/ARB without the required IELTS grade (6.5
Part 2, the professional qualification), or above) must register in an English-
127
language school, and book and pass MArch 16-month course in Data Protection
the examination before 31 August Sustainable Environmental Design Upon registration in the school
prior to entry in the Autumn Term. Five-year professional architecture students will be required to sign a
degree (BArch/Diploma equivalent) statement consenting to the processing
of personal information by AA Inc in
AA Diploma in Building compliance with the requirements of
Conservation the Data Protection Act 1998. Data
This two-year part-time (day release) will only be disclosed internally to
course is open to students or members of the AA staff who need to
professionals with Part 2 (RIBA/ARB) know; and when required, to third
or equivalent recognised qualifications. parties outside the AA in accordance
Suitably qualified members of other with the Act. Data will not be
disciplines (e.g., surveyors, planners) provided to third parties for direct
may be considered. marketing purposes.
Q UALIFICATIONS
MPhil/PhD Plagiarism
MA 12-month courses in Candidates for MPhil/PhD research Plagiarism is treated as a very serious
Histories & Theories degrees are expected to have reached a offence and the AA School may impose
Housing & Urbanism level equivalent to that of an MA/MSc all or any of the following penalties on
Second Class or above Honours or MArch course and must show a student found guilty of it:
degree in architecture or a related evidence of previous experience in • expulsion from the school
discipline from a British university, their proposed areas of research. • suspension from registration at
or an overseas qualification of the school or from particular courses
equivalent standard (from a course Application Date for such period as it thinks fit
lasting not less than three years in a Students are asked to apply by • denial of credit or partial credit
university or educational institution 14 January 2008 (application fee £30). in any course or courses
of university rank). Late applications will be accepted • an official warning
up until 4 April 2008 (late fee £60).
MA 12-month course in Applications made after this date will Door Security Policy
Landscape Urbanism be accepted at the discretion of the From time to time it may be necessary
Professional degree or diploma in school. Enquiries to: to amend the AA’s normal open-door
architecture/ landscape architecture Graduate School Admissions policy for 36 Bedford Square. Entry
or urbanism. Registrar’s Office may be gained at these times by using
t +44 (0)20 7887 4067 the AA Membership swipe card or the
MSc 12-month course in f +44 (0)20 7414 0779 entry buzzer.
Sustainable Environmental Design gradinfo@aaschool.ac.uk
Professional degree or diploma in
architecture, engineering or other Graduate and Undergraduate
relevant disciplines. Assessment
Full information will be given in the
MSc 12-month course in Student Handbook 2007/08.
Emergent Technologies & Design
Professional degree or diploma in Equality
architecture, engineering, industrial/ The AA aims to create conditions to
product design or other relevant ensure that students are treated solely
disciplines. on the basis of their merits, abilities
and potential, regardless of their
MArch 16-month course in gender, colour, religious/political
Architecture and Urbanism beliefs, ethnic or national origin,
(Design Research Laboratory) disability, family background, age,
Five-year professional architecture sexual orientation or other irrelevant
degree (BArch/Diploma equivalent). distinction.
MArch 16-month course in Disability/Learning Difficulties

Emergent Technologies & Design The AA encourages all students,
Five-year professional degree or whatever the circumstances, to inform
diploma in architecture, engineering, the AA as soon as possible if support is
industrial/product design or other required. The information provided
relevant disciplines. will be used only to help and assist.
128
N OT ES
Director’s Office Unit 8 Kristine Mun PhD Programme

