Catalan architect and curator Eva Franch i Gilabert has been appointed new director of UK’s oldest independent school of architecture Architectural Association (AA) in March 5th 2018. She succeeds to Brett Steele - initiator of the AA Interprofessional Studio, a programme focused on spatial performance - who left the school last year.

Advocator of alternative practices in the educational and cultural realms, Franch is the chief curator and director of Storefront for Art and Architecture (Manhattan), and founder of architecture studio OOAA (Office of Architectural Affairs). Among her past projects include the “OfficeUS”, the United States Pavilion developed for the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014, “World Wide Storefrontand”, a digital platform exploring alternative initiatives around the world and “Letters to the Mayor”, a global project aiming at creating a dialogue between city councils and architects.

Shortlisted with Pippo Ciorra, senior curator of MAXXI Architettura in Rome, and Robert Mull, Head of Architecture and Design at the University of Brighton, Franch was elected by a majority of 67% votes. “The highest majority received in a contested election since 1990”, underlined the Architectural Association in its announcement, adding that this election saw “the highest levels of participation [...] over the last 30 years”.