Art & Culture
London Festival of Architecture: discover the architects of tomorrow at UEL
At UEL’s peaceful campus, the work of over 450 students is on display until Sunday as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
The university’s annual Architecture and Design Showcase at Royal Albert Dock brings together the work of students at all levels. This is a deeply tangible show with making at its heart. More than the drawings or diagrams, visitors will find themselves drawn in by the dioramas and prototypes. These express answers to questions like, “What happens to a sense of belonging in the context of mass tourism?” or “How can high-density rental accommodation in London foster community?”
Starting with small-scale kiosks and isolated buildings in the first-year exhibits, the models escalate in complexity and scale, until fourth and fifth years are tackling high streets, cities, even river basins.
Carl Callaghan, the head of architecture and visual arts, paid tribute to his students’ progress, “This exhibition is a celebration of the drawings and models of the students, but it’s more a celebration of their creative, intellectual journey. It witnesses the change they’ve made, often from very tentative young designers to incredibly confident designers who you can’t shut up. It’s this incredible blossoming of talent, and that’s what we’re trying to capture.”
UEL’s Docklands campus, he explained, provides a rare opportunity for students from different disciplines to share skills, facilities, and perspectives. “In this building, we’re one of the few places in London where you’ve got artists, architects, designers, landscape, art, textiles, fashion in one building.” The university is also harnessing the area’s links with business, and building relationships with academic institutions across the world, “The vision of the Royal Docks is about entrepreneurship, so you’re connecting with industry.”
Optowall (right)
On the right is a prototype of the Optowall installation, which you can find on display on Sunday.
This exhibition is a celebration of the drawings and models of the students, but it’s more a celebration of their creative, intellectual journey.
Carl Callaghan, head of architecture and visual arts at UEL
Here at UEL, young architects and designers are on the cutting edge of making and re-making the city. As the London Festival of Architecture draws to a close this weekend, this showcase of their work provides a glimpse of what the future of architecture might look like.
