Royal Institute of British Architects

RIBA was established in 1834  for ‘the general advancement of Architecture, and for promoting and facilitating the acquirement of the knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith’.

Today, RIBA continues to drive excellence in the profession and nurtures successive generations of architects to deliver better buildings, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. We do so by being inclusive, ethically and environmentally aware and collaborative. 

RIBA holds the national collection for architecture in the UK, a Designated Outstanding Collection of over 4 million items. Spanning the Renaissance to the present day, it offers global scope and rich historical detail.

RIBA's Collections are hugely diverse and span rare books, drawings, photographs, models, artefacts, archives, portraits, medals, coins and audio-visual material. You can read more about our archival holdings in Revealing the Collection.

RIBA has a longstanding tradition of exhibiting architecture. In 2021, we celebrate 100 years of exhibition-making since the opening of our first display ‘American Architecture’. Since 2014, when our purpose built Architecture Gallery opened, more than half a million audiences have visited our changing programmes of exhibitions, installations and associated displays. 

Sometimes we partner with other cultural organisations to create ambitious and monumental public realm installations like 'A Hall for Hull' by Chile-based architect Pezo von Ellrichshausen and Swiss artist Felice Varini with Hull2017 and British Council.

RIBA delivers over 300 learning events each year, exploring, questioning and celebrating the built environment. Our Clore Learning Studio provides the optimum setting to explore the processes of architecture and gain insight into architectural history for eager learners of all ages and backgrounds.

Creativity is at the heart of all our learning programmes. Through hands-on workshops, we invite the public to explore form and structure; the use of materials and different techniques of construction; as well as architectural typologies and what they symbolise in different contexts and much, much more.

Our National Schools Programme has engaged over 30,000 primary and secondary pupils since 2015. Together with our trained Architecture Ambassadors we work with teachers to deliver inspiring in-school activities. Our schools visits help to raise the aspirations of participating young people and reduce perceived barriers to entering a career in the creative industries.

RIBA has an outstanding awards programme that recognises the achievements of architects’ built projects, academic research and student work. These awards range from the highest accolade of the Royal Gold Medal – approved personally by the Queen – to the annual RIBA Stirling Prize

Dating back to 1836, the President's Medals are RIBA’s oldest awards and regarded as the most prestigious prizes in architectural education globally. The very first Silver Medal was awarded to George Godwin for his essay on the 'Nature and Properties of Concrete'.

Some areas of architecture have a huge influence and impact on how we live and interact in the world. RIBA facilitates the space to express concerns surrounding the issues of today, allowing architects and the public to have a voice and be heard. We connect grassroots with the policy makers.

Lastly, we act as the connector between the profession and the wider public through online and live events. We invite leading figures within the field to present and debate key topics, architectural history and the latest development within the discipline in a programme that sets out to both provoke and delight. 

As we approach our 200 years anniversary in 2034, we continue to make a noise about the positive impact that architecture can have on places and humanity, supporting architects and communities that are leading the way in creating a more  responsible, imaginative, inclusive and sustainable world.