Hardships of a Graduate Life: Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined at the Royal Academy

As the Royal Academy's latest exhibition enters its last few weeks, my mind keeps revisiting this colourful and ambitious architectural display.

The work of Sensing Spaces: Architecture Reimagined consists of modern and fantastical architecture, scaled down and working in harmony with the ornate and white washed rooms of the RA. Seven architectural practices were chosen from around the world to represent innovative structural design.

Micro-architecture, as it is often described, (structures displaying architectural motifs on a smaller scale than an original building) has existed since the Middle Ages. Woodwork, such as choir stalls in cathedrals and wooden ecclesiastical chests often demonstrated designs which were used on the fabric of new churches.

Choir Stalls at Ulm Minster. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Ulm-Muenster-ChorGestuehl-061104.jpg

Metalwork such as censers, which contained incense and were swung during church services, also contained micro-architecture such as quatrefoils, ogee arches and triple lancets. All of these can be seen in medieval cathedral designs. Censers were often used as a method to transport architectural ideas, often acting as modern drawings do today.

Ramsey Censer, found in Huntingdonshire in the 19th century, dated 1325. On display at the V&A.

Two censers both on display at the V&A. First from Venice 1500, second from England 1350.

Censer similar to the Ramsey Censer illustrated in stained glass in Rotherfield, East Sussex. Proof that architectural designs were moving around the country through mediums like metalwork.

The Royal Academy, bizarrely, provides the perfect space for Architecture Reimagined. Although its ceilings are classic and ornate with gold angels and filigree coating every edge, this modern architecture provides a welcome contrast. Pezo von Ellrichshausen's installation is incredibly dominating but also interactive with spiral staircases filling the cylindrical pillars. Climbing to the top of this structure allows the RA to be viewed from a completely different perspective, the decoration of the ceiling can be seen up close and the features of the moulded angels and be fully appreciated. It is architecture within architecture, a play on function and space to distort size and perspective. I don't want to say much more about this exhibition but I urge you to visit it. A fantastic interactive exhibition for the whole family.