Teachers' resource: Explore skylines through the V&A and RIBA Architecture collections

Lino print based on London buildings by a student at Park View Academy

Key Stage 3-5 Art & Design

Why exploring skylines?

50% of the world's population currently live in cities; urban design and architecture impact on both the look of cities and also the quality of life within cities. This resource focuses on city skylines and explores how individual buildings, their design, structure and materials, combined create an important aspect of a city's visual identity: its skyline. The resource asks students to explore a range of drawing approaches, discuss their views on historical and contemporary architecture and think about what they would like cities to look like in the future. It investigates drawings models and fragments of buildings from the V&A's and RIBA's unique architecture collections. It identifies key designers and historical events that have influenced the design of London's skyline and considers what factors make some skylines more distinctive than others.

Learning objectives

Students will:

Curriculum areas covered

Key Stage 3 Art & Design Programmes of Study key concepts:

Key processes:

• Explore and develop ideas using sketchbooks, journals and other appropriate strategies.
• Use research and investigative skills appropriate to art, craft and design.

Range and content:

• Exploration of media, processes and techniques in 2D, 3D and new technologies
• Study of a range of artefacts from contemporary, historical, personal and cultural contexts

Curriculum opportunties:

• Explore areas that are new to them, including ideas, techniques and processes
• Respond to the school's location and local cultural influences

Key Stage 4 GCSE coursework assessment objectives:

• Collecting information and recording ideas
• Analysing artefacts/ the work of artists, designers and crafts persons
• Developing and modifying ideas/ experimenting with media
• Creating a personal response/ outcome

Sir Christopher Wren by Edward Pearce, 1700s, © RIBA Library Drawings Collection, www.ribapix.com

St Pauls Cathedral © Joe Low/RIBA Library Photographs Collection, www.ribapix.com

Sir Norman Foster, 1980s © RIBA Library Photographs Collection, www.ribapix.com

30 St Mary Axe (volumetric model), Foster & Partners, built 2001-3, lent by Foster & Partners, V&A: LOAN:FOSTER.1-2003

Panorama of London, Henry William Brewer, 1898, © RIBA Library Drawings Collection, www.ribapix.com

Suggested development for St Paul’s area, Joseph Emberton, 1946 © RIBA Library Drawings Collection, www.ribapix.com

Charles Holden and William Holford, Designs for Post-War London, 1945-55 © RIBA Library Drawings Collection, www.ribapix.com

30 St Mary Axe, Foster & Partners, © Pawel Libera/RIBA Library Photographs

Proposal for DIFA Tower, 2005 © Kohn Pederson Fox and Cityscape

   

About skylines

What is a skyline?
A skyline is the outline formed by the profile of a collection of buildings against the sky on the horizon. Skylines can be a key distinguishing feature as each city or town is different. The outline shape of some buildings has become iconic as they have become universally recognised and contribute towards the identity of a place.

Who designs skylines?
Architects design buildings. The style of buildings they create contribute towards the 'look' and identity of our cities and places.

One architect who has had a particular influence on London's skyline was Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723) over 400 years ago. His classical design for London's St Paul's Cathedral, completed in 1708, had, and still has, a considerable impact on London's skyline. He also designed 52 churches.

Wren's influence lasted well into the 19th century and can be seen in many English cities and towns, as well as abroad.Most of Wren's work was constructed in silvery-grey Portland stone. The combination of red brick and stone and small round windows became the hallmark of late 17th-century English Baroque architecture.

Wren's architectural style was influenced by Inigo Jones (1573–1652) and Andrea Palladio (1508–80). Jones is regarded as the first significant English architect, and the first to bring the classical style from Italy which brought English Renaissance architecture to maturity. Palladio is one of the greatest Italian architects and considered the most influential architect in the history of Western architecture.

Sir Norman Foster's (1935–) contemporary design for the Gherkin, completed in 2004, has transformed the 'look' and identity of London's skyline. Foster has contributed some of the most iconic buildings in city centres all over the world including the reconstruction of the Reichstag in Berlin, the Great Court at The British Museum, and the Millennium Bridge in London. Foster was a pioneer of open-plan landmark office buildings. His early influences were Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. He collaborates with engineers to produce eye-catching high-tech, modern structures.

