LONDON.- An exhibition showcasing the masterwork architectural drawings and models from the collection of the Royal Academy of Arts will open on January 14, 2011. Over fifty Diploma works will be displayed spanning the centuries of the collection. Early examples to be shown will include Sir John Soane’s spectacular watercolours for his design for a new House of Lords. More recent exhibits will include Zaha Hadid’s ‘silver painting’ of her winning 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize scheme for MAXXI Museum in Rome.

The exhibition will be displayed throughout the suite of The John Madejski Fine Rooms. The Tennant Gallery will house early examples of Diploma works and will include George Gilbert Scott’s design for government offices on Whitehall, Alfred Waterhouse’s Manchester Town Hall and Sir Edwin Lutyen’s work in New Delhi. Architectural masterworks by many post-war and all current RA architects will also be shown; highlights will include Sir Hugh Casson’s Elephant House at London Zoo, James Stirling’s competition entry for the Channel 4 Headquarters and Sir Nicholas Grimshaw’s scheme for Waterloo International Terminal. Until the late twentieth century architectural drawings were the preferred medium of Diploma Works provided by architect RA’s, however, as the exhibition will portray, other methods including painting, models and computer renders have become popular in recent years.

Masterworks: Architecture at the Royal Academy will highlight many of the illustrious architect members at the Royal Academy of Arts since its foundation in 1768.

A handsome, fully illustrated book by exhibition curator Dr. Neil Bingham will accompany the exhibition. The book will feature all of the architectural Diploma Works and is published by the Royal Academy of Arts. Masterworks: Architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts explores the history of each of the architectural masterworks