BA Interior Architecture Introduction Interior Architecture BA (Hons)
Course Leader: Alessandro Ayuso
Our BA Interior Architecture at Westminster offers a distinctive approach to design that focuses on adapting existing buildings into innovative and inspiring interior environments. Differing from traditional architecture strategies, our approach involves designing from the inside out, considering how space is inhabited and exploring at a range of scales, from the body to the room to the building. The course fosters exploration of how we live and move through the world, addressing climate change, social justice and sustainability according to a future-forward ethos with regeneration at its core. Our approach to interiors embraces interdisciplinarity spanning interior, exhibition, set and lighting design, along with conservation and retail. Learning is dynamic and includes studio discussions, seminars, individual and group tutorials, and workshops, all enriched by studio visits to sites, exhibitions, galleries, projects and field trips.
Picking up on these themes, the students this year were exposed to an exciting range of activities and topics. For instance, Year Three students began the year by questioning what it means to be a citizen in the time of climate crisis. Using digital fabrication, they created ‘Citizen Self Portraits’ – full and half-scale models that were shown as part of the D-Fuse ‘Nine Earths’ exhibition in Ambika P3. Students participated as speakers at the exhibition’s events, and their work went on to be featured as part of Climate Assembly events taking place across the University and in an exhibition in the University’s street front gallery on Regent Street. Year One students began the year by participating in the lively Climate Action Week, while Year Two students explored design in the city with visits to sites throughout London, even attending a performance of My Neighbour Totoro to see the spectacular sets used in the show.
The annual Interior Matters lecture series enlivened the discussion of professional practice on the course throughout the year, with speakers from practices including Bourne Architects, Public Art Matters and Irenie Studio. The start of Semester Two was bustling, with Years One and Two working together in groups to construct large-scale ‘WestMonster Puppets’ from pleather and willow branches before staging performances for a celebratory judging and awards event. At the same time, Year Three students were busy with Careers Week which offered opportunities for office visits, mock interviews, discussions and lectures from professionals such as Manijeh Verghese, CEO of Open City. This spirit of collaboration, experimentation and awareness of present-day practice and ideas about the future exemplifies the ethos carried throughout the year.
