2025 BIKE & SKETCH TOUR / Walton-on-Thames to Richmond

Relaxing at Hampton Court. Photo Credit: S Nalin

Lunch at Hampton Court An AIA UK Bike Tour is not all hard riding, sweat and tears.  Sometimes there are breaks for contemplation and enjoyment of the British countryside.  Saturday, 28 Jun 2025 proved to be one of the hottest days of the year  (to date!) and the shady environs of Hampton Court offered the riders a chance to contemplate, catch their breath, have lunch, cool down and – yes - sketch.  Lest we forget, the Bike Tour is also a Sketch Tour, and sketching can be relaxing.

Hampton Court in Full Glory.  Photo Credit: B O’Looney

Souvenirs of the Day.  Sketch Credits (Left to Right): B O’Looney, G Fonseca,  M Yao

Back to the Start at Walton-on-Thames  Admittedly, this year’s Bike & Sketch Tour was not all that arduous.  It started under the guidance of AIA UK’s favourite guide Benedict O’Looney ARB in Walton-on-Thames with a long downhill ride from the train station to the Thames path. From there to Richmond was flat and easy.  It was only the weather that proved difficult and discouraged at least two other potential riders on the day.   

Walton-on-Thames – like other small English towns - has its share of obscure historical stories to tell.  It is claimed – for example - that Julius Caesar forded the River Thames at Walton on his 2nd invasion of Britain; it is known that Canaletto painted the 1st of 6 Walton Bridges in 1754; and it is documented that the 1st ever baseball game was played nearby in 1749.  

Not being able to pursue such stories in person, the Bike & Sketch Tour made its first major stop at a prominent – and very down to earth - heritage site.  Walton’s St Mary’s Parish Church is a largely 12th century structure that also contains relics of  Saxon material and significant later additions.  O’Looney explained the complex history of the church in his usual exquisite detail.  

In particular, he was able to highlight an unexpected treat – the superlative 18th century Boyle Monument by Louis-Francois Roubiliac, a French sculpture who worked in England.  Roubiliac is described in Wikipedia as ‘probably the most accomplished sculpture ever to work in England’ – an epitaph that is hard to ignore.

Exploring St Mary’s in Walton on Thames, Including the Boubiliac’s Monument. Photo Credits (Clockwise from Top Left): L King, B O’Looney, G Fonseca, B O’Looney

Along the Thames Path to Hampton Court  After a search for suitable access to the Thames Path, the riverside ride began in earnest with a chance to enjoy the gentle ambience of river life – pubs and marinas; kayakers and paddle boarders; locks and weirs; bridges and footpaths - the accumulated dynamics of upstream Thames. 

Thames Life.  Photo Credits (Clockwise from Top Left): E Fitzpatrick, G Fonseca, E Fitzpatrick

As well as his detailed knowledge of ecclesiastical architecture, O’Looney also instils his tours with the economic, social and environmental history found along the way.   

For example, Platt’s Eyot seen across a river filled with expensive looking pleasure boats proved to have been an important ship building centre when the Thames was more than just a recreational diversion.  In 1904, John Thornycroft set up the Hampton Launch Works on the island where small naval craft and torpedo boats were built during both World Wars.  Abandoned since the 1960s, the last remaining factory shed is now sadly decrepit and unlikely ever to be listed.

Platt’s Eyot and the Thorneycroft Works. Photo Credit: S Nalin

After Lunch, Hampton Court Close Up The Thames path from Hampton Court to Kingston held more architectural treasurers, not least of which were the chimney laden rooflines and the back gate to the palace gardens.   

Looking Closely at Hampton Court. Photo Credit: B O’Looney and G Fonseca

Meandering Through the Richmond Throngs  After Kingston and a quick stop to admire Teddington Lock, the tour continued to Richmond.  The Richmond River Terrace – usually filled with boisterous crowds against a backdrop of Quinlan Terry’s faux classical buildings  – was a desert of parched grass.  The weather was not just hot; it also produced a near desert in SW London.  Instead of  sitting on the scraggly dunes, the crowds promenaded on the Thames Path.  It took skill and courage to manoeuvre bikes safely around the walkers, up the hill, through the traffic to the final destination – Richmond Station.

Richmond Station  Although Hampton Court was admittedly a hard act to follow, the renovation of Richmond Station proved the highlight of the Bike & Sketch Tour, given that t O’Looney’s firm – Benedict O’Looney Architects -  was the renovation architect on behalf of South Western Railway and the Railway Heritage Trust.  As tour guide, O’Looney was able to describe his own project in intimate detail.  

Since his work on the Peckham Rye Station (see HERE), O’Looney’s reputation for meticulous historic research and detailing has soared.  The art deco façade and – where possible - parts of the booking hall are now being restored to their former glory.   Particular attention has been placed on the signage as well as the design and manufacture of a replacement for the front canopy.

