Archinect - News

Royal College of Art launches CLIMAVORE x Jameel partnership with Cooking Sections for unique sustainability research

2023-04-04T17:12:00-04:00

A new three-year partnership between the Royal College of Art (RCA), nonprofit Community Jameel, and the London-based former Turner Prize nominees Cooking Sections has been announced by the institution in the hopes of using architecture as a tool to advance our knowledge of agriculture-related sustainability practices in the built environment.

The school’s new CLIMAVORE x Jameel partnership will focus on two projects which “reimagine how we eat as human activity changes the climate by developing new methodologies and enhancing policies around the globe.”

The initiative is being led by Cooking Sections co-founders Alon Schwabe and Daniel Fernández Pascual. The RCA says they will look to leverage “architectural and artistic investigative tools, education and action to advance ecological networks beyond current understandings of sustainability, and produce new knowledge around food and climate justice.”

Both projects will offer research fellowship opportunities to postgraduate students...

Royal College of Art establishes a new scholarship fund named for the late design visionary Virgil Abloh

2022-11-07T13:35:00-05:00

The Royal College of Art has recently unveiled a new scholarship named for its late visiting professor and designer, Virgil Abloh.

The £35,000 (about $40,000) RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship will cover the full tuition and fees for talented Black British students facing financial restrictions who are interested in studying any program at the London institution’s School of Design.

The scholarship also provides important networking and professional opportunities to students as supported by Abloh’s former creative partner Samuel Ross and additional parties in various creative industries across the UK.

Previously on Archinect: Virgil Abloh announces new $1 million scholarship fund for Black fashion students

An RCA press release indicated its intention to “recognize Abloh’s support for education, his career-long ethos of using his practice to create social change and his position as a renowned champion for equality of opportunity.”

The school also says the money will “help break down barrier...

Herzog & de Meuron's new Royal College of Art Battersea Campus opens to the public

2022-05-23T17:49:00-04:00

Big news today as Herzog & de Meuron’s anticipated expansion of the Royal College of Art has officially opened in the Battersea district of London.

Characterized by a fusion of seven separate facilities into one combined structure, the new £135 million ($169 million) complex entails the creation of new social and educational spaces for the Sculpture, Contemporary Art Practice, and Moving Image departments as well as for the RCA’s School of Design.

Photo: Iwan Baan, image courtesy Royal College of Art

The 15,500-square-meter (167,000-square-foot) campus also sought to aid the shift in the 185-year-old institution's postgraduate offerings towards a more strengthened set of STEAM programs, which is seen in the addition of a new tech-centric eight-story research center, robotics hangar, and a center for enterprise, entrepreneurship, incubation and business support called InnovationRCA.

Photo: Iwan Baan, image courtesy Royal College of Art

Writing in the Guardian today, critic Oliver Wain...

Celebrating Architecture: new film promotes diversity in architecture education and the profession at large

2018-07-03T18:22:00-04:00

Nearly 94% of British architects are white, despite 14% of the UK population being of a black and minority ethnic background. [...] Warren is featured [...] in a new film due to premiere at the Royal College of Art (RCA) this month. Celebrating Architecture, which aims to encourage diversity in the profession, will be accompanied by architecture workshops for around 80 pupils from communities under-represented in the profession.

The Celebrating Architecture initiative is co-lead by Venetia Wolfenden of the education and architecture consultancy Urban Learners together with design and technology school teacher, Neil Pinder. The film is scheduled to launch this month at London's Royal College of Art, hosted by The Architecture Foundation, in conjunction with two architecture workshop days for local children and teens from communities that have traditionally not been encouraged enough to pursue a career in architecture.

Adrian Lahoud selected to curate inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial

2018-05-11T13:32:00-04:00

Sharjah is looking to transform the discussion around urban life with its new initiative, the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, which has announced the curator for its inaugural exhibition. Adrian Lahoud, dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art in London and a researcher on Arab cities, will curate the new initiative’s flagship event, to be held in November 2019.