Director Eugene Han Christos Passas Academic
Brett Steele Chris Yoo Vasilis Stroumpakos Coordinator
Academic Head Unit 9 Visiting Staff & Simos Yannas
Michael Weinstock Christopher Pierce Workshop Programme Staff
Personal Assistant Christopher Consultants Lawrence Barth
Philip Hartstein Matthews Kristof Crolla Andrew Benjamin
Unit 10 Eugene Han Nicholas Bullock
Registrar’s Office Claudia Pasquero Chikara Inamura Mark Cousins
Registrar Marco Poletto Jorge Fiori
Marilyn Dyer Graduate Design: Hugo Hinsley
Assistant Registrar Diploma School Emtech Marina Lathouri
Belinda Flaherty Unit 2 Programme Rosa Schiano-Phan
Coordinator/ Anne Save de Directors Peter Sharratt
External Students Beaurecueil Michael Weinstock Teresa Stoppani
Administrative Franklin Lee Michael Hensel
Coordinator Unit 3 Programme Staff Professional
Sabrina Blakstad Pascal Schöning Achim Menges Practice
Admissions (Under- Rubens Azevedo Nikolaos Administrative
graduate)/VSP Julian Löffler Stathopoulos Coordinator
Coordinator Unit 5 George Jeronimidis Janie Price
Alice Hudson George L Legendre Juan Subercaseaux Professional
Admissions Unit 6 Practice Adviser
(Graduate)/ Christopher C M Graduate Design: Alastair Robertson
Summer School Lee Landscape Part I
Coordinator Sam Jacoby Urbanism Javier Castañón
Sandra Sanna Unit 7 Director Future Practice
Undergraduate Simon Beames Eva Castro Hugo Hinsley
School Kenneth Fraser Programme Staff
Administrative Unit 9 Lawrence Barth History & Theory
Coordinator Natasha Sandmeier Sandra Morris Studies
Antonia Loyd Monica De Marchi Eduardo Rico Administrative
Unit 10 Alfredo Ramirez Coordinator
AACP Carlos Villanueva Belinda Flaherty
Shumon Basar Brandt Histories & Programme
Unit 11 Theories Director
Foundation Shin Egashira Programme Mark Cousins
Miraj Ahmed Unit 12 Directors Programme Staff
Saskia Lewis Eva Castro Mark Cousins William Firebrace
Theo Lorenz Holger Kehne Marina Lathouri Brian Hatton
Unit 13 Programme Staff Marina Lathouri
First Year Oliver Domeisen Mark Campbell Dalibor Vesely
Valentin Bontjes Unit 14 Course Lecturers
van Beek Theo Lorenz Housing & Pedro Ignacio
David Greene Peter Staub Urbanism Alonso
Samantha Unit 15 Programme Pier Vittorio Aureli
Hardingham Francesca Hughes Director Shumon Basar
Nicholas Puckett Noam Andrews Jorge Fiori Paul Davies
Nathalie Unit 16 Programme Staff Christiane Fashek
Rozencwajg Steve Hardy Lawrence Barth George L Legendre
Martina Schäfer Jonas Lundberg Hugo Hinsley Frances Mikuriya
Nicholas Bullock Sandra Morris
Intermediate School Graduate School Kathryn Firth Martin Self
Unit 1 Administrative Dominic Papa Brett Steele
Marianne Mueller Coordinator Teresea Stoppani
Olaf Kneer Margaret Marshall Sustainable Simos Yannas
Yacira Blanco Administrative Environmental Teaching Assistants
Unit 2 Assistant/ Design Valeria Guzman-
Martin Self Conservation Programme Verri
Charles Walker Administrative Director Tania Lopez
Unit 3 Coordinator Simos Yannas Winkler
Nanette Jackowski Clement Chung Programme Staff
Ricardo de Ostos Klaus Bode Media Studies
Unit 4 Graduate Design: Ruchi Choudhary Programme
Mark Hemel DRL Werner Gaiser Director
Nate Kolbe Programme Raul Moura Eugene Han
Unit 5 Directors Rosa Schiano-Phan Programme Staff
Peter W Ferretto Yusuke Obuchi Sue Barr
Stefano Rabolli Patrik Schumacher Building Valentin Bontjes
Pansera Theodore Conservation van Beek
Unit 6 Spyropoulos Programme Monia De Marchi
Jonathan Dawes Tom Verebes Director Shin Egashira
Dagobert Bergmans Programme Staff Andrew Shepherd Trevor Flynn
Unit 7 Tom Barker Programme Staff Toni Kotnik
Markus Miessen Lawrence Friesen Judith Roebuck Zak Kyes
Matthew Murphy Hanif Kara David Heath Antoni Malinowski
130
Joel Newman Trystrem Smith Assistants

