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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
May 24

LEAD OUR BRAND-NEW PRACTICE SUPPORT PROGRAMME
May 24

HELP DEFINE THE FUTURE OF EQUITABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION
Feb 24

24/25 Admissions Open Evening – 6 March
Dec 23

2023 LSA GRADUATES WIN RIBA SILVER MEDAL AND COMMENDATION
Nov 23

STEFAN BOLLINGER APPOINTED AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Nov 23

STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Nov 23

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR OUR PART 2 MARCH FOR 2024/25
Nov 23

Open Evening – 7 December 2023
Oct 23

BOOK PART 4 NOW: SHORT COURSES – MODULAR LIFELONG LEARNING – FUTURE PRACTICE
Aug 23

IN MEMORIAM – PETER BUCHANAN
Jul 23

The LSA is Moving
Jun 23

Become a Critical Practice Tutor at the LSA for 2023/24
Jun 23

Become a Design Tutor at the LSA for 2023/24
Jun 23

Pathways: Exhibiting Forms
Jun 23

City as Campus: The Furniture Practice
Jun 23

Summer Show 2023: FLAARE Futures Workshop
Jun 23

Summer Show 2023: Meet Your Future Employer
Jun 23

Summer Show 2023: Close to Home
May 23

WE ARE SEEKING A NEW FINANCE MANAGER

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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.