Talk

Reinier de Graaf in conversation

Wednesday 2 November 2022 6.30 - 8pm

The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts

£15 / £9 conc

Friends of the RA book first

Join architect and author Reinier de Graaf for a conversation exploring architecture, writing and how they can influence one another.

Reinier de Graaf is a partner at the renowned Dutch practice, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, and the co-founder of its respected think tank AMO. In addition to his professional pursuits, de Graaf has authored several books that discuss the complexities of the architectural profession in an accessible, amusing, and sometimes acerbic way. He will be joined by architect Jack Self. Self is Director of REAL foundation and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Real Review.

Together, they will talk through the past (Four Walls and a Roof; 2017), present (The Masterplan; 2021), and future (Architect, Verb; 2023) of de Graaf's writing. They will take a closer look at the ways in which writing and fiction can inform architectural practice, and how the language we use to speak about buildings impacts the world around us.

In an environment that often values complexity for its own sake, approaches that make seemingly specialist subjects more accessible are becoming increasingly rare. Yet it’s clear that writing about architecture doesn’t have to be limited to dense academic texts. In this event, we’ll use de Graaf’s books to discuss the potential that lies at the intersection of architecture and writing.

The conversation between de Graaf and Self will be chaired by the RA's Head of Architecture Vicky Richardson. There will be time for questions at the end of the event.

£15 / £9 conc

Friends of the RA book first

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