Today the Lecture Hall, Library and Gallery sit among robotic arms, digital prototyping equipment, extensive research archives, audio-visual facilities, workshops, studio spaces and the AA bar, all of which connect with the workshop, fabrication areas and accommodation at Hooke Park. These resources are constantly evolving to reflect the requirements of the highest quality of contemporary architectural education, and the constant interaction between these varied components of the school embodies the intimate and interdisciplinary atmosphere that permeates all of the activities of the AA.
Hooke Park’s KUKA KR-150 robotic arm is the larger, older cousin of the Digital Prototyping Lab’s two arms in Bedford Square and provides the ability to precisely fabricate artefacts of a wide range of sizes. The robotic facilities and tooling are designed primarily with timber grown in Hooke Park as its main resource. The arm has been equipped with an extensive set of tools including chainsaws, bandsaws and a spindle router. To increase the arm’s reach, an integrated rotary lathe which functions as a seventh axis has been installed. Beyond timber, students have recently worked with the robotic team to create objects composed of various clays sourced directly from the surrounding estate. A range of tools are continually in development as new projects emerge, and we are always open to further research proposals and collaborations from groups across the AA.