Museum of Architecture is a pop-up and online museum where everyone can come to learn about architecture
​- Founder and Director Melissa Woolford

Stories and Inspirations

#WhyIWentIntoArchitecture
​
​Museum of Architecture launched a new series inviting architects and designers to tell us their personal stories, responding to the question "Why I Went Into Architecture."

This week, Ken Okonkwo of Haworth Tompkins shared ​his story with us:
"I am a British-born, second generation Nigerian architect. My mum lived through the Biafran war in 1967 and was the first member of her family to go to university. My dad, the oldest of 10 brothers and sisters, joined the British merchant navy in 1958 when he was 21. Neither parents were interested in architecture, but I was always fascinated by buildings. From the age of 6, I drew pictures and plans of dream houses."
In this video, Ken talks more about his story #WhyIWentIntoArchitecture
with Melissa Woolford, Founder MoA.

MoA BUSINESS ACADEMY

Advice From MoA Experts

Every week we introduce an MoA Expert's Thoughts and Advice on dealing with the current situation of change.

This week Guy Johnson offers his advice on  considerations and key points when negotiation is not done in person, but via text, instant message, phone, email, video conferencing...

You will also find other helpful tips from #MoA Experts: Celeste Bolte on good communication, Sue Austin on becoming a thriving practice, Russell Pollard's thoughts on being Future Focused Leaders, and Helen Santer's advice on your evaluating your workspace needs.

​Read Thoughts and Advice here ...
photo ©Javier-Allegue Barros, Unsplash

MoA FAMILY PROGRAMME

The School for Creative Thinkers 
is an MoA family programme aiming to inspire the next generation of architects, engineers and designers.

This month, SfCT proudly launched the Alphabet of Buildings Series. Every week, a new letter is introduced, accompanied with the corresponding building, fun facts, plus free downloadable activity worksheets.

Also, check out the new online course Nature's Architect, and other downloadable free weekly activity sheets.

​The SfCT classes and activities are developed with a team of teachers, architects and designers for children ages 4 - 11 years old. The carefully designed hands-on projects teach children problem solving, design skills, and innovation thinking. 
MoA Directors
​
​The MoA Directors is a membership programme that offers the opportunity for directors and owners of small and medium-sized practices to have meaningful and purposeful discussions, and to share knowledge about how they run their businesses, tackle industry issues and explore business ideas.

In line with MoA’s mission to help architects be more entrepreneurial, we are developing a special Online Edition of the MoA Directors that specifically focuses on the current situation and challenges due to the market disruption.
​
You can read more about the original programme MoA Directors HERE.
MoA Webinar
Planning for the Future - Financial Management & Guidance   Part III
Resources for Setting up New Practice

Wondering whether to start your own practice? We have compiled information and resources that you may find useful.
photo © jeff sheldon. unsplash
How to Start a Practice
Recent webinar on with Simon Foxell

As the UK considers how to emerge from the CV19 lockdown, many furloughed architects and others are thinking about setting up their own practices and building an independent route to economic recovery. 

Simon Foxell, author of the RIBA’s bestselling Starting a Practice: A Plan of Work, discussed how to go about this and how to prepare for a future working for yourself.

Simon's top advice will be posted shortly on the Setting up a New Practice page.
The Associates Leadership Series 
September 2020

​MoA is bringing the MoA Associates Leadership Series online to you this May, in collaboration with Framework Leadership.

This is a training programme designed specifically for the essential role of the associate or the mid to senior level architects.
​The programme provides leadership and business skills training and also a platform to share experiences and insights.

Please register your interest below to receive more information.
You can find the original programme HERE

 Past Events and Workshops

MoA Special:
Colour in the Built Environment
20 November 2019
​Lecturer: Tyen Masten, PHASE3
                 Kingspan Facade, Axalta, Shakerley

​‘Every perception of colour is an illusion, we do not see colours as they really are. In our perception they alter one another. ​ ’ ​ – Josef Albers

​In this Special Workshop on Colour, Tyen Masten discussed the basics of colour theory and how his practice, PHASE3, integrates colour into their schemes and design process.
MoA Gingerbread Skyscraper Workshops
- part of the Design Manchester
16 November 2019 
Venue: Manchester School fo Art

The Museum of Architecture brought gingerbread creativity and fun to Manchester this holiday season. Working with local practice Playground Design Studio and Manchester School of Architecture, the team from MoA held a gingerbread skyline-building workshop for families as part of Design Manchester 2019. 
Sponsored by Hawkins\Brown
Photo Credit Richard Abram
​​The MoA's Gingerbread City
is an annual pop-up public exhibition showcasing an entire city made of gingerbread. Its aim is to connect the public with architecture in an exciting way, and spark important conversations around cities and how we live in them.
Visit our Instagram page for images from the Gingerbread City 2019 edition.
"The popularity of Gingerbread City has enabled us to set up a grant-giving fund this year. This new fund will allow MoA to support new projects which help people to create betters places and communities, and enable the public to better engage with architecture.”
​
    - Melissa Woolford, founder and director of Museum of Architecture
​MoA Business Academy
Past Programmes 
MoA Alternative Careers in Architecture

Speakers: Holly Lewis, We Made That
                   Matt Thornley, Gibson Thornley
                   Laura Sanjuan, SODA
                   Chris Hildrey, Hildrey Studio

​​MoA Alternative Careers in Architecture is a series of MoA talks that explores the vision, ideas and approaches that architects bring to other professional environments.
MoA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
UNKNOWN: Strategies And Solutions In Shaping the Built Environment
​​7 JUNE 2019   
Aga Khan Centre / King's Cross

This year’s theme unpacked the notion of crossing into the unknown in design, architecture, art and science, discussing the boundaries and cultural borders created and traversed through drawing and communication, memory and imagination and collaboration.
The Glass Notebooks © Kate Davies 
This was the third edition of the annual conference led by women in architecture. This event was co-curated by Melodie Leung, Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects and the Museum of Architecture. Sponsored by Finsa and as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
Watch highlights of the conference, including thoughts from the curators, Melodie Leung of Zaha Hadid Architects and Melissa Woolford of MoA, the speakers of the panels, and the architects of the Wooden Parliament,  AMID.cero9.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

Wooden Parliament by Finsa for LFA 2019
Temporary pavilion with public programming  June 2019
Coal Drops Yard, London

​Want to hear about our upcoming programmes, workshops and events?
​
MoA Academy programming is kindly hosted by ​Build Studios, the first co-working space in the UK to focus on the whole built environment.