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Apr 26

LSA International Field Trip 2026: Belgium
Apr 26

LSA Representation in the AJ Small Projects 2026 shortlist
Mar 26

LSA Student Placement with Ryder Architecture
Mar 26

Alumni Case Study: Elliott Wang
Feb 26

Open Evening 1 April 2026
Jan 26

Design For Life returns this February
Jan 26

Call for Abstracts: Learnings/Unlearnings Conference
Jan 26

Part 0 Lead wins at Inspire Future Generations Awards
Jan 26

Applications open for MArch in Designing Architecture
Jan 26

The University of the Built Environment appoints new Professors
Dec 25

Get to know Lee Ivett
Dec 25

Open Evening 20 January 2026
Dec 25

LSA faculty nominated for Inspire Future Generations Awards
Dec 25

Yang Yang Chen shortlisted for Young Talent award
Dec 25

LSA Part 0 co-leads shortlisted for Inspire Future Generations Awards
Dec 25

LSA tutor is RIBA House of the Year finalist
Nov 25

Lee Ivett Open Evening Speech
Nov 25

Hugh Strange Architects: House of the Year 2025 shortlist
Nov 25

Lee Ivett starts as Head of School
Oct 25

LSA tutor wins Young Architect of the Year 2025
Oct 25

Open Evening 19 November 2025
Oct 25

AJ Student Prize | Postgraduate Winner: Amy Wilkinson
Sep 25

Hugh Strange Architects Shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize 2025
Sep 25

‘Design for Life’ returns this November – Part 4
Aug 25

Lee Ivett appointed as Head of School at London School of Architecture
Aug 25

George Moldovan shortlisted for 2025 Structural Timber Awards
Jun 25

‘A Seat at the Table’ Summer Show 2025
Jun 25

University of the Built Environment
Jun 25

OPEN DAY 11 June 2025
May 25

Future Skills Think Tank
May 25

JOB OPPORTUNITY: HEAD OF SCHOOL
May 25

LSA and UCEM merge
Apr 25

Future Skills Think Tank
Apr 25

Festival of the Future
Feb 25

Sixty years on from the London County Council: legacy, impact, learning
Feb 25

Dr Neal Shasore stepping down as Head of School and Chief Executive of the London School of Architecture (LSA) in February 2025
Jan 25

PART 0 WINS INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS AWARD FOR FURTHER EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION
Jan 25

LSA AND PURCELL ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP
Jan 25

LUCY CARMICHAEL APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dec 24

PART 0 IS AN INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS (IFG) AWARDS FINALIST
Dec 24

WINTER EXHIBITION – WED 11 & THU 12 DEC: CURATED OPEN HOUSE, EXHIBITION AND OPEN EVENING FOR PART 1s
Nov 24

NEW ROLE: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE – FUTURE SKILLS THINK TANK
Sep 24

JOB OPPORTUNITY: MARKETING MANAGER
Sep 24

ATTEND THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION SYMPOSIUM 2024
Jul 24

SEE OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS’ WORK
Jul 24

JOB OPPORTUNITY: CRITICAL PRACTICE TUTOR
Jun 24

PlanBEE: Matching young people with work in the Capital
May 24

The Dalston Pavilion
May 24

LSA Graduate Exhibition 2024
May 24

British Empire Exhibition: Call for Participation

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Drawing Matter: ‘What were they trying to do here?’

Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine. Drawing model for a Music Room, c. 1803. (Copyright the architect)

In November, Niall Hobhouse, founder of Drawing Matter, presented ‘What were they trying to do here?’ at the LSA.

Niall, who was aided by Chair of the LSA’s academic court Nigel Coates, explored the different ways in which architects, over five centuries and several continents, have intended their drawings to be used or understood.

Niall and Nigel showed highlights from the DM archive – which is probably the largest private collection of architectural drawings in the world – to examine different stages of numerous projects, from concept to construction.

 

Mario Asprucci (1764–1804), A Design Possibly for the Napoleonic Cemetery in the Pineta Sachetti: plan and elevation, c. 1800. (Copyright the architect)

Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (1484–1546), Illustration to Vitruvius Book III, Chapter 2, c. 1530 – 1545. (Copyright the architect)

James Gowan (1923–2015), Housing for East Hanningfield: isometric, 1975 – 1978. (Copyright the architect)

Gabriel Pierre Martin Dumont (1720–1791), Garden design following the ground plan of St Peter’s, Rome, 1769. (Copyright the architect)

Bruce Goff (1904–1982), Proposed Dewlen House and Studios (‘Aparture’), Amarillo, Texas, 1956, ground plan of the second scheme, 1956. (Copyright the architect)

Michael Webb (*1937), Sin Centre: Escalators anterior and posterior, after 1961. (Copyright the architect)

Franz Heinrich Schwechten (1841–1924) Prussian Parliament Building. (Copyright the architect)

 

 

Niall is an art collector and writer on architectural and curatorial issues. He is currently a trustee of Drawing Matter and has served as trustee of: the Holburne Museum in Bath (and as chairman of their executive committee); the development trust of the National Museums of Liverpool; the Canadian Centre for Architecture; the Campaign for Museums; and the Sir John Soane’s Museum. He was formerly governor of the London School of Economics and chair of the advisory board for the LSE’s Cities Programme.

 

Image credits

The LSA gratefully acknowledges: Drawing Matter archive, all images.