How has London's skyline changed over time?
The Great Fire of London in 1666 provided Wren with the opportunity to masterplan the rebuilding of the City of London. Though his utopian vision was rejected he found scope for expression and invention in the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral whose dome is one of the largest and most majestic in the world. Following the Great Fire a surge of rebuilding took place using fireproof materials such as brick and stone, combined with more rigorous planning guidelines. This also led to the creation of 52 churches built under Wren's design. The shapes and forms of these church spires as well as the colossal dome belonging to his greatest work, St Paul's Cathedral, soon dominated the London skyline.

For nearly 400 years, up until the mid 20th century, London's skyline was characterised by Wren's iconic architecture. To acknowledge this the commemorative plaque marking Sir Christopher Wren's burial site in St  Paul's Cathedral, London reads 'If you seek his monument, look around.'

All this was to dramatically change when, following the extensive bombing during World War II (1939–45), London was re-built once again. St Paul's survived but the sourrounding area was heavily damaged. A photograph of St Paul's Cathedral taken duiring the Blitz became a powerful propaganda image symbolising the spirit of the nation overcoming destruction.

Post-war developments during the 1950s and 1960s led to the emergence of a new variety of Modernist shapes, styles and influences setting a fresh precedent for architecture and London's skyline.

Architects Charles Holden (1876–1960), William Holford (1907–75), and Joseph Emberton (1889–1956), proposed some ideas for new developments around St Paul's. However, due to strong public opposition their designs were never realised.

During the latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries, glass, steel and concrete structures came to dominate the stone steeples of Wren's time. Changes in designing techniques such as the use of computer aided design (CAD) combined with changes in building and engineering techniques such as pre-fabrication, and the use of new materials such as reinforced concrete, steel-frames and glass, meant buildings could be built taller, and faster. Before long, Wren's characteristic skyline became submerged forever.

Expanding sources of wealth have developed new styles of landmark buildings in cities all around the world, seeking to demonstrate status, individuality and creativity through their shapes, structures, materials and details. Increasing land values, competitive global markets, rising populations and alterations to planning guidelines have led to a change of ownership and use from the dominance of the church. High-density, high-tech and ever taller structures are being developed for a greater variety of functions: work; trade; leisure; governance; and housing.

Architect Sir Norman Foster's radical glass and steel design for the office building 30, St Mary Axe, nicknamed 'the Gherkin', has become a highly visible iconic feature of London's skyline. He said, 'I love that I still get unexpected views of it [the Gherkin] from all over London, and unexpected reflections of other buildings in its walls,' (BBC News Online, 2004).

Are these changes to city skylines for better or for worse?
The impact of these changes can be positive as well as negative and need to be carefully managed. A range of organisations exist to review any proposed developments and represent the interests of the local population and users as well as the designers and developers. Heritage sites and historic buildings throw up issues of preservation versus progress.. The impact of a design on a local community and the surrounding environment needs to be considered. In addition some views and vistas need to be protected. St Paul's Cathedral currently has eight protected views from specific locations in the north, south and west of London.

How have skylines been explored through drawing?

Artists and architects have captured city skylines for centuries using different media and for a range of purposes. An image of a skyline might include people, it might be a composite of images, imaginary or abstract. The content may represent the local environment or celebrate the work of one architect such as Charles Cockerell's 'A Tribute to Sir Christopher Wren'.

Sources may be from one place or from many such as Charles Cockerell's composition 'The Most Famous Buildings of the World'.

Sleek Tower and Verandah Tower by Peter Cook, 1984 © RIBA Library Drawings Collection

Monte Carlo Camp Archigram, 1961 © V&A Images

Architects use drawing to research, visualise and present their ideas to a client. These might be accurate representations or more fantastical aspirations for a futuristic or imaginary vision.

Before digital technologies, traditional media such as drawing and painting were used for three-dimensional views and elevations.

Before cameras, a series of on-site preliminary sketches would be made when developing a composition or detailed work.

