RIBA's ‘Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds’ documents solutions to unique site challenges across the UK

Difficult site parameters that came to define some of the UK’s best modern and contemporary architecture are being presented in the new RIBA exhibition ‘Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds’ this fall and winter in London.

Paired with several renowned designs from Neave Brown, Nicholas Grimshaw, and Norman Foster, and others, the show presents challenging projects such as Tonkin Liu’s Stephen Lawrence Prize-winning Water Tower from 2021 that overcame their constraints through an ingenious use of layouts, forms, materials, and the architectural processes. Three thematic sections: Difficult Landscapes, Difficult Urban Spaces, and Difficult Reworkings organize a structure through which valuable lessons can be imparted.

RIBA’s President, Muyiwa Oki, shares: "These projects and their architects push the boundaries of what architecture can achieve. As environments become more changeable and the needs of societies grow and evolve, navigating challenging sites will become ever more important for architects and clients. This exhibition offers fascinating and important case studies of exceptional creative vision and technical innovation, continuing RIBA’s legacy of championing architecture and its place in shaping the future."

The exhibition opens on October 11th and will remain on view until March 29th, 2025.