Seven of the world’s most original and exciting architects have taken over the Main Galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts to convey the power of architecture. The architects have been commissioned by the RA to create site-specific installations: the shared brief was to explore the essential elements of architecture. Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined re-defines the traditional architectural exhibition by immersing visitors in a multi-sensory experience. This groundbreaking exhibition considers architecture from the angle of the human encounter: how vision, touch, sound and memory play a role in our perceptions of space, proportion, materials and light.
Global in scope, the architects include Pritzker-prize winners to emerging practices: Grafton Architects (Ireland); Diébédo Francis Kéré (Germany/Burkina Faso); Kengo Kuma (Japan); Li Xiaodong (China); Pezo von Ellrichshausen (Chile); Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura (Portugal). They were carefully selected to form a group whose distinct approaches share similarities and offer contrasts. Their different cultural, geographical and generational sensibilities bring a rich array of perspectives that encourage a broader understanding of architecture and what it can offer us.
The interventions within the Academy’s Grade II* listed galleries actively encourage visitors to engage with the structures, textures, sounds, spaces and scents. Highlights include a monumental structure by Pezo von Ellrichshausen that offers an unseen perspective of the galleries; Kengo Kuma’s bamboo installation which, inspired by a Ko-Do – the Japanese smell ceremony, emphasises the importance of scent; Diébédo Francis Kéré’s tunnel invites visitors to physically interact with the structure’s fabric; Li Xiaodong’s labyrinth and Grafton Architects’ installation exploring light. Eduardo Souto de Moura’s subtle arches and Álvaro Siza’s courtyard installation encourage visitors to consider the architectural history of Burlington House.
Visitors will be encouraged to take photographs in the exhibition to capture their experience and there will be an inspiring events programme inside the galleries comprising Secret Yoga, Soapbox talks and a special Late Night event including live DJ sets. A pop-up bar will be available every Friday evening for visitors to enjoy drinks in the exhibition.
ARCHITECTS YVONNE FARRELL AND SHELLY MCNAMARA, GRAFTON ARCHITECTS. PHOTO (C) ALICE CLANCY 
MAURICIO PEZO AND SOFIA VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN . PHOTOGRAPHY: ANA CROVETTO 
ARCHITECT LI XIAODONG. PHOTO (C) KATE GOODWIN 
ARCHITECT KENGO KUMA PHOTO (C) THE COURIER 
ARCHITECT EDUARDO SOUTO DE MOURA PHOTO (C) LEONEL DE CASTRO
ARCHITECT DIEBEDO FRANCIS KERE PHOTO (C) DAVID HEERDE 
ARCHITECT ALVARO SIZA PHOTO (C) CHIARA PORCU 
INSTALLATION BY GRAFTON ARCHITECTS. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS.
INSTALLATION BY GRAFTON ARCHITECTS. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS.
INSTALLATION BY DIEBEDO FRANCIS KERE. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS.
INSTALLATION BY DIEBEDO FRANCIS KERE. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS / (C) KERE ARCHITECTURE 
INSTALLATION BY KENGO KUMA. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS. 
INSTALLATION BY KENGO KUMA. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS. 
INSTALLATION BY KENGO KUMA. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS. 
INSTALLATION (BLUE PAVILION) BY PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS. 
INSTALLATION (BLUE PAVILION) BY PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN. PHOTO (C) ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON, 2014. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES HARRIS. READ ALSO: CONVERSATION PIECES AT THE MILANO DESIGN WEEK BY HEAD