AA
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http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/
The AA is, in its most basic architectural description, a space – of an entirely unique and valuable kind. We are entirely independent and autonomous as an institution, and democratically governed according to principles that were established at the time of our founding in the mid-nineteenth century. At that time, the profession of architecture – let alone the professional training and education of architects – had yet to appear in the forms we recognise today. The AA remains unlike any other architectural school, by virtue of its organisation, ambition and operation, its immense latitude and flexibility. As a venue for learning, it consistently sets, maintains and evolves standards that other schools worldwide seek to emulate.
As a school as well as an association formed by a worldwide membership of individuals committed to architectural learning and knowledge of all kinds, the AA has evolved in parallel with the realities that have shaped the architectural profession during the past 150 years. At the outset of a new century, the world is attempting to come to terms with the challenges posed by rampant globalisation, urbanisation and new technologies of communication. Today cultures of all kinds – including architectural cultures – are struggling to retain forms of difference, dialogue and exchange able to oppose and critically negotiate larger forces that otherwise seek to flatten our world and cultural forms. The stakes are immense, and architecture has an essential role to play in this task.
The AA isn’t just a space, of course. Within the world of architectural education, in many ways, including in our overwhelmingly international student body, we are unique. Within our location in the heart of London’s West End, at the centre of what is in turn the world’s most international and diverse city, the AA is but one of many institutions, offices and venues that make up a remarkable larger culture of architecture. Our greater goal at the AA is to continue to evolve and diversify our own internal architectural debates, discussions and exchanges – in part to allow us to continue to play a leading role in the architectural life of London, but also to help resist the growing homogenisation of architectural cultures worldwide. This is perhaps the key challenge we, like other architects, face in the coming years. At the AA we must assemble and evolve our own architectural space to create a school of significant architectural diversity, and so intelligence. Our unit agendas, course offerings, programme directions and cultural programme must all contribute to achieving this larger goal. Our plans this year take this task forward in important ways.