Architectural Association School of Architecture in London Campuses

The Bedford Square Campus in London serves as the primary hub for the Architectural Association School of Architecture, offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs focused on innovative architectural design and theory. At the heart of the AA's educational philosophy, this campus hosts the Foundation Course, which introduces students to architectural thinking through hands-on projects and critical discourse.

• BA (Hons) in Architecture: A three-year undergraduate program emphasizing design studios, technical studies, and cultural context, preparing students for professional practice.
• MArch in Architecture: A two-year postgraduate degree building on foundational skills with advanced design research and specialization options.
• MA in Architectural History and Theory: Explores the evolution of architectural ideas, from modernism to contemporary global practices, through seminars and archival research.
• Special Project Studios: Intensive one-year programs in areas like sustainable design, urbanism, and digital fabrication, fostering experimental approaches.

Students engage in interdisciplinary collaborations, with access to state-of-the-art workshops for model-making, digital prototyping, and material experimentation. The curriculum integrates lectures by renowned architects and theorists, promoting a dialogue between historical precedents and future-oriented visions. Evening and weekend events, including public lectures and exhibitions, enrich the learning environment. This campus also supports PhD research in architectural design, history, and technology, with supervision from leading academics. Overall, the programs cultivate critical thinkers and innovative designers, emphasizing ethical and social responsibilities in architecture. With a diverse international cohort, the Bedford Square Campus embodies the AA's legacy of avant-garde education since 1847, encouraging bold experimentation and intellectual rigor in shaping built environments.

In addition to core degrees, elective modules cover emerging fields such as computational design, landscape architecture, and interior design, ensuring graduates are equipped for dynamic professional landscapes. The campus's central London location facilitates site visits, internships, and engagements with the architectural community, enhancing practical exposure.

Hooke Park Campus, the Architectural Association's 350-acre woodland site in Dorset, specializes in experimental and environmental architecture education, emphasizing hands-on, site-specific learning in natural settings. This remote campus complements the London programs by focusing on sustainable construction, timber technologies, and ecological design principles.

• Technical Studies Program: Integrates with main degrees, offering workshops on low-impact building techniques, using locally sourced materials like timber from the park's forests.
• Visiting School Programs: Short intensive courses on topics such as bio-based materials, off-grid structures, and regenerative design, attracting global participants for immersive field experiences.
• MA in Environmental and Technological Studies: A postgraduate pathway exploring advanced fabrication, energy-efficient systems, and climate-responsive architecture through prototyping in the woodland environment.
• PhD Research in Sustainable Architecture: Supports doctoral work on innovative construction methods, with access to experimental facilities for testing full-scale structures.

Students at Hooke Park engage in practical projects, such as designing and building prototypes using chainsaw milling and steam-bending techniques, fostering a deep understanding of material properties and environmental integration. The curriculum draws on the site's natural resources, promoting research into circular economies and biodiversity in architecture. Annual events like the Hooke Park Summer School bring together architects, engineers, and ecologists for collaborative workshops. This campus underscores the AA's commitment to pioneering low-carbon practices, with facilities including sawmills, drying kilns, and testing labs. Programs here encourage interdisciplinary approaches, blending architecture with forestry, engineering, and environmental science.

Hooke Park's isolation enhances focused, reflective learning, contrasting urban studio work in London. Graduates emerge with expertise in resilient, nature-integrated design, addressing global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. Since its establishment in 1967, the campus has been a laboratory for radical ideas, producing influential works in sustainable architecture and influencing international practices.