Architecture Window: Young Voices in Architecture

With the three-year micro-exhibition series Architecture Window at the Ronald and Rita McAulay Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts offers young architecture and design graduates a platform to present their work to the general public. The first micro-exhibition, entitled Crunch, will showcase work by 2023 graduates from various architecture and design schools. Their research, models and drawings will demonstrate the transformative potential of materials and fuse traditional craftsmanship with advanced digital technologies.

Experimental material palette

In response to concerns about extreme weather conditions and resource scarcity, the works are created from found materials and natural processes. The aim is to provoke new combinations of natural and man-made materials that can be used in different areas. This includes the work of master's graduate Yushen (Harry) Jia: as part of his research into salt as a building material, he has developed prototypes of materials coated with crystallized salt.

Architecture Window, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2024. Artwork: A Paper Architecture for Messy Hybrids, by Kai McLaughlin. © Royal Academy of Arts, London / Thomas Adank

Modular exhibition design 

For the exhibition series, London-based creative studio Unknown Works developed a large-format, modular structure with interchangeable shelves and external blinds that can be reconfigured for each micro-exhibition. The flexible structure can be reconfigured for three-dimensional models, two-dimensional works and films depending on the location.

View into the exhibition Architecture Window, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2024. © Royal Academy of Arts, London / Thomas Adank

New voices in architecture

This platform gives young architecture and design graduates the opportunity to exhibit their work, present new perspectives to the public and bring to light topics that are not yet discussed among established professionals. The concept creates new connections between design, the environment and culture. Crunch will be on display until June 2, 2024. Further dates in the exhibition series will follow.