Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is set to host a new exhibition celebrating the work of world-famous architect Professor Sir Peter Cook RA, beginning with a formal opening on 18 March 2026. The show, titled “Peter Cook: Moves On from the Beach to City and Landscape,” will be held at TheGallery on the university campus in Bournemouth, Dorset. It offers a look at the creative journey of a man who is both a former student and an Honorary Fellow of the institution.
The exhibition tracks the evolution of Sir Peter Cook’s career, showing how his ideas have developed over seven decades. It features his early work inspired by the seaside, such as the 1954 fruit kiosk at Durley Chine and the 2010 “Crab by the Sea” exhibition, and follows his transition into designing complex city structures and landscapes. The displays aim to show how his creative vision has shaped modern architecture.
Sir Peter Cook is a highly influential figure in the world of design and was one of the founders of the avant-garde Archigram group in the 1960s. Local residents may already be familiar with his work on the university campus itself. He designed the Drawing Studio at AUB, which was the first purpose-built drawing studio at a British art school in over a century when it opened in 2016.
Following a private viewing on 18 March 2026, the exhibition will open its doors to the general public on 19 March 2026. This event is part of a series of celebrations at the university, which will also include a talk with the architect on 7 May 2026 to share new insights into his work and creativity.
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