Its all been happening this week…

Friday - Bartlett [UCL] degree show opening. Didn’t realise that so many people attended. It was difficult to see the whole of the exhibition due to it being so busy but I managed to get round a few units. The standard of work was incredible and probably some of the best examples that I have seen so far. Should be going back again this week to have another look and pick up the book.

Saturday - Started the day of at an exhibition by Bath students in some underground space by Waterloo station. A lot of the work was impressive, expecially the visualisations and renders. I liked the way that students were not affraid of making models with the not so glamorous materials. I think one of the main reasons why Bath stood out was because the drawings were ‘nice’, but also the projects had an inherent rationality about them - no floating skin factories made of clouds.

Went on to the AA [Architectural Association] for the first time. First impression - nothing of the wow factor that I expected. The work was very clinical with the cost of materials etc making things look impressive rather than the work itself. There were a few units that I could say appreciated, with high quality drawings representing clever projects.  

The RCA was the next stop. I remember last year was amazing, this year…wasn’t really happening. I don’t know where the obsession with gold has come from but it was the most apparent at the RCA. There were some nice little models as well as informative drawings but when you start making monopoly boards and presenting your drawings in a filing cabinet then… just no.

I’ve kept it brief but overall there were many skills on show that I am very jealous of. Some of it was borderline pretentious, some it raised eyebrows, but at the end of the day the work was better than what I can do.

Got another Brighton show on tuesday after a private viewing at the RA tomorrow. Should be good.