This semester, Zeller & Moye will lead the design studio investigating glass as an architectural material through the lens of glass casting. The studio positions material research as a primary generator of architectural thought, examining how an ancient making technique can inform contemporary spatial, structural and urban propositions. Glass has always existed in nature, occupying an ambiguous state between solid and liquid. Glassmaking is one of the earliest material technologies, with the first known instances of man-made glass dating back over 4,000 years to Mesopotamia. Despite its long history, solid cast glass remains largely absent from contemporary construction, offering fertile ground for architectural experimentation.
Cast glass represents the most elemental condition of the material: molten glass poured into a mould to form a three-dimensional mass. In this state, glass acquires a pronounced physical presence, with the casting process producing internal air bubbles, striations and surface irregularities – qualities that suggest water frozen in time. Rather than transparency alone, the studio will engage glass as matter, weight and volume. Through design and fabrication, the studio will explore cast glass across a spectrum of material conditions, from opaque to crystal clear, from viscous to dense. As an artisanal process that allows for infinite re-casting, solid glass also introduces questions of sustainability, reuse and circular material lifecycles.
The studio will push the boundaries of both design and technology by developing architectural proposals based on recycled cast glass modules for urban sites within the UK. Projects will test the spatial, tectonic and constructional potential of this unconventional material, embedding material logic within architectural form and urban context. The programme will collaborate closely with material scientists throughout the workshop, providing laboratory support and technical expertise related to glass casting.
The Semester Programme is a full-time, 15-week studio-based course open to undergraduate and graduate students, architects, and other creative individuals from around the world seeking to further their knowledge, practice and skills in architecture. The programme follows the AA’s renowned unit system, offering one-to-one student–tutor discussions to guide and develop individual projects. Pin-ups, workshops, lectures and juries support collaboration and exchange within the unit. AA tutors and external critics are invited to review projects and provide personalised feedback throughout the semester.
A 'studio only' option is also available, excluding AA core courses (History and Theory Studies, and Communication and Media Studies). For further details, Download the Handbook and contact the Visiting School office.