Details of the restoration work can be found HERE.

Richmond Station Gets a Facelift.  Photo Credits: G Fonseca and L King

This year’s Bike & Sketch Tour was organised by Etain Fitzpatrick AIA RIBA and earned the participants 5 continuing education credits.  Due to safety concerns, participation in AIA UK Bike Tour can be restricted.  If you are interested in next year’s tour, it is a good idea to book early.

Written by Lorraine King AIA

Design District, Greenwich Peninsula: A Curated Chorus of Creativity

Attendees gather for the tour of the Design District Masterplan. Photo by Hannah Corlett

To mark the start of the second half of 2025, the AIA UK enjoyed an insightful visit to the Design District on Greenwich Peninsula, East London. Held on 3 July, the tour was led by Hannah Corlett—founder of HNNA and master planner of the district alongside Alex Howard of the Design District management team.

Situated within the larger Greenwich Peninsula Masterplan, the Design District represents a bold experiment in curated urbanism. Developed by Knight Dragon and built by Ardmore, the project brings together 16 distinct buildings designed by eight architectural practices each tasked with creating a pair of structures described by Corlett as "brother and sister buildings" or "cousins." The aim: to foster a dynamic community of artists and creatives, with spaces that support both individual work and collective exchange.

Organised as a series of four courtyards and bisected by a central boulevard aligned with the Millennium Dome, the masterplan places emphasis on permeability, informal public space, and architectural diversity. Each architect was given two plots of similar size and brief but was asked to design without knowing the direction others were taking. The result is a strikingly diverse composition that feels, like the work of many hands over decades achieved all at once.

The tour, accompanied by Alex Howard, offered exclusive access to several buildings, showcasing the breadth of internal spatial strategies and design responses across the development. From material palettes to spatial typologies, the variation among the buildings reflects the richness of their authors’ approaches.

This ambitious and well-orchestrated masterplan reveals how coordinated architectural diversity, paired with thoughtful public realm integration, can yield a vibrant, coherent new piece of city where community and creativity are given the space to thrive.

Written by Gregory Fonseca, AIA

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Urbanest City Tour: Reimagining Mixed-Use in the Heart of London

Student Common Room. Photo by Katharine Storr

On Thursday, 12 June 2025, we had the opportunity to visit Urbanest City at 35 Vine Street, London EC3N—a recipient of the AIA UK Design Award in the Professional – Large Projects category. Designed by Hopkins Architects in collaboration with Apt, the project delivers a compelling mixed-use scheme that injects new life into the City of London.

This 11-storey development introduces a unique urban typology, combining 656 high-quality student residences with flexible office space, an incubator for start-ups, and a cultural venue anchored by a museum that houses a striking segment of the Roman City Wall. It’s an ambitious and thoughtful intervention in a location more traditionally associated with finance and commerce.

Photo by Will Scott

Urbanest City challenges conventional land-use expectations in the Square Mile. At first glance, one might question the viability of student accommodation in such a premium commercial location. Yet, its presence is both bold and welcome infusing the area with activity and vitality beyond traditional office hours. This shift toward a more integrated urban fabric signals a progressive evolution in city planning.

The student housing component is particularly impressive: contemporary, well-appointed interiors are complemented by a range of communal amenities, including two top-floor common rooms that offer expansive views across the London skyline. These spaces are designed to foster community while providing respite from the intensity of city life.

On the south side of the site, a separate building houses eleven floors of flexible workspaces designed to accommodate a range of tenants. The double-height reception offers informal meeting areas and connects directly to improved public realm along Vine Street and Jewry Street, enhancing the pedestrian experience.

Perhaps most unexpectedly, the project also incorporates a cultural programme. A publicly accessible exhibition space and museum entered either through a street-level café or a dedicated entrance featuring a restored and prominently displayed section of London’s ancient Roman City Wall. This integration of heritage within a contemporary setting is both educational and evocative, grounding the new development in the deep history of its site.

The student accommodation we toured bears little resemblance to the student housing of decades past. Urbanest City exemplifies how thoughtful design, and mixed-use programming can elevate urban living, creating layered, dynamic environments that serve a diverse community and enrich the city as a whole.

Written by Gregory Fonseca, AIA

View from the Café over the Roman City Wall. Photo by Katharine Storr

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A Model of Climate-Responsive Design: College Amadou Hampâté Bâ

College Amadou Hampâté Bâ by Article 25 Photo Credit: Toby Pear

On 29 May, we had the privilege of virtually touring the College Amadou Hampâté Bâ recipient of both the Professional - Medium Projects and Exemplary Performance in Sustainability categories at the 2024 AIA UK Excellence in Design Awards. Located in Niamey, the capital of Niger, the school is a low-carbon, passively ventilated campus designed by Article 25, a UK-based humanitarian architectural NGO named after Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The college name honours the legacy of Amadou Hampâté Bâ, the renowned Malian writer, historian, and ethnologist.

