Following a six-week residency in Paris, AA Intermediate 15 Tutor Nichola Barrington-Leach will present her research on the architect Renée Gailhoustet’s life and building projects at the Royal Academy in London. During the residency, Nichola focused on three of Gailhoustet’s major projects and key principles through a prism of Nichola’s own work and ethos as part of her practice, NVBL.

In a panel discussion and as part of the exhibition, The City is a Room, taking place at the Royal Academy, Nichola will share drawings, photography, models and insights into Gailhoustet’s innovative approach to architecture, including an exploration of scale, detail, materiality and geometry, all in the pursuit of optimistic and generous housing. Following her lecture, Nichola will be joined by architects and thinkers to discuss what we can learn from Gailhoustet’s work today. The lecture will take place on Wednesday 5 June, from 6.30–8pm BST in the Benjamin West Lecture Theatre in Burlington Gardens at the Royal Academy in London.

In addition to her teaching, Nichola is the founder and director of NVBL, an architecture and design office based in London. Her studio focuses on collaborative, environmentally conscious design, rooted in thorough research of context and a deep understanding of materials. NVBL has designed and delivered a diverse range of projects, from cultural installations to residential refurbishments to handcrafted objects, all with a commitment to sustainability and low-carbon principles.

Click here for more information on the lecture and to book tickets.

Image: (left) Edges, by NVBL, pastel and pencil drawing on paper, 2023. (Right) Unexpected Possibilities, paper models, 2023. Image credit: NVBL.