Like building design, drawing approaches are influenced by popular fashion. For example, both Peter Cook's proposed 'Sleek Tower' for Brisbane, and Archigram's designs for an entertainment facility in Monte Carlo, use bold flat colours and graphic lines, relecting 1960's Pop Art and 1970's styling.

Nowadays, computers can be used to render drawings so they look completely life-like. They can be manipulated to reflect different times of day.

Go to the Exploring Skylines Study Room Resource to find out more about these drawings.

At school/college

Here are some suggestions for activities you can do at school. See also the ideas for activities at the Museum to see to what outcomes these could lead. See the Case Studies to find out how other schools have used this resource.

Introduce skylines

Introduce key concepts and ideas related to buildings, cities and skylines.

Explore skylines

Explore skylines in your local area, explore a city skyline or explore different places online.

Create skylines

Create fantasy buildings, a new skyline for London or for an imaginary city of the future.

Consider a variety of sources of inspiration for your skyline composition:

Consider a range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques. Reference the drawings displayed in the Exploring Skylines Study Room Resource

• Drawing - pencil, charcoal, pastel
• Painting - watercolour, acrylic, oil
• Print - relief, lino, screen, etching, lithographic
• Collage - paper, photomontage, ephemera, magazine/newspaper cuttings
• Photography - image manipulation, photomontage
• Sculpture - ceramic, wire, recycled materials, found objects, papier-mâché

Discuss different approaches:

• Figurative
• Abstract
• Montage
• Imaginary
• Ruin

Exploring skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

  Exploring Skylines DesignLab workshop at the V&A

• 

  Photograph of schools' creating skylines

  Photograph of schools' creating skylines

At the Museum

There are three main areas where students can explore skylines through the V&A and RIBA architecture collections at the V&A:

• the Cast Courts
• the Prints and Drawings Study Room
• the Architecture gallery

Activity sheets for students can be downloaded below for each of these areas of the Museum. All the activities take approximately one hour to complete. In addition; suggestions have been made for exploring other areas of the V&A collections.

Exploring skylines in the Cast Court

Room 46a

The Cast Court is like a built-up city full of life-size fragments of Classical, Renaissance and Gothic buildings, monuments, statues and details from Northern Europe, Italy and Spain.

Remember to print out the activity sheets before you visit.

These activity sheets include observation and recording activities exploring architectural fragments using a range of drawing approaches.

Download Cast Court teacher's information sheet (PDF file, 185 KB)

Download Cast Court student activity sheet (PDF file, 101 KB)

Download Cast Court student extension activity sheet (PDF file, 32 KB)

Students look for ideas and inspiration for a fantasy vision of an architectural skyline they can create back at school.

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

• 

  Exploring skylines in the Cast Courts

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the Cast Court

Exploring skylines in the Architecture gallery

Room 128

There are over 400 architectural models in the V&A and RIBA collections of which 55 are displayed in the Architecture gallery. These are of a variety of types of buildings. The models are a miniature three-dimensional representation of a building and are made by architects to communicate their design ideas to a client.

Students should imagine they have been asked to design a new city based on the buildings displayed in the Architecture gallery. Ask them to select and sketch a series of models and create a unique city skyline.

Remember to print out the activity sheets and notes before you visit.

These activity sheets include observational drawing activities exploring architectural models.

Download Architecture gallery teacher's information sheet (PDF file, 148 KB)

Download Architecture gallery student activity sheet (PDF file, 60 KB)

Download Architecture gallery student extension sheet(PDF file, 33 KB)

Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery.

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

• 

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

  Drawings by schools who have explored skylines in the V&A+RIBA Architecture gallery

Exploring skylines in the Prints & Drawings Study Room

Level 4 Henry Cole Wing

The Exploring Skylines Study Room Resource contains a selection of original architects' drawings from the V&A's and RIBA's Architecture collections by eminent artists, individual architects and architectural practices such as Piranesi, Wren, and Archigram, that explore iconic buildings and city skylines from the 17th century to the 1980s. The highlight is Charles Cockerell's magnificent cityscape painting 'A Tribute to the memory of Sir Christopher Wren'. Taken together, the drawings demonstrate a range of approaches for recording, describing and imagining cityscapes.

