Architecture summer school (2017 – )

Find information about the 2024 Summer School here.

Architectural Summer School Film by Elliot Lunn

Our annual Architectural Drawing Summer School is designed to give A-Level students with an interest in architecture and the built environment an insight into how professional architects record what they see, how this information connects to the buildings they produce, and how the process of drawing can be used to test and develop an idea. Over the course of a week, students are exposed to conversations and exercises set by many of the leading thinkers in architectural education today. Tuition is led by Andrew Clancy, Professor of Architecture at Kingston University, supported by a team of tutors and experts. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about our 2023 Summer School.

Initiated by Robert Bargery of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust and Niall Hobhouse of Drawing Matter in 2017, the course was developed in collaboration with Professor Andrew Clancy of Kingston School of Art and and Debbie Hillyerd of Hauser & Wirth Somerset. With support from our partners Hauser & Wirth, the Architecture Foundation, Kingston University and UEL, and from many architectural practices, the school remains entirely free. Our recruitment is focused on students from diverse backgrounds. In 2022 we welcomed 50 students.

We are grateful to all the tutors and individuals who make the ADSS possible, and to the many architectural professionals who have provided student scholarships over the years.

‘The tutors were super helpful in advising about university applications and interviews, even which schools to look at, which was great as before the course I felt quite stressed about applications as I had no opportunity to speak to someone who knew about those things…’  
– ADSS Student (2020)

‘I really liked the change in venues over the days, moving from Bruton to Shatwell and then Hauser & Wirth meant each day offered something new, plus each location is so inspiring. I also liked the mix of individual work, developing our sketchbooks how we chose, and then the more practical collaborative work.’
– ADSS Student (2020)

Students drawing at Shad Thames; the eight iteration of the Summer School was hosted in London. Photo: Anna-Rose McChesney.

Architecture Summer School 8: 2024

19 – 23 August 2024

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Sakiko Kohashi, Alexander Turner, Tanatswa Borerwe, Susie Clare Cox, Hiroto Tabata, Leela Keshav and Gregory Devaud.

Organised by Drawing Matter Trust, Hauser & Wirth, Kingston University, and the Zaha Hadid Foundation. Supported by the sponsorship of architects and practices.

See more images and read notes by the 2024 Summer School tutors.

Read a reflection by Drawing Matter’s Jesper Authen and Matt Page on their workshop for students during the Summer School.

Students in their self-built auditorium during Peter Wilson’s lecture at the 2023 Summer School. Photo: Clare Walsh.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 7: 2023

25 – 29 August 2023 

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Sakiko Kohashi, Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Alex Gore, Laura Evans, Vera Bannwart, Elle Bytautaite, Jan Zachmann, assisted by Stella Ford. 

Organised by Drawing Matter Trust, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and Kingston University. Supported by the Zaha Hadid Foundation and the sponsorship of architects and practices.

Students in the Drawing Matter archive during the 2021 Summer School. Photo: Matthew Blunderfield.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 6: 2022

 28 August – 2 September 2022

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Francesco Paini, Charlie Hurley, Sakiko Kohashi and Richard Aina, with guest workshops from Jane Borodale and Kirsty Badenoch, and a guest lecture from Michael Wolfson, an early collaborator of Zaha Hadid.

Organised by the Drawing Matter Trust, Hauser & Wirth Somerset and Kingston University and part-sponsored by the Architecture Foundation and the University of East London.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 5: 2021

26 – 31 August 2021

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Matthew Blunderfield, Sohanna Srinivasan, and Yassir Ibrahim with Thomas Bryans.

Organised by the Drawing Matter Trust, Hauser & Wirth Somerset and Kingston University. 

Final crit at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2019 Architectural Drawing Summer School. Photo: Vincent Evans

Architectural Drawing Summer School 4: 2020

24–29 August 2020

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Eleanor Beaumont, Marwa El Mubark, and Oscar Mather.

Organised by the Drawing Matter Trust, Hauser & Wirth Somerset and Kingston University in collaboration with Bruton School for Girls and Queens Belfast, Cardiff and Dundee Universities.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 3: 2019

24 – 29 August 2019

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Michael Badu, William Guthrie, David Magennis, Joe Howland, Giulia Furlan and Julia Cramer.

Supported by the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust in association with Drawing Matter, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Kingston School of Art, Queens University Belfast and Bruton School for Girls.

Students outside Stephen Taylor’s Haybarn during the 2018 Summer School.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 2: 2018

25–30 August 2018

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Catherine Blaney, Laura Evans, Elli Farant, and Tommy Jay.

Watch a film of the 2018 Summer School here.

Organised by The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, Drawing Matter, Kingston School of Art, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Queens University Belfast, and Bruton School for Girls.

Architectural Drawing Summer School 1: 2017

26 August–2 September 2017

Tutors
Andrew Clancy, Nana Biamah-Ofusu, Niall Hobhouse, and Bushra Mohamed.

Read a reflection on the first Summer School by tutors Nana Biamah-Ofosu & Bushra Mohamed; and programme notes by Andrew Clancy.

Organised by The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, Drawing Matter, Kingston School of Art, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and Wells Cathedral School.