Jacob Dix - work at aLL Design with Prof Will Alsop

In December 2021, Jacob Dix, a UNNC Architecture Alumnus, who currently works in the influential aLL Design office in London, gave an online Guest lecture in which he shared his professional experience with our students. That Guest lecture was organized by Aurel Fabri, former UNNC tutor of Jacob Dix.

Jacob and Aurel decided to develop and publish this article, and to dedicate it to the memory of Professor Will Alsop OBE RA, who was an exceptional figure in world architecture. Will, a Founding Director of aLL Design was also Aurel's professor at the time of his studies at the University of Technology in Vienna.

AF: At the time of your UG architecture studies at UNNC, you were one of the best students in your cohort. You were awarded by the Award for Graduating Student with the Best Overall Performance. What are your memories of studying at UNNC? What was the best value you gained while studying at UNNC?

JD: I really enjoyed my time studying at UNNC and felt I left with a broad set of skills that left me equipped for the variety of challenges that arise when you begin professional practice. For me, being from the UK, the opportunity to spend time exploring and understanding a culture so different to my own was probably the most valuable part of the entire experience. I left the school with a level of confidence that allowed me to quickly take on large amounts of responsibility on projects and progress in my career.

AF: After graduating from UNNC, you started working with prof. Will Alsop. How and when did you meet prof  Alsop? If I remember correctly, your original plan after graduation, was to go to Hong Kong to study Chinese.     

JD: Well I have you to thank for that! I was introduced to Will’s practice, aLL Design, when I was seeking an internship to gain practice experience following my second Year at UNNC. I spent six weeks working at aLL Design during the summer and had a wonderful time. As graduation approached I had planned to stay on in China to develop my language skills but was offered a full time position at aLL Design which was to good an opportunity to turn down.

UNNC Graduation Ceremony 2014

AF: You used to closely work with Prof Will Alsop in the aLL Design studio in London for several years. Could you please tell us how do you saw or how do you see Prof Alsop. According your opinion, how he influenced the development of world architecture, and how he influenced your understanding of architecture.    

JD: Will’s work has had a large worldwide influence but I think more importantly he has always been approachable and keen to assist with the development of others. I have met many people who have benefitted from this over the years and are very grateful for his guidance and input. Working with him allowed alot of freedom in considering what a building could be and helped stretch my imagination when approaching projects, especially when considering form and colour.

Jacob Dix with Prof Will Alsop

AF: The style of work of Prof Alsop was quite specific. It was a combination of Art work and Architecture, a combination of semi-abstract painting and a development of Architectural design. Could you please tell us something about it?    

JD: Yes, the painting wall is a focal point in the office. Throughout projects we would start and continue very large scale paintings under Will’s direction. These would serve as an opportunity for exploration, playing with forms and colour that could sometimes influence a project. However beyond this, the process of painting and waiting for layers to dry, allowed time for thought on the project and what the next design steps might be.

AF: Later you went for Master studies to the London School of Architecture. It is quite specific School of Architecture.  Could you please explain how it works? What are your memories at that studies? 

JD: The LSA is a relatively new school and I was in the second cohort to graduate. The format of the school means that you work part time during your first year. This helps ease the financial burden of part II studies and also allows you to investigate the practice you are working for and better understand where there strengths and weaknesses may be. It also allows you to continue to work on real world projects, the experience of which I have found to be more rewarding than the theoretical work you generally do during your studies. The second year is much the same as a conventional part II course which in some ways is a shame given the more radical approach of the first. I enjoyed my time at the LSA although it was stressful at times, especially as I continued working part time during my second year.

Exhibition of the aLL-design at the Royal Academy London 2019

AF: After completion of your Master studies you returned to the aLL Design office. How did your colleagues welcome you back in the office? How does your work in the office before and after the Master's study differ? Which of your architectural projects are your favorites. 

JD: I continued working part time at aLL Design throughout my postgraduate studies and had always been given a high level of responsibility at aLL Design. As a result the work didn’t differ hugely on my return but the practice was experiencing a slight reducation in active projects so I spent some time putting together bids and competition entries.

I enjoy working on projects of all scales but I really enjoyed working on the Exhibition we put together at the Royal Academy of Arts. It allowed us to show the breadth of the offices work, revolving around the theme of Knock Nothing Down, an essay Will had written a few years ago on the benefits of retaining existing buildings and adapting or extending them rather than starting anew. The exhibition also gave me an opportunity to work across a wide range of medium, from producing the architectural drawings for the constuction of the exhibition to producing video content explaining the some of aLL Designs work and our approach to certain projects.

Another project, which I only did a small amount of work on, but which was very exciting for the practice, was the completion of the Neuron Pod. This is a small classroom at Queen Mary’s University London, which acts as a space for their learning outreach programmes. It will likely be the most unusual project I will ever see built and the client team were delighted with the result.

Neuron Pod - RIBA award-winning Blizard Building - Queen Mary University of London

AF: Prof Will Alsop passed the way May 2018. It was a big loss for the aLL design office. How did you deal with that? How your office works today? 

JD: It took us a while to find our feet following the loss of Will. He was so central to the practice and was heavily involved with every project we worked on. However the remaining team all spent many years working with him and as a result are heavily influenced by his design approach. We now work together as a collective, developing designs together with a set of shared values.

AF: What are the greatest values you have from studying at the UNNC, at the London School of Architecture, and from working with Professor Will Alsop? Would you like to come with some recommendations for our students? 

JD: I believe my education and practical experience has given me a wide set of skills. I feel comfortable working at all stages of a project from concept to handover and find elements of each stage interesting or enjoyable in some way. My key piece of advice would be to begin developing practical experience as early as possible, my internship during second year was invaluable and helped secure a job when I graduated.

AF: Thanks a lot for the interview, for sharing your experience and the nice ideas. It was nice to talk to you again after while. We wish you all the best in your future.