Architecture at the Royal College of Art

An intense and immersive architecture summer school offering a challenging and engaging programme of design studio experience, visits, expert talks and portfolio making.

The summer school will take place in-person at the RCA Kensington campus, with visits to sites around London to enable participants to use the city as its testing ground. The programme aims to stimulate design thinking, providing an informal platform for discussing art and architecture and their agency.

The short course is an ideal introduction to the studio teaching model at the RCA and will give participants an opportunity to experience the environment and methodologies of the MA programmes in the School of Architecture. The short course aims to push participants to develop their skills, supporting them to develop their portfolio.

Focused around design interventions, crossing disciplinary boundaries, students will work individually and in groups on different exercises during the week. The summer school fosters new encounters and international collaboration; each year we attract a global mix of participants from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.

The timetable includes:
-Design studio experience
-Site visits in London, guided by the course leaders
-Talks by guest speakers, academics and RCA graduates
-Briefings on studio assignments and Tutorials
-Portfolio making
-Collective discussions and research sessions
-Design experimentations
-The opportunity to present present a design proposal
-End of course celebration, with certificates of attendance

Projects are supported by course tutors and external contributors with a varied range of expertise.

Course leader

The 2024 summer school will be convened by Lemonot – Sabrina Morreale and Lorenzo Perri, who have an architecture practice and are tutors on the Architecture MA programme. Invited guest speakers and expert practitioners for 2024 to be announced soon.

Target group

This course is suitable for participants with some experience of a design discipline at undergraduate or recent graduate level, and is not suitable for beginners.

Whether you are interested in Master’s-level studies in spatial design at the RCA or seeking to change your career path, we welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds including product design, film making, interior architecture, urbanism and spatial planning, anthropology and fine arts.

You must be open to experiment with new mediums and methodologies and exchange ideas with the support of academic and professional experts.

Course aim

Experience the environment and methodologies of the MA programmes in the School of Architecture at the RCA.
Learn to research, observe and investigate.
Develop design proposals through a range of media (drawings, physical models and photography).
Experimental drawing and fieldwork techniques.
Document and present the design proposal for a portfolio.
Improve your verbal presentation skills.
Develop and receive feedback on a portfolio.
Certificate of attendance on completion.