RCA students voice concern over new head of architecture
Alex de Rijke, Royal College of Art dean of architecture
Students demand meeting with dean Alex de Rijke over Charles Walker’s comments
Architecture students at the Royal College of Art are demanding a meeting with Alex de Rijke because of worries about the school’s new head of architecture Charles Walker.
The Canadian-born architect and structural engineer is due to start his three-day-a-week role in September.
Last week, along with Ab Rogers, the school’s new head of interior design, he shared a platform with de Rijke, the dean of the school, to spell out his vision for studies to around 100 students.
But students have told BD they are worried that he wants to abolish the studio system where students are taught in groups under studio tutors. One said: “He made some comments about theory being dead and when he was questioned later he couldn’t back up what he was saying. We’re just worried about his capability.”
In a statement, students said: “The student body is deeply concerned about the new head of architecture and the trajectory of the MA Architecture programme.
“We will be issuing a letter of concern that we hope will open a dialogue with the dean and the college.”
An RCA spokeswoman said it needed to find out more about the students’ concerns before it could comment further.
Last week BD reported that engineer Mark Whitby had forced the RCA into a climbdown over claims Walker made concerning his role in designing a bridge in Manchester when he was at Whitbybird.
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Readers' comments (10)
There used to be a time when students picked a school for it's radical thinking. This play it safe "i am sure to do well because it is the RCA" painting by numbers bilge is the sad reality that all the creative thought is not in architecture anymore.
I believe students will pick the RCA because of the staff skills. In a competitive marketplace, no one will get ahead by making supportable claims and by being unnecessarily honest.
In a situation in which students are paying a fortune to study architecture, it's simple logic that they also acquire great purchasing power. I applaud their intervention.
Iif building "one to one" is the only idea Alex and Charles can come up with, they should all be doing product design or sculpture.
At last someone is questioning the tyranny of the studio system. These students are worried that they won't know what tried and tested formula to follow, what drawings to mindlessly mimic from previous years, and that they won't have an individual tutor to concentrate their sucking up on.
There never seems to be anyhting interesting to write about outside of the London schools, RCA this, Bartlett that.... this glorification of these particular schools sheds a biast agenda to the promotion of London as being the hub of the best of the best in the UK! Tut Tut
So prove that it isn't.
...If theory in academia, followed through by praxis, is dead - what wil guide praxis? Architecture students should be exposed to the history of architecture and urban planning. A degree in psychology might also help, it could explain why so much time and effort is spent on producing nothing, or few things of value. If the Sthenian Greeks pursued a similar tact, as well as the Egytions, Indo - Chinese etc. we'd have nothing to teach at all. It's only several thousand years of history and culture. Is the 21st century about obfuscating everything that has preceded it?
Not sure what he really mentioned but Charles Walker is a well experienced practicioner and educator. I'm sure everyone would agree that RCA architecture students would benefit from that, judging by their last few years graduate works.
Judging by De Rjke's latest project, published with great fanfare by this magazine, we are heading for a resurgence of interest in the Banal.