To prepare for this visit look at the Exploring Skylines Study Room Resource for images of the drawings you will see in the Prints and Drawings Study Room. Print out the information and teachers notes.

On the visit students will investigate a range of techniques and approaches used for visualising buildings and places including drawing, collage, watercolour, printing, and photomontage. They will have an opportunity to discuss their views on historical and contemporary architecture and think about what they would like cities to look like. The examples highlight key designers and historical events that have influenced the design of London's skyline and students consider what factors make some skylines more distinctive than others.

These activity sheets include observation, analysis and discussion activities exploring a range of drawing techniques.

Download Study Room teacher notes (PDF file, 47 KB)

Download Study Room teacher notes (WORD file, 52 KB)

Download Study Room student activity sheet (PDF file, 39 KB)

Download Study Room student activity sheet (WORD file, 49 KB)

Remember to print out the notes and activity sheets before you visit.

When you book make sure you ask to see the Exploring Skylines Study Room Resource. The drawings will be laid out for you on arrival.

Exploring skylines in other areas of the V&A

There are over one million architectural fragments in the museum. These are actual parts of buildings that may have been demolished or they may have been collected because they demonstrate a particular style, use of materials, practice, culture or special aspect of a building. They range from stone capitals, mosaic friezes, gates, grilles and columns to linen-fold panelling and statues.

Search for patterns, shapes and details of architectural fragments. Use them as inspiration for creating interesting buildings for an imaginary skyline back at school.

Asia

Rooms 41, 42, 44, 47a-c

For more information and images, visit the Asia subject hub.

Ironwork

Rooms 113-114e

For more information and images, visit the Ironwork subject hub.

Case studies

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Glazed ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

  Glazed ceramic tiles inspired by objects drawn in the Cast Court at the V&A by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Glazed ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

  Glazed ceramic tiles inspired by objects drawn in the Cast Court at the V&A by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Glazed ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

  Glazed ceramic tiles inspired by objects drawn in the Cast Court at the V&A by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Glazed ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

  Glazed ceramic tiles inspired by objects drawn in the Cast Court at the V&A by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints based on London buildings by students at Park View Academy

• 

  Lino prints & ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

  Lino prints & ceramic tiles by students at Park View Academy

Feedback and follow-up

'The benefits the students gained from the initial workshop were multiple. I wanted them to use the Museum's resources to look at our skyline and surroundings with a different viewpoint. We found visiting the Museum as a starting point a valuable exercise which enabled the students to develop their studies with a greater understanding. These activities could be developed with any type of media and with a younger age group.'

Teacher

Haggerston School

Design brief
Who:  Haggerston School
Where: Hackney, London
Age: Year 8 
Subject focus: Art & Design
Brief: 'Our London'. Students were introduced to a range of drawing techniques and were asked to create a series of studies exploring different views of their local built environment. The outcomes were collated into individual hand made sketchbooks.
Timeframe: 1 term

Ideas and inspiration
Students visited the V&A and attended a DesignLab Exploring Skylines one day workshop. Back at school they studied the local area and researched the work of the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Many of the students' designs for dream homes were inspired by the architectural drawings and models they saw on their visit to the V&A.

Methods and materials
The students created designs for structures inspired by organic forms such as fruit and vegetables. They created mixed media collages inspired by the work of Hundertwasser. They then designed and annotated their own ideas for dream homes. Using mixed media, students responded to the local built environment of Hackney.

Outcomes
Organic structures inspired by organic forms, mixed media collages inspired by the work of Hundertwasse,  designs for dream homes inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A and 'Our London' mixed media studies showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, all by students at Haggerston School.

