Architect and teacher Alvin Boyarsky was born to a Polish-Canadian family in Montreal, Canada in 1928. He studied architecture at McGill University and then pursued urban planning at Cornell in New York. Moving to England, Boyarsky led the Architectural Association in London from 1971 to 1990, fostering innovative architectural education and establishing the AA as a global hub for experimental design and discourse.
Architect and teacher Alvin Boyarsky was born in 1928 to a Polish-Canadian family in Montreal, Canada. He studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal before taking a second degree in Urban Planning at Cornell University in New York, where he was taught by the influential architectural theorist, Colin Rowe. This experience exposed him to a world of architectural ideas and theories that would later inform his teaching and leadership style. Boyarsky first began teaching at the Architectural Association (AA) in London during 1963-64, before moving with his family to Chicago in 1965 to serve as Associate Dean at the Circle Campus of the University of Illinois, a commuter school then in formation. His experiences in Chicago laid the groundwork for his next major initiative, the International Institute of Design (IID), which he founded in 1970 in London.
The IID was a summer school that brought together architects, critics, and designers from around the world to participate in workshops and discussions. Boyarsky's vision for the IID was to create an alternative model of architectural education that emphasised creativity and hands-on learning, leveraging new technologies to bring the best minds in architecture to the sessions. These workshops addressed real-world architectural challenges and attracted influential figures such as Reyner Banham, James Stirling, Cedric Price, and Archigram. The sessions also addressed real-world architectural challenges, such as the battle over the future of Covent Garden in London and a study of the Con Edison site next to the United Nations in New York, led by Elias Zengelis and Rem Koolhaas.
In 1972, Boyarsky’s reputation as an educator and his success with the IID led him to become chairman of the Architectural Association. At the time, the AA was struggling financially and faced the threat of being merged with Imperial College, University of London. Boyarsky’s proposal to transform the AA into a ‘perpetual summer session’ won the support of the school community, and he was elected to lead the institution (Shane 1992, p. 189). As chairman, Boyarsky implemented significant changes that revitalised the AA. He shifted the school’s focus to embrace internationalism, attracting students from around the world. Under his leadership, the student body evolved from being predominantly British to having a diverse international presence. Boyarsky introduced a unit system that allowed students to choose from a wide range of design studios led by prominent architects and theorists. This system encouraged independent thinking and creativity.
Boyarsky’s tenure was marked by a commitment to fostering an environment where students could make informed choices about their education. He saw architectural drawing as a form of architecture in its own right, urging students to pursue visionary, even ‘dream’ projects that might transcend immediate feasibility. This emphasis fostered a culture of experimentation and encouraged students to take an active role in shaping their own education. He recruited a diverse faculty, includinng respected figures such as Leon Krier, Rem Koolhaas, and Bernard Tschumi, who introduced new ideas and perspectives to the school. Technical studies were integrated with design projects, and a media studio was established by Dennis Crompton of Archigram. Robin Middleton developed a history and theory curriculum that provided a broad intellectual foundation for students. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Boyarsky’s leadership transformed the AA into a leading independent international design school, fostering a culture of experimentation and intellectual freedom, attracting new students through travelling exhibitions and publications, such as the annual Projects Review Catalogue, which showcased student work and became a major architectural event in London. Boyarsky’s dedication to architectural education came at a personal cost, as he focused his efforts on nurturing the creative potential of students and faculty rather than on publishing papers or building projects. Despite declining health in the late 1980s, he continued to prioritise the school’s exhibitions and publications, recognising their impact on architectural discourse and their role in attracting students to the AA.
Alvin Boyarsky died in London, England in 1990. In 2015, the exhibition Drawing Ambience: Alvin Boyarsky and the Architectural Association took place at the Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, showcasing Boyarsky's influence at the AA, and featuring works by renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Rem Koolhaas. In 2025, the exhibition AA Folios: 1986–1991, which focused on the final seven issues of the Architectural Association’s influential publication series showcasing architectural drawings, essays, and interviews with prominent architects, was held at The Cooper Union Library, New York.
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Alvin Boyarsky]
Publications related to [Alvin Boyarsky] in the Ben Uri Library