This week marks the official reopening of the renovated Royal Academy Schools. Founded in 1769, the RA Schools is the longest established school of fine art in the UK and has been located on the lower ground floor at the northern end of Burlington House, the RA’s historic home, since the 1870s. The project has prioritised the rationalisation of the spaces and maximisation of light while improving access, circulation, services and thermal performance. The revitalised campus has more studio space, a suite of technical workshops, a library and a canteen and opens onto the landscaped courtyard between Burlington House and 6 Burlington Gardens – the historic building that the RA expanded into in 2018. The project forms the second part of David Chipperfield Architects’ masterplan for the RA that started in 2008.
Thanks to the RA Schools students for allowing their work to be photographed.
Photographs by Johan Dehlin