The Swoosh Pavilion is the 2008 AA Summer Pavilion built annually by the second and third year students of Intermediate Unit 2 tutored by Charles Walker and Martin Self. For the students who conceive, design and construct the pavilion it’s a phenomenological exercise, going from idea to design and finally realization. Here’s a text from the London Festival of Architecture:
The AA took ownership of Hooke Park, West Dorset, in 2003. It is a sustainable working forest, with award-winning alternative, sustainable structures by leading UK practices (including RIBA Royal Gold Medal-winning architects Frei Otto and Edward Cullinan, an AA Graduate).
Photography by Richard Green
The AA has completed a consultation process to develop a strategic plan for the future of Hooke Park and has generated private funds for investment in the project. The vision is to create the UK’s first dedicated rural campus for architectural education in the pursuit of low-cost, environmentally attuned, innovative and sustainable buildings and also to engage with and utilize local knowledge, talent and resources to embed the Dorset community in the life of Hooke Park. Furthermore, it has an ambition to draw national and international attention to the vision of Hooke Park as a model for building successful and innovative projects in managed forests and rural communities. Starting in 2010, new academic programmes will be based at Hooke Park, exploring these issues through design and build projects.
Photography by Richard Green
Photographs by Richard Green
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.