RA Summer Exhibition 2025: CIAT's view
For the first time in the Summer Exhibition's over 250-year history, the RA have integrated architecture with the exhibition's fourteen rooms rather than confining it to its own separate space. The intention is to allow it to "create conversations with art rather than being confined to its own space" and to "acknowledge its place within broader cultural conversations."
Looking around, it is surprising this is the first time, the architectural designs, sketches, and models blending in effortlessly with the 1,700 prints, paintings, films, and photographs on display. The spreading out of architectural works has not meant they are featured less prominently either. Indeed, the large Lecture Room features a central display showcasing over a wide range of models of state-of-the-art buildings.
This is no doubt because the works have been selected by architect Farshid Moussavi, with specific curation by architects Stephanie Macdonald and Tom Emerson – people who believe in the artistic power of architecture.
Still, the practical side of architecture has not been shied away from here. In this Lecture Room, a 1:200 cross-section model of the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi utilises a transparent glass panel display to provide diagrams of the ventilation system, showing us how it works and interacts with the building, including fascinating detail on the Canadian Duct Bypass Damper and Shafts. An eye-popping 1:75 model of the DY Patil University Centre of Excellence, Mumbai, made from concrete, aluminium and brass, includes a video display showing how the building operates and looks. Also in the room is a 1:500 section model of Old Trafford Manchester United Stadium; bound to please any football fans attending.
Elsewhere, standouts include sketches of housing floors and buildings, an archival pigment print of a London site survey, a look at the different floors of the UK Holocaust Memorial & Learning Centre, a fascinating drawing by Amanda Levete entitled 'A Dialogue Between Science and Architecture', as well as models of the Fleming Centre, the Roman Theatre of Brescia, among others.
The artworks that also festoon the walls are a feat for the eyes, and I found my head constantly turning as I spotted yet another bold, colourful piece I was drawn to. Most memorable of all I found to be Zatorski + Zatorski's 101 gilded rat pelts on display, the inside of each of them lined with 24 carat gold as they stand in a hypnotic circular formation. It needs to be seen to be believed.
With architecture taking centre stage, whether you're a collector or just fancy seeing some mighty fine work, this year's summer exhibition is well worth a look for ATs and art fans alike.
The RA Summer Exhition runs until Sunday 17 August. Tomorrow (Friday 20 June), there is a talk with architecture curators Stephanie Macdonald and Tom Emerson explaining their approach to the architecture works, which you can book here. The afternoon leads to a party at Burlington House in which you can also see the exhibition.
