Founding of the Architectural Association School of Architecture

A group of young architectural articled pupils and students founded the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1847, dissatisfied with the informal, master-to-apprentice pupillage system that then served as the only route into the profession, and seeking a shared, structured architectural education instead. It grew into the oldest independent school of architecture in the United Kingdom and one of the most influential in the world, known through the 20th and 21st centuries for an experimental, studio-driven teaching culture that produced or hosted architects including Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas and members of Archigram. Independent of any university, the AA has long combined professional training with a reputation for architectural theory and design experimentation distinct from more conventional university programs.