Subjectivity of Language in Metropolitan Architecture

Hosted by the Centre for Urban & Built Ecologies (CUBE) - delivered by Takero Shimazaki (t-sa), and chaired by Prof. Andrew Clancy (Kingston University) - we will explore the work of Unit 8 between 2016-2021 and aim to uncover the recurring themes, methodologies and the teaching ethos of the Unit.

This will be attempted through highlighting the separate components of the Unit’s creative process such as Sampling, Surveys, and Essence artefacts and evaluate how the methodology contributes towards the development of subjective yet relevant language in each particular urban setting. The careful study and appreciation of architectural language, in the context, precedent studies and abstracted essence models or drawings serve as a basis for the design unit output of economical, resourceful, yet personal and characterful civic interventions proposed over the last five years of research. These interests are borne out of the research of the tutors and challenges in practice; in particular, the possibility for small, independent ateliers such as t-sa to contribute to the reinvigoration of urban collective life through affordable, resourceful singular architecture and its language. Since its establishment at the School of Art, Architecture & Design, London Metropolitan University, Unit 8 has been taught by Takero Shimazaki with Summer Islam (2016-19) and with Karabo Turner and Paolo Pisano since 2019.

Takero Shimazaki, director of Takero Shimazaki Architects, (t-sa) is an architect practising in London, UK. The practice was founded in 1999 as Toh Shimazaki Architecture, and as Takero Shimazaki Architects since 2010. Takero has lead Diploma Unit 8 at London Metropolitan University since 2016, prior to which he taught at the Architectural Association between 2010 and 2015 and is an external examiner at Cambridge and Cardiff.

Paolo Emilio Pisano has been part of t-sa since 2016. He completed his academic education in Italy and at the Architectural Association. Since 2019 he has taught Unit 8 and AA Visiting School Casting Castaways.

Karabo Turner is an architect at Takero Shimazaki Architects. He gained his postgraduate Diploma from London Metropolitan University in 2017 and has taught with Unit 8 since 2019.

Chair: Andrew Clancy is an architect and a teacher of architecture. His research concerns conversation as a method in architectural production and education, a sensibility that runs through the work of his practice - Clancy Moore, which he runs with Colm Moore. The work of the practice has featured in the Venice Biennale and was nominated for the Mies Van Der Rohe Award, as well as being marked by the Young Architects of the Year Award 2018, and the AR Peter Davey Award in 2019. The practice has co-authored a book on Danish functionalist Kay Fisker - due for publication by Lund Humphries in 2021. Andrew completed a PhD with RMIT in Barcelona in 2017. In 2015 he was appointed Villum Velux visiting Professor at the Aarhus School of Architecture and in 2016 he was appointed Professor at the Kingston School of Art - where he co-directs the philosophy of the school and runs the research group Register.