Situated north of central Niamey where monthly high temperatures range from 32°C in January to a blistering 41°C in April, the project responds elegantly to one of the harshest climates in the Sahel. In this context, where both resources and infrastructure are limited, the architecture stands as a transformative and inspiring model of sustainable design.

What immediately distinguishes the project is its use of local materials, particularly the reddish laterite stone quarried from the surrounding earth. This material, with its significant thermal mass, moderates internal temperatures by absorbing and slowly releasing heat. The design further reduces solar gain while enhancing natural ventilation, removing the need for costly and energy-intensive mechanical systems—a critical consideration in such an environment.

The classroom roofs are constructed using compressed earth brick vaults, over which lightweight "flying" metal roofs are suspended. These angled metal canopies create a narrowed opening at one end, encouraging air to be drawn through the roof cavity and promoting passive cooling. The metal roofs also shield the vaults from heavy seasonal rains, contributing both to durability and thermal performance.

Together, the rough-hewn laterite facades, vaulted earthen roofs, and soaring metal canopies create a poetic architectural language—one that embodies environmental sensitivity, material honesty, and cultural respect. The result is a masterclass in climate-responsive architecture that sets a powerful precedent for sustainable design in extreme climates.

Written by Gregory Fonseca, AIA

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Preparing to take the Mutual Recognition Agreement Exam

On Tuesday 8th April 2025 the chapter held a session on Preparing for the UK/USA Mutual Recognition Agreement for architects presented by Alex Miller, AIA RIBA and Bryan Oknyansky, AIA hosted at KPF architects offices in Covent Garden. The chapter has considered and campaigned for Mutual Recognition since its founding. Now with the process up and running as adminstered by the ARB, Bryan and Alex shared their experience as two of the early cohort to successfully pass the adaptation assessment exam. The event was well attended by practitioners at various career stages. We were appreciative that our guests included the attendance of Chris Williamson, RIBA, the 2025-2027 RIBA President.

While the ARB has refined the information available for candidates since launch including the Reference Sources Resource list, no study guide as such been available until now.

We trust the recording from this event and the slides from the presentation adapted as a guide assist future candidates seeking reciprocity.

Please find the event recording HERE and the presentation slides HERE.

Written by Alex Miller, AIA RIBA

Movie Night - Green Over Grey: Emilio Ambasz

“Every building is an intrusion into the plant kingdom and is a challenge to nature: we must devise an architecture that stands as the embodiment of a covenant of reconciliation between nature and construction, designing buildings so intrinsically connected to the surrounding environment that they cannot be separated from each other.”

— Emilio Ambasz

This powerful statement by Emilio Ambasz sets the tone for a vital and timely conversation—one that interrogates not just how we build, but why we build, and what values are embedded in our built environments. Ambasz’s words remind us that architecture is never a neutral act; it is an intervention that carries a responsibility to nature. His philosophy calls for more than sustainable design—it demands a deep, emotional, and structural integration between human-made forms and the natural world.

We concluded our Winter movie series with a sold-out screening of Green Over Grey: Emilio Ambasz at the BFI Screening Rooms. While sustainability and green architecture are often seen as contemporary movements, this documentary urges us to reconsider that narrative. What if we had embraced green architecture as early as Ambasz proposed? How different might our cities, our climate, and our daily lives be today?

Emilio Ambasz, born in Argentina in 1943, is an architect and industrial designer who also served as a curator and has authored several books on architecture and design. Though influential across numerous disciplines, Ambasz is increasingly recognised today as a visionary advocate for green architecture and an ecological approach to the built environment. For more than four decades, he has called for a reimagining of the relationship between human structures and the natural world, envisioning a future where nature is not an afterthought, but the very foundation of design.

Green Over Grey takes a broad look at green architecture by focusing on four of Ambasz’s seminal buildings—one from each decade between the 1970s and 2000s: the Casa de Retiro Espiritual (1975), the Lucille Halsell Conservatory at San Antonio Botanical Garden (1982), the ACROS Building (1990), and the Ospedale dell’Angelo (2008). These projects serve as both historical milestones and living case studies, underscoring Ambasz’s enduring commitment to a vision of architecture that is inseparable from the natural landscape.

Featuring exclusive interviews with renowned architects such as Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma, Green Over Grey explores the emotional and transformative power of architecture—demonstrating how buildings can not only fulfil functional needs, but also uplift, heal, and harmonise with the planet.

The film leaves us with a powerful challenge: to build not just efficiently, but meaningfully—to create spaces that are as alive as the ecosystems they inhabit.

Thank you to all who attended both sold-out Winter movie screenings. We look forward to welcoming you—and other members—back to our Autumn movie screenings in September.

Written by Chris Musangi, AIA

Photo Credits: Chris Musangi, AIA