Alison Brooks’ lecture and book signing event: (An Architecture of) Kindred Spirits, took place on the 17th of September.

Part of the Architecture on Stage series presented by the Architecture Foundation and Barbican Centre, Alison traced the foundations of her practice through projects such as Windward House, Cohen Quad and Cadence, the final piece of the King’s Cross regeneration.

She drew on her early influences from Europe after arriving in London in 1988, which embedded a sense of memory, material culture and a deeply human experience of place throughout her later works. Concluding the evening was a delightful conversation led by chair, Jamie Fobert, sparked by questions on the inclusion of indigenous voices in Canadian projects, advocating for female founders and architects in a challenging industry, and more.

Signed copies of the practice’s first monograph by TC Cuadernos were also available on the night.

Discover where to find the monograph here.

Join us on Saturday, September 14th, for a guided walk through 20 years of the South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan in North West London, led by the team at Alison Brooks Architects.

As part of this year’s Open House Festival, drop in and delve into Brent Council’s ambitious 20-year regeneration efforts. Discover the evolution of our ethos for Ely Court, Kilburn Quarter and Unity Place. Trace the development of 19^th century typologies such as Terraces, Flatiron Block, Link Block, Mews House, Mansion Block and Mansard roofs, while reflecting on the lessons learned and the ongoing conversation around affordable housing in London.

Open House Festival is a London-wide festival that opens up and celebrates the city’s architecture, special sites and neighbourhoods, with open days and events taking place across all 33 London boroughs.

Sign up for the tour here: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/10231

1. The challenges of participating in design competitions, and how the need to produce so much more and satisfy stringent criteria compared to the early days, creates barriers for emerging practices.

2. The important role competitions play in their business, and how they think strategically about selecting the right competitions to invest time and resources in.

3. The challenges she faced establishing her practice as a Canadian in the UK, and how she was able to develop new client relationships without relying on an existing network.

4. Why Alison believes higher education projects offer some of the best opportunities for architects, because the clients are highly motivated to be at the forefront of design, technology and sustainability.

5. The value of developing an ability to write as a way to articulate your ideas as an architect, and why Alison often finds herself spending more time writing than designing.

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