A word from the Architecture Fringe

The degree show is recognised as an important time for a graduate - it forms an opportunity to consolidate and present hard work done over the past years, a chance to launch oneself out into the world beyond, a time to celebrate the end of one chapter and the start of the next. It is a well-deserved right of passage.

Due to the restrictions caused by the 2020 pandemic, no degree shows have been able to take place this year in Scotland. Many students, and indeed the profession, see this as a huge loss.

THE ARCHITECTURE FRINGE GRADUATE SHOWCASE

While each of the universities have moved their degree shows entirely online, thanks to collaborations with Scotportolio and student-led magazines -ism and Crumble, we have invited, for the first time, graduating students from all Scottish universities to upload their work to an online national Graduate Showcase.

‘We are proud to support a platform that bring Scottish architecture students together and gives equal opportunity to gain exposure that was lost during the uncertain and strenuous period of lockdown.’
—Aofie Nolan, Editor In Chief of the new student magazine -ism

Open to graduating students of accredited Part 1 and 2 Architecture, and MA and MLA Landscape Architecture programmes, we have been delighted to receive more than 170 submissions in the debut year.

The Graduate Showcase forms a new annual feature of the our programme and, while activity will be restricted to an online format in 2020, in coming years there is the opportunity for this to evolve to include live installations and events.

A PLATFORM FOR CRITICAL DISCUSSION, A VOICE TO NEW GRADUATES

We have developed this platform as a celebration of the outstanding talent, diversity and critical explorations of the Scottish schools’ Architecture and Landscape Architecture graduates. While this is in no way a replacement for the degree show, the purpose of the Graduate Showcase is to provide a voice for graduates, and widen their audience nationally and internationally, to other students, graduates, interested individuals and prospective employers.

‘The Architecture Fringe is one of the most exciting, innovative initiatives in the current landscape of architectural culture, both in Scotland and beyond. We are delighted that graduates from the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture can participate in this new Graduate Showcase.’
—Miguel Paredes Maldonado, BA/MA (Hons) Architecture Programme Director at the University of Edinburgh

This year, students have faced a truly unique challenge, however the quality of work exhibited in the Graduate Showcase shows how our graduates have succeeded despite this.

We are so grateful to all who have supported us in getting this up and running, most especially the graduates themselves, without whom, this would not happen.

Congratulations Class of 2020,
on behalf of all at the Architecture Fringe!