The AA

The Rite of Seasons: Spring Making Workshop

Fabian Knecht, Isolation (52°33’44.1”N 14°03’12.8”E) III, 2019, archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth, 111 x 161 cm, detail, courtesy of the artist and alexander levy, Berlin.

Dates

Spring 2026

Brief

In Spring 2025, based at the Architectural Association in Bedford Square and in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, this 10-day workshop explored the experimental use of willow and plant fibres in construction and offers participants a unique opportunity to design and build a site-specific 1:1 architectural installation. Led by architect Nichola Barrington-Leach and facilitated by specialist natural weaver and product designer Femke Lemmens, the project celebrates and choreographs Spring as part of the Rite of Seasons, a ritual honouring seasonal change and renewal.

Drawing inspiration from the Muharram procession, in which Tazia – temporary shrines – are ceremonially paraded through the streets before being immersed in a water source, the installation will culminate in an exhibition in the AA Gallery, following a processional presentation with invited guests. Guests include award-winning architects Roz Barr Architects, Fardaa and the Royal Academy of Arts.

This workshop bridges design, making and sustainability, offering an in-depth exploration of material processes – from sourcing to construction and beyond – while fostering an architectural approach deeply intertwined with the cycles of nature. Through hands-on making, collaborative teamwork and critical discussion, participants will engage with natural materials, develop practical skills and explore the role of seasonal architecture in contemporary practice

Week 1: Design Development and Experimentation

In the first week, participants will focus on concept design ideas and testing. Workshops and lectures will be held on low-carbon design and sustainable construction, and specifically on plant fibres, willow weaving and natural string knotting technology. Through sketching, prototyping and working with renewable materials, participants will develop practical weaving and knotting skills and a chance to experiment with different plant fibres through a series of scaled models.

Week 2: Construction and Installation

In the second week, the group will transition to hands-on building and assembling the installation. The process will emphasise teamwork, precision and making. The programme will culminate in a final performed procession, a presentation with invited guests and an exhibition in the AA Gallery showcasing the completed installation.

Programme:

* Designing through making: Collaborate as a group to build a full-scale 1:1 architectural installation using natural, replenishable and locally sourced plant fibre materials.

* Hands-on Learning: Gain practical experience with tools and techniques, facilitated by specialist makers, and explore fabrication methods in the AA’s workshop, guided by expert supervision.

* Environmental Knowledge: Through lectures, demonstrations and discussions, develop a critical position on low-carbon design, ethical material sourcing and sustainable architecture.

* Exhibition: Celebrate the collective achievement with a final procession and presentation, showcasing the installation to invited guests.

Fees

Applications

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAMME WILL OPEN SOON

1. Standard Application:

Click on "Apply" and submit the required details on the application form.
Follow the instructions sent to your email address to settle the programme fees and complete your registration through the AA Student portal.

2. AA Students and Melbourne University Students.

AA Student and Melbourne University Student fees are automatically reduced. Please ensure to apply with your student email address.
Follow the instructions sent to your email address to settle the programme fees and complete your registration through the AA Student portal.

3. Scholarship application:

A small budget is left to grant 25% scholarships. This budget will be used on a first-come first-serve basis.
Click on the "Apply" and submit your details. Enter the Concession Code VSUKTHERITE50 in the correspondent space and submit your details.
Please note you will receive an automatic email requesting to log in to the AA Applicant portal - No CV and portafolio are needed.
No payment is required before the outcome of your application is received.

Note: The maximum price reduction is 25% for AA students or non-AA students successful applicants for the scholarship. Scholarships are not accumulative for those eligible to multiple schemes.

Scholarships application deadline: 5 February 2025.

Eligibility

Open to all aged 18 or over. Whether you are a student, professional or enthusiast, this course offers an opportunity to learn, create and contribute to a shared vision of sustainable, low-carbon architecture.

NO CV OR PORTFOLIO IS REQUIRED for the application.

Visas

ENTERING THE UK

If you are traveling to the UK from abroad, it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the right documents to enter the UK.

All applicants are required to review the relevant sections on ‘Entering the UK’ via the UK Government website to check which documents are required to enter the UK and check if an application to a Standard Visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is needed. Your type of immigration document and how to apply depends on your nationality, the AA can provide a letter confirming your enrolment to the course to support your application once the course fees are settled.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Commencing 8 January 2025, the UK introduced ETAs for all visitors who do not currently need a visa for short stays of under six months, including Australian, Canadian, and US passport holders.

Starting in April 2025, all visitors to the UK who do not require a visa for short stays and do not already have a UK immigration status will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This includes nationals from many countries, including those in the European Union as well as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

You can Check if you can apply for an ETA on the UK Government website. An ETA costs £10 and allows multiple entries into the UK for stays of up to six months at a time, valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires—whichever is sooner.

Standard Visitor Visa

Please note that Standard Visitor Visas may take up to 3 months to be issued, all applicants who require a visa to enter the UK are encouraged to apply for a Standard Visitor visa at least 3 months in advance and no later than 1 month before the start of the programme or the date of the flight in which is intended to enter the UK, whichever is first. Student Visas are not required for study periods shorter than six months.

How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa depends on your country of origin. You can check check if you need to apply for a visa in advance or if you can enter with and ETA and your passport upon arrival in the UK.

Applicants who need a visa to study in the UK are encouraged to carefully review the details and eligibility criteria for the Standard Visitor Visa, which are available on the UK Government website. The Visiting School Office will provide guidance throughout the process to ensure applicants are well-informed and prepared to submit their visa applications. Please also review the costs associated with obtaining a visa.

Once an applicant has been accepted into the programme and has paid the deposit or full fees (see ‘Fees’ section), the Visiting School Office will issue an invitation letter confirming enrolment. This letter can also be used as a supporting document when entering the UK.

Insurance

All participants are responsible for securing their own travel and health insurance. Please ensure that your travel insurance also covers your personal belongings i.e. laptop, equipment, tools, passport, etc. The AA takes no responsibility for lost or stolen property.

Biographies

Programme Head:

Nichola Barrington-Leach is an architect, educator, and founder of NVBL Architects,, a London-based architecture and design studio. She is the Unit Master of Intermediate 15 at the Architectural Association.

Nichola earned a Joint Honours BA in Fine Art and History of Art before completing her architectural training at the Bartlett School of Architecture and the Architectural Association. She brings a wealth of experience from leading architectural practices both locally and internationally, and she actively contributes to academic discourse as a lecturer and critic at leading institutions.

Founded in 2014, her practice, NVBL, specialises in designing environmentally conscious spaces and objects, blending traditional techniques with innovative, research-driven solutions. The practice’s work encompasses cultural buildings, installations, residential refurbishments, and handcrafted furniture and objects—all committed to low-carbon principles.

In 2023, Nichola was awarded the Royal Academy of Arts Residency and in 2024 recognised as a RIBA Rising star. Her work has been widely exhibited and published, including at the Royal Academy of Arts, the London Festival of Architecture, Clerkenwell Design Week, the Venice Biennale, and the Guangzhou Triennial.

Instagram: @n_v_b_l

Website: www.nv-bl.com