The Building Centre

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© Agnese Sanvito

Prototyping Architecture Exhibition

11 January to 20 March 2013

Prototyping Architecture brings together the work of architects, engineers, manufacturers, product designers, academics and artists to explore the importance of prototypes in the delivery of high quality contemporary design. Placing a particular emphasis on research and experimentation, this exhibition in Nottingham and London, shows how trial assemblies can inform architecture - with maquettes, models and full-scale sample productions on show from around the world.

The show includes prototypes by Amanda Levete Architects, Barkow Leibinger, KieranTimberlake, Philip Beesley Architects Inc, Yves Ebnoether and many more.

Prototyping Architecture forms a bridge between architecture, engineering and art, with exhibits that are inventive, purposeful and beautiful.

To co-inside with the Prototyping Architecture Exhibition an International Conference - Prototyping Architecture will take place at The Building Centre 21 to 23 February 2013.

Curated by Professor Michael Stacey of The University of Nottingham, in conjunction with The Building Centre.

‘Prototyping marks a dividing point between architecture and building.’ Andrew Scoones, Director of the Building Centre Trust.

‘New architectural prototypes show a kind of promiscuous exchange between widely varying sources, sweeping away traditional divisions between machine and hand crafts, and between nature and technology.’ Philip Beesley, Waterloo Architecture/PBAI

Protocell Mesh by Philip Beesley from The Building Centre on Vimeo.

Loblolly House by KieranTimberlake from The Building Centre on Vimeo.

QbissAir from The Building Centre on Vimeo.



Main Gallery Archive


Housing London 31 October - 21 December 2012
Elsewhere Envisioned 28 June – 12 September 2012
60 Buildings 60 Years 28 June – 12 September 2012
ICE London Awards 2012 12 - 28 April 2012
From Beijing to London: Contemporary Chinese Architecture 2012 12 - 28 April 2012
East Village – a lasting legacy for London 13 – 31 March 2012
Faces of British Architecture 9 January - 29 February 2012
Pylon Salon des Refusés 23 November – 23 December 2011
One Step Ahead 11 October - 19 November 2011
Engineering Sketches 15 September - 7 October 2011
ICE London Civil Engineering Awards 2011 May – 9 June 2011
Living Form: The Transformable Work of Chuck Hoberman. 4 March - 30 April 2011
engagingaging 10 January – 19 February 2011
2010 Sustainability Awards 20 October – 22 December
Cook's Camden 27 October - 8 December
The Royal Docks
EN{code}D
MSc Adaptive Architecture & Computation
4 October - 8 October 2010
Engineering Sketches 19 August - 2 October 2010
Estonia: Boom Room. New Estonian Architecture 19 June - 31 July 2010
Sustainable Suburbia: A Walkable Garden Suburb 10 May - 6 June
ICE London Civil Engineering Awards 24 March - 17 April 2010
The New US Embassy in London 26 February - 20 March 2010
Nokia Photography Competition 12 January - 19 February 2010
Lower Carbon Drive at Home 14 September - 17 October
“If the bridge was a car, what would it be? ...a Ford Mondeo, with alloy wheels” 29 June - 5 September
Paper for Emerging Architectural Research 15 June - 20 June
London Yields: Urban Agriculture Exhibition 9 April - 30 May
Price & Myers: Engineering Value Exhibition 12 February - 1 April 2009
Digital Cities: London's Future 20 Nov 2008 - 24 Jan 2009
London's Towns Shaping The Polycentric City 25 Nov 2008 - 15 Nov 2008
SPANS 24 July - 20 Sep 2008
DES RES 24 April - 14 June 2008
Underground; London's Hidden Infrastructure 28 Feb - 19 Apr 2008
Waterfront London 10 Jan- 23 Feb 2008
London's Learning 1 Nov 2007 - 5 Jan 2008