Nicholas Puckett Digital Prototyping Henderson
Anne Save de Jeroen van Ameijde Downing
Beaurecueil Hooke Park Sarah Franklin
Goswin Bruce Hunter-Inglis
Schwendinger Charles Corry Accounts Office
Vasilis Stroumpakos Wright Manager
Chris Sadd Steve Livett
Technical Studies Assistants
Administrative Association Fozia Munshi
Coordinator Secretary Lauren Harcourt
Belinda Flaherty Kathleen Formosa
Course Master Secretary’s Office Drawing Materials
Michael Weinstock Coordinator Shop
Programme Staff Cristian Sanchez Liz Griffiths
Javier Castañon Membership
Phil Cooper Liaison Facilities
Wolfgang Frese Micki Hawkes Management
Anderson Inge Membership Coordinator
Toni Kotnik Coordinator Anita Pfauntsch
Wolf Mangelsdorf Alex Lorente Assistant
John Noel Membership Office Coordinator
Nikolaos Assistant Peter Keiff
Stathopoulos Jenny Keiff Second Assistant/
Course Lecturers Maintenance &
Carolina Bartram AA Foundation Security
Simon Beames Secretary Lea Ketsawang
Ian Duncombe Marilyn Dyer Maintenance &
Randall Thomas Administrator Security
Simos Yannas Alex Lorente Colin Prendergast
Mohsen Zikri Leszek Skrzypiec
Exhibitions Facilities
Media Services Organiser Bogdan Swidzinski
Audiovisual Vanessa Norwood Sebastian Wyatt
Manager Coordinator &
Joel Newman Press Front of House
Audiovisual Simone Sagi Manager &
Assistant Assistant Outside Events
Joyita Raksit Lee Regan Bookings
Head of Computing Micki Hawkes
Julia Frazer Library Reception &
Computer Librarian Switchboard
Engineers Hinda Sklar Nicola Quinn
Mathew Bielecki Deputy Librarian Sandra Sanna
Timothy Ling Aileen Smith
David Hopkins Library Web Catering/Bar
Digital Platforms Developer Manager/Chef
Network & Edward Bottoms Pascal Babeau
Database Cataloguer Deputy
Michael Beatriz Flora Manager/Barman
Papapavlou Darko Calina
Computing Course Print Studio
Coordinator Print Studio
Achim Menges Manager/Editor
Photography AA Files
Sue Barr Thomas Weaver
Publications Editor
Digital Platforms Pamela Johnston
Designer Editor, Events List
Vasilis Stroumpakos Rosa Ainley
(on leave 2007/08) Editorial Assistant
Web Developer Clare Barrett
Aristos Art Director
Markogiannakis Zak Kyes
Content Editor Graphic Designer
Rosa Ainley Wayne Daly
Images & Videos
Joel Newman AA Publications
Joyita Raksit Marketing &
Distribution
Workshop Kirsten Morphet
Manager Marilyn Sparrow
Marcellus Letang
Technician Photo Library
Jon Cole Librarian
Model Making Valerie Bennett
131
The Prospectus is issued for guidance Academic Year 2007/08

only, and the AA reserves the right to
vary or omit all or any of the facilities, Introduction Week
tuition or activities described therein, 24 September to 28 September 2007
or amend in any substantial way any Autumn Term
of the facilities, tuition or activities for 1 October to 7 December 2007
which students may have enrolled. Spring Term
Students shall have no claim against 7 January to 14 March 2008
the AA in respect of any altercation Summer Term
made to the course. 14 April to 4 July 2008
The School is part of the Architectural

Association (Inc.), which is a company
limited by guarantee and a registered
charity. Company no. 171402. Charity
no. 311083. Registered Office as
below.
Reader Assistance Clause