• 

  Organic structures

  Inspired by organic forms by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Organic structures

  Inspired by organic forms by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Organic structures

  Inspired by organic forms by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Organic structures

  Inspired by organic forms by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Mixed media collage

  Inspired by the work of Hundertwasser by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Mixed media collage

  Inspired by the work of Hundertwasser by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Design for a dream home

  Inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Design for a dream home

  Inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Design for a dream home

  Inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Design for a dream home

  Inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

• 

  Design for a dream home

  Inspired by the architectural drawings and models at the V&A by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

• 

  ‘Our London’ mixed media studies

  Showing views from home of the local area of Hackney, by students at Haggerston School

'This project enabled the students to develop a wide variety of skills and experiment with different media. Most of the students had never visited a gallery or museum before. With this in mind, I felt that the project extended not only pupils' learning of practical techniques, but more generically facilitated ways of seeing and using a gallery and its artefacts to access purposeful expression of their artistic creativity.'

Teacher

Norlington School for Boys

Design brief
Who: Norlington School for Boys
Where: Waltham Forest, London
Age: Year 10
Subject focus: Design and Technology
Brief: Using Google SketchUp students created ideas for design improvements to local buildings.
Timeframe: 3 weeks

Ideas and inspiration
The teacher attended a one day DesignLab Exploring Skylines workshop with a group of Year 9 students. He then used the Exploring Skylines online resources to introduce the concepts to new group of Year 10 students. The class discussed the changing face of London's skyline and explored different styles of building and materials. They looked at different types of structures, bridges, and old and new methods of construction.

Methods and materials
As a starter activity the students were asked to draw their own composition of the London skyline including St Paul's Cathedral as the main focal point using geometric shapes. They were then asked to design and make, working in small groups, a building for the bank of the river Thames using paper straws. After that the students were asked to choose a building in the local area and give it a make-over. They wrote a specification for their design proposal, critiqued each others' ideas and considered the following issues: relevance to the community; practicality; and design. They used the freeware computer software Google SketchUp to design their final buildings. The students went on to superimpose their designs onto a street scene.

• 

  Design for a building for the bank of the river Thames

  By students at Norlington School

• 

  Luxury house

  Designs for improving local buildings by students at Norlington School

• 

  Mosque equipped with helipad

  Designs for improving local buildings by students at Norlington School

• 

  Designs for improving local buildings

  By students at Norlington School

• 

  Community Centre

  Designs for improving local buildings by students at Norlington School

• 

  Designs for improving local buildings

  By students at Norlington School

One of the main benefits that came out of our trip to the V&A was the cross-curricular links it opened up for us to other subjects: art; history; science; and geography. The workshop was inspirational because it criss-crossed seamlessly from one subject to the other in a way that makes it intriguing and fun to be a part of, whilst learning and exploring the City of London's heritage. I did not imagine that I would walk out of there with this rich source of information. Because of it, we are currently in the process of modifying existing schemes of work to accommodate some of what we learnt from our visit.'

Teacher

'This has given me and my peers a broader perspective on architecture in our environment. Overall it's taught me how to look at the world through an architect's eyes.'

Student

'It's got me looking at architecture from a different perspective. I've learnt about the London skyline and scale in drawings, I also learnt about different buildings and who designed them. It's made me more confident when I draw.'

Student

'I feel that old buildings are a spectacular means of preserving the art and Renaissance of prior eras. I feel that they are antiques that represent the materials and endeavours of those creative minds of history.'

Student

More information

Images

Additional photographs and drawings from the RIBA Library Drawings Collection and RIBA Library Photographs Collection can be downloaded free at www.ribapix.com. Type in keywords for example: skyscrapers, Wren, Piranesi.

To find the following examples type in the RIBA reference number (note: there is no space between RIBA and the number).

RIBA2514-9
Portrait, plaster bust, of Sir Christopher Wren by Edward Pearce (about 1630-1695)

RIBA2785-21
Portrait of Sir Norman Foster (1935-)

RIBA31368
Montage, colour print, entitled 'The Most Famous Buildings in the World', showing a variety of well-known architectural landmarks from across the globe
by Charles Robert Cockerell (1788-1863)

RIBA9871
Colour photograph of the London skyline from Waterloo Bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral, London 1994.

RIBA3843
Black and white photograph of St Paul's Cathedral, City of London 1896: view from the steeple of St Martin Ludgate, designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).

