Open Studio is an interactive project run by the School of Architecture + Cities at the University of Westminster to make its design, research and practice-based work available online while it is happening. The site acts as a real time teaching and learning environment in which the work of both students and staff is curated and documented – the work of its design studios, or its other teaching and research groups and workshops. Read more in Blog, follow us on Twitter and like us on Instagram.
WHEN: Thursday, 3rd of April 2025 at 6pm
WHERE: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
“Until it is built, all architecture is speculative fiction. As we contemplate the built worlds we will bring into being through our design work, this talk invites us to use methods of collective writing and making to learn from the speculative fiction authors who imagine alongside us.”
WHEN: Thursday, 27th of March 2025 at 6pm
WHERE: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
Based on research conducted for her book, No Compromise: the work of Florence Knoll (Princeton Architectural Press, 2021), this presentation will look at the work of this iconic American designer. Florence Knoll was one of the minds behind the iconic Knoll enterprise: a company which became well-known for the licensing and distribution of some of the most seminal furniture pieces of the twentieth century – including the Barcelona collection, by Mies van der Rohe; the Tulip Collection, by Eero Saarinen; and the Diamond Collection, by Harry Bertoia.
“My research looks at the role Knoll had in commissioning and overviewing the production of these pieces (alongside many other classics issued by the company during her tenure), while also looking at her other activities in the company: her contribution to the development of the company’s unique marketing profile, the creation of a highly innovative textile department, and, most importantly, the establishment of the Knoll Planning Unit, the interior design division that she ran, and through which she invented the infamous ‘Knoll look’.”
Dr Ana Araujo was trained as an architect and currently works in the fields of art curating, research and education. Her interests range across the fields of design, the visual arts, psychology, anthropology and gender studies. Ana also runs an online art gallery which is focused on the investigation of the feminine in art and culture. She is currently course director of the MA Interior Architecture and Design course at Birmingham City University.
When: Monday, 17th of March 2025 at 6pm
Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
In this lecture Professor Harry Charrington advocates for a more engaged history of architecture and place-making. He discusses some remarkable work in Helsinki and Kumasi, and introduces individuals with their own distinctive agency, showing that how they did things became what they achieved. He argues we need to share more stories like these if we are to develop a praxis capable of addressing the complexity of the living world. This is largely a task of recovery; these stories already exist as tacit knowledge in our day-to-day practices. Reflecting on over thirty years of practice, teaching, and research, and utilising archival material and oral histories, Charrington suggests how we might restore them to history – i.e. to humanity.
The event will be followed by a drinks reception – to close at 20:30.
When: Monday, 24th of March 2025 at 4pm
Where: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
Prof Jim Coleman is head of Economic Advisory at WSP and also a professor of professional practice in the School of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster. For many years Jim has advised both public and private sector organisations – in the UK and internationally – on the economics of large-scale spatial planning and real estate projects. This includes developing strategies to maximise both economic and social impacts of development and to adjust development programmes and phasing to better reflect a balance of commercial, financial and wider social interests. Jim will draw upon his professional experience to provide insights into how spatial and real estate plans can be shaped to address multiple priorities, as well as reflecting on emerging approaches to creating and measuring social value through development.
ALL ARE WELCOME
WHEN: Thursday, 13th of March 2025 at 6pm
WHERE: M416 (Robin Evans Room), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS
CJ Lim and Luke Angers lecture will be based on their recent book, Dreams + Disillusions:
“Dreams + Disillusions explores the plethora of ideas and ideologies that have shaped and reshaped architecture and cities. Its research fluctuates between the world of concrete reality and the multiple universes that exist in lucid prose, poetic visions, and the outrageous imaginations of history’s (in)famous minds. The six chapters reveal architectural stories of urban lives, gender equality, spatial and social justice; exploring how dreams, whether shaped by circumstance, manipulation, or planned perfection, dreams can sometimes be left disillusioned. With 18 illustrated speculative case studies and over 150 drawings, the book presents an abundance of curious imaginings, diverse provocations and satirical criticism.”
Copies of the book will be available for purchase after the lecture at a discounted price of £20 each (cash only).
CJ Lim is the Professor of Architecture & Urbanism at the Bartlett, UCL. Continuing his passion for architectural storytelling, Dreams + Disillusions is his 12th authored book, and has claimed the number one spot on Routledge’s 2024 Annual Bestsellers List, making it his 6th book to achieve this distinction.
Luke Angers is an architect and author. He has a long-standing interest in the spatial narratives of urbanism and landscape.
“Having now qualified as an architect, I have chosen to specialise in the architecture of reuse and retrofit, aligning with my interest in low-tech, low-carbon, and community-focused contextual development. I recently spent a year on the main contractor side, and my broadened understanding of delivery and construction has made me question the industry’s route to becoming an architect.
My construction role gave me invaluable insight into the unpredictable challenges arising during strip-out, detailed design, and construction – challenges that inevitably impact early concepts and designs. This move, albeit frowned upon by some in the architecture profession, has given me a layered perspective on how buildings are deconstructed and reassembled in retrofit projects, exposing me to many of the realities faced by non-architects within the industry.
I believe that if more architects undertook this type of work placement, it would benefit both architectural practice and the wider construction industry.”
To access the article in full please visit here.
When: From 7th of July to 20th of July 2025
Where: Hanoi, Vietnam
AAVS Hanoi is a two-week research programme that explores the concept of experimental preservation within the unique and rapidly evolving built environment of Hanoi, Vietnam. In response to the relentless pace of urban regeneration and localised informal (de)construction practices that continually reshape the city’s fabric, the programme seeks to address these dynamic changes by focusing on the digital documentation of overlooked 20th-century architectural artifacts, particularly those at risk of being forgotten or erased. By tapping into Hanoi’s distinctive context, the programme also delves into the material culture and urban narratives surrounding these architectural relics.
Using digital tools and advanced research methods, participants will capture, analyse and preserve these architectural elements, highlighting their historical, cultural and sociopolitical significance. The programme critically examines how these artifacts have contributed to Hanoi’s organic development, revealing the underlying forces shaping the city’s informal forms of living, working and playing. By connecting the past and present through experimental preservation, the programme aims to foster a deeper understanding of how urban spaces evolve in response to both external pressures and community-driven forces. From these findings, we aim to establish a discourse on what constitutes Hanoi’s heritage and how it can be sustainably preserved for the future.
The research will be conducted in collaboration with several universities, institutions, curators and practicing architectural offices, providing a robust academic framework that includes lectures on the history and design of 20th-century Vietnamese architecture. This theoretical foundation will be complemented by office visits and hands-on workshops focused on 3D scanning, photogrammetry, filmmaking, and in-depth discussions on topics such as multiple modernities and experimental preservation. Students will work collaboratively, supported by personalised tutorials and review sessions. The project will culminate in the production of short narrated films, which will be publicly screened and exhibited.
For more information, please visit here.
Scott Batty, Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture + Cities, has been shortlisted for the RIBA East regional awards for his project 1970s House Retrofit. Batty worked with visiting consultant Structural Engineers Dave Rayment and Henry Burling (Consultants for Year 3 BArch + MArch 2).
Rosa Schiano-Phan and her student Negin Esmailzadehhanjani (MSc in Architecture and Environmental Design) carried out a study of the project’s environmental performance.
Expertise in sustainable water strategies and low-carbon technology was provided by Cath Hassell, ech2o consultants, who is also a regular visiting consultant for Year3BArch + MArch2.
The project was the principle case study for Batty’s Research Folio as part of REF2021.
Featured Image: Siobhan Doran Photography