Research work of RCA Architecture Dean Adrian Lahoud focuses primarily on urban spatial forms and large scale environmental change, particularly in the Arab world and Africa, making him a qualified candidate to establish this new triennial program for Sharjah, Dubai's neighbor and third largest city in the United Arab Emirates.

"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to shape the inaugural edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial," Lahoud said, "and to find ways of supporting an emerging generation of architects, artists and scholars in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia."

Learn more about the Triennial here.

Herzog & de Meuron's $153 million Royal College of Art expansion receives council approval

2018-01-30T16:16:00-05:00

The Royal College of Art’s flagship new building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, has been granted planning permission by Wandsworth Council. The building is part of a £108m investment programme in the RCA – the most radical transformation of the institution’s campus in its 181-year history.

The RCA Battersea South Campus expansion will be the new home of the school's Arts & Humanities programs (Sculpture and Contemporary Art Practice), Design programs (Design Products, Fashion and Textiles), Global Innovation Design and Innovation Design Engineering (delivered jointly with Imperial College London), and new additional programs focusing on computer and material science, wearable technology, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent mobility.

The College expects work on the site to commence in spring 2018 and reach completion in April 2020, just in time for the 2020/21 academic year.

Previously on Archinect.

Royal College of Art submits Herzog & de Meuron's designs for its new Battersea South Campus to London city council

2017-11-03T13:43:00-04:00

The Royal College of Art (RCA) has submitted proposals to Wandsworth Council for a £108 million state-of-the art building for postgraduate students and entrepreneurs, which will secure the RCA’s future in Battersea and deliver new studios, workshops and incubator units required to support its future growth.

Exactly one year ago, Herzog & de Meuron was announced as the competition-winning architects for the Royal College of Art's new £108 million Battersea South campus. The project, sitting adjacent to RCA's existing Dyson, Woo and Sackler Buildings, reached another milestone this week with the College submitting the proposed designs to Wandsworth Council.

This week's picks for London architecture and design events

2017-01-30T14:57:00-05:00

This week is a chance to be inspired by the future, instead of getting caught up in the current climate. Talks and exhibitions focus on the potential found in the next generation of designers and of the possibilities created through new technology and new eyes, whilst exhibitions look at how we become who we are both personally and politically.

Check back regularly to keep up to date with London's latest happenings and our weekly recommendations!

Royal Gold Medal Week: Life by Design London | 3 February

Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre, Image: Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust

As part of the RIBA Gold Medal week, make sure you get to this inspiring talk from leaders in the design world. Chaired by BBC's Razia Iqbal, the speakers will introduce their careers and work to the audience, discussing their inspirations and paths taken on their design journey. The session promises to pass on advice and an exciting spark to the next generation of architects and designers.

Work in Progress...

Herzog & de Meuron will design Royal College of Art's Battersea campus

2016-11-11T18:02:00-05:00

The Swiss architects were deemed the “clear choice” for the £108m project over a competitive shortlist including Christian Kerez (Switzerland), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (US) Lacaton & Vassal (France), Robbrecht en Daem architecten (Belgium), Serie Architects (UK/Singapore), and Studio Gang (US).

As reported by Bustler: "Herzog & de Meuron's initial concept won the Architectural Selection Panel's favor with a clear organizational structure that demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the potential of the Battersea site, among other factors."

Check out H&dM's initial concept renderings below:

Royal College of Art announces Adrian Lahoud as new dean of architecture

2015-12-17T12:00:00-05:00

The Royal College of Art has announced the appointment of Dr Adrian Lahoud as Dean of the School of Architecture. Currently Head of the Architecture programme, Dr Lahoud joined the College in September 2015. Previously he led the MArch in Urban Design at The Bartlett, University College London. [...] The appointment represents the conclusion of an international search. Dr Lahoud will take up his new position in January 2016.