RIBA5043
Black and white photograph of St Paul's Cathedral, City of London 1960's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).
   
RIBA7351 
Black and white photograph of Temple Bar, Fleet Street in London 1872, designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).

RIBA16002
Black and white photograph of St Mary-Le-Bow, Cheapside, London 1872: plans, elevation and section designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).

RIBA18672
Black and white photograph of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, City of London 1896: the steeple of Portland stone, designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).

RIBA20271
Topographical 1940s drawing of the ruins of St. Mildred's Church, Bread Street, London designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), surrounded by bomb damaged buildings with a demolition crane in the foreground by Arthur Stanley George Butler (1888-1965).

RIBA30133
Colour photograph of Plantation Place, Fenchurch Street, City of London 2007 by Arup Associates: view with the neighbouring Wren church of St Margaret's Pattens on Eastcheap in the foreground.

RIBA20758
1960's drawing of the designs for the redevelopment of Bankside, Southwark, London: plan and elevations by Adams Holden & Pearson incorporating Bankside Power Station designed by Scott, Sir Giles Gilbert (1880-1960), St Paul's Cathedral Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) and a bridge.

RIBA9233
Colour photograph of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723).

Web links

For more information about the V&A and RIBA architecture collections visit the architecture subject hub.

For information about objects displayed in the Architecture gallery visit the V&A Object Database

For more information about the Cast Court Collection visit the Cast Courts subject hub.

For more information about the V&A building visit the history of the V&A building subject hub.

Complete a quiz on architectural styles here

RIBA's architecture portal for current architecture, events and careers information
www.architecture.com

RIBA's online digital image database of over 25,000 free images
www.ribapix.com

Education resources for teaching on architecture and the built environment
http://www.engagingplaces.org.uk/home

Tall Buildings exhibition site by the Museum of Modern Art

Skyscraper diagrams and facts
http://skyscraperpage.com/

CABE www.cabe.org.uk work to improve the built environment and provide up to date research, publications, image library and teaching resources.

Do we need more tall buildings?

English Heritage  helps people understand, value, care for and enjoy England's historic environment.

For virtual panoramic tours of London click here

London View Management Framework, provides guidance on strategically important views in London, including ten strategic views of St Paul's Cathedral

A global resource  for what's new in architecture

The V&A + RIBA Architecture Partnership

The V&A and RIBA Architecture Partnership is the name given to the initiative of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Institute of British Architects to promote the understanding and enjoyment of architecture. Together the V&A and the RIBA have opened the UK's first permanent architecture gallery and new study rooms at the V&A. The Partnership brings together the RIBA's drawings and archives collections and the V&A's collections of architectural drawings and photographs at one location - the V&A in London. It also brings together the expertise of each institution in an exciting new programme of temporary exhibitions at the V&A, at the RIBA, and on tour.

What are the V&A and RIBA Architecture collections?

The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's greatest museum of art and design. It houses many collections of decorative objects such as glass, textiles, silver, ceramics, fashion, furniture, paintings, musical instruments including architecture, from different times in history and a variety of countries.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is the UK body for architecture and the architectural profession. The RIBA collections at the V&A include over 750,000 drawings and over 750,000 archives including architectural diaries, travel journals, letters, notebooks, essays, papers and office archives.

There are over four million objects in the V&A's and RIBA's architecture collections. The various models, drawings and architectural fragments reveal the design process architects use to create, develop, present and build their ideas.

Where can the V&A and RIBA Architecture collections be found?

What can we find out from the architecture collections?

The drawings and models reveal architects' design process. The medium an architect uses depends on what stage they are in the design process as well as the budget, the needs and expectations of their client, and the materials they have available to visualise their ideas. Initial sketches, in the form of models and drawings, are used to create and develop their first ideas. Sketchbooks are used to show first ideas or record drawings of completed buildings for research. Plan, elevation and section drawings are the most common types of drawing an architect uses for developing, presenting and building an idea. Three dimensional models, computer drawings, computer animations, drawings, painting, prints, photomontage and collage can be used to visualise and present an idea. Detailed drawings are used for building an idea.