Peter Cook vehemently believes that there is a CULTURE OF ARCHITECTURE ITSELF that is neglected by academies since many teachers of architecture dont have much taste for buildings. This HOK-sponsored series of lectures are intended to redress the balance. In the first lecture, Cook explores his shifting relationship to four cities: Los Angeles: City of Dreams; Berlin: City of Mystery; Paris: City of Suspicion; Oslo: City to Observe Quietly. Peter Cook is joint Professor of Architecture of the Royal Academy of Arts and was Chairman of the Bartlett School UCL from 1990 to 2005. He taught at the AA from 1964 to 1989 and was Chair of Architecture at the Staedelschule Frankfurt from 1983 to 1990. He was a founder of Archigram and together with Colin Fournier designed the Kunsthaus in Graz. He was awarded both the Royal Gold Medal of the RIBA (as member of Archigram) and the RIBA Annie Spink Medal for teaching in 2002. He is currently building in Spain and Italy with his studio: CRAB.