AA Members wishing to request a
black and white and/or larger print
version of specific printed items can do
so by contacting Nicola Quinn (020
7887 4000/reception@aaschool.ac.uk),
or by accessing the AA website at
aaschool.net. For an audio recording
of AA Events List, please call 020
7887 4111.
The Prospectus is produced through

the AA Print Studio.
Editors
Pamela Johnston, Thomas Weaver
Editorial Assistants
Clare Barrett
Marilyn Sparrow
Aram Mooradian
Art Direction
Zak Kyes
Design
Matilda Plöjel
Wayne Daly
Printed by Dexter Graphics, England
Architectural Association
School of Architecture
36 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3ES
t + 44 (0)20 7887 4000
f + 44 (0)20 7414 0782
info@aascchool.ac.uk
aaschool.ac.uk

AA Prospectus 0708

Cargado por

Información del documento

Descripción original:

Derechos de autor

Formatos disponibles

Compartir este documento

Compartir o incrustar documentos

Opciones para compartir

¿Le pareció útil este documento?

¿Este contenido es inapropiado?

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

AA Prospectus 0708

Cargado por

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

PROSPECTUS

INTRO DUC TION R E SO URC E S & A D M I NI ST R AT I ON

The activities of the AA are organised into two distinct, yet

a part of our school community. Anyone interested in discovering

‘Slabs’, The Peak, Hong Kong,

S T UDEN T AWA RDS AND PRI ZES 2006/ 07

Henry Saxon Snell Scholarship William Glover Bequest

AA Travel Studentship Julia Wood Foundation Prize

Henry Florence Studentship Alex Stanhope Forbes Prize

AA Prize Alexander Memorial Travel Fund

Ralph Knott Memorial Fund Howard Colls Studentship

Dan Marks, Diploma Unit 16

The AA: Architecture & Communication acclaimed, collaborative Graduate Design

Selection of ‘little magazines’ from the forthcoming Clip/Stamp/Fold exhibition

Adam Caruso George Didi- Peter Saville Jan Mancuska

RE SE A RCH CLU ST ERS

PUBL ICATI ONS/ EX H IBI TI ON S

Photo Tim Brotherton

imagination are loaded with senses of time and

With climate change, the glasshouse effect and

Autumn Term During the first week of term, an intense video

04. Film Project: Wet and Dry

In addition to scheduled coursework there will

Valentin Bontjes van Beek trained as a carpenter in Germany

IN T ERME DIAT E UNI T 1

type of mineral architecture. The use of brick or

only pays homage to Albert Einstein, but also

intellectually. To this end, we will introduce

product of all involved both physically and

urban plots. Using narrative as a creative and

Nannette Jackowski and Ricardo de Ostos are principals of NaJa

and meaningful architecture. Our unit will pick up

Mark Hemel graduated from the Technical University in Delft

development of the International Style. Famous

INT ER MED IAT E U NI T 5

photograph of a hotel scene, each student will

Peter W Ferretto studied architecture at the University of

INT ER MEDIAT E UNI T 6

Using this analogy, the unit will travel to Tokyo,

Exquisite Corpse: Unnatural Composite

preservation and speculate on the composite urban

Markus Miessen is an architect and writer (studiomiessen.com).

Image: Partially demolished P&O building, London

Who, now, works on an architecture that is

Inter 7 has in recent years explored the circum-

as the basis for a digitally fertile site. These

Fabrication and Modelling

Representation and Information

IN T ERME D IAT E UNI T 9

is then sited. At this stage the limits are still ‘what

Union and the influx of knowledge and capital

DIP LOMA UNI T 2

city of São Paulo is planning to extend Niemeyer’s

Panoramic ensembles which are there by not

Pascal Schöning continues to work in fields related to architecture,

The form of the narrative is the content of its

last century) the hottest academic undertaking:

its growth, colossal developments have mush-

explore the philosophical, social, political and

reduction of iconic architectural form to banal

The Year & Location

New Iconic Portfolios

Although, through a process of insertion, we