Other Useful websites

• Architects Registration Board (ARB)
  The UK regulator of architects. Wide range of professional information. See particularly links from Information for Students tab.
  
  
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
  RIBA is a professional body for architects primarily in the UK, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture. A vast range of useful links, including images, knowledge bank and Education/CPD section.
  
  
• Architect's Council of Europe
  An association of member organisations to promote and represent the common interest of the profession of architecture in the European Community.
  
  
• Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture
  Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture. Useful for current events, publications, competitions.
  
  
• Building Research Establishment (BRE)
  Provides research, advisory, training, testing, certification and standards information, including CPD courses for practitioners in built environment related professions, including BREEM and BIM training.
  
  
• Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA)
  Useful for policy and regulation development, changing operating environments and new developments in construction techniques, materials and procurement, events and training.
  
  
• Design Council
  Represents the UK design industry and related bodies. Now incorporates the work of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
  
  
• Royal Town Planning Institute
  The UK's leading planning body for spatial, sustainable and inclusive planning and largest planning institute in Europe. The Institute is responsible for maintaining professional standards and accrediting planning courses nationally and internationally. 
  
  

Sconul Access member libraries

If you're not already registered with SCONUL Access please complete the online form.

• Birkbeck, University of London
• Brunel University Library
• City University
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• University of Greenwich
• Kingston University
• London South Bank
• Middlesex University
• University of Roehampton
• SOAS 
• University of East London
• University of the Arts (includes Central Saint Martins)
• University of West London
• University of Westminster (Harrow campus)

Specialist libraries

• Bishopsgate Institute Library
  Specialist collection on London history, includes a lot of architectural material. Free to access.
  
  
• RIBA Library
  Free to access, but photo ID required.
  
  
• British Library
  Reader's pass required.
  
  
• Courtauld Institute of Art Book Library
  Visit by appointment only.
  
  
• Guildhall Library
  History of London, particularly the city. It is strongly recommended to book a visit in advance if you wish to access material from their stores.
  
  
• London Metropolitan Archives Library
  Archives from the City of London Corporation, free for all to access.
  
  
• National Art Library (Victoria and Albert Museum)
  Reference library for research in art, design and decorative arts. Huge archive of photographs, reports, surveys and maps. It is strongly advised to order any items you wish to consult in advance of your visit.
  
  
• Sir John Soane's Museum
  Research library specialises in architectural history mainly from the 17th and early 19th centuries. Appointments needed.

See also the Local History archives in individual boroughs - search for them under Libraries.

• ArchDaily
  Compiled by architects - good for research, up-to-date projects and architectural products.
  
  
• Archi-Europe Group
  It represents a unique platform where architects coming from all Europe can meet each other.
  
  
• The Archigram Archival Project
  Makes the work of the seminal architectural group Archigram available free online for public viewing and academic study.
  
  
• Archinect UK
  Many useful features including Construction index, British Architecture chronology and UK Award Winners listing. Useful links section includes a wide range of professional & trade associations and public bodies (e.g. National Trust) who may offer jobs, placements, scholarships, bursaries or courses.
  
  
• Architonic
  This platform can be used to find products, brands, retailers, and expertise for architecture and design.
  
  
• ARH net
  Research into the history of modern arts, architecture and design. It consists of three linked databases: ReVIEW - digitized, searchable versions of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century art journals; Arts & Architecture ProFILES (AAP) - a biographical dictionary of modern artists, designers, architects, craftspeople and photographers; Design Abstracts Retrospective (DAR).
  
  
• Barbour Product Search
  A "searchable database of products and suppliers, including images, case studies, technical data, catalogues, news and project data".
  
  
• Building Research Establishment (BRE)
  Provides research, advisory, training, testing, certification and standards information, including CPD courses for practitioners in built environment related professions, including BREEM and BIM training.
  
  
• Bustler
  Bustler, "sister site to the leading architecture platform, Archinect, focuses on competition and event listings in the architecture and design industries."
  
  
• Construction Index
  A professional edited dictionary of recommended websites relevant to construction in the UK.
  
  
• designboom
  "Industrial design today: courses, education, competitions, history and contemporary, shop, interviews, snapshots, design-aerobics".
  
  
• Architecture week
  Linked to "Architecture week" journal, presenting 1,000 classics of world architecture. Can search by building, architect or place.
  
  
• Inhabitat.com
  A weblog that provides information on new sustainable design and technological practices.
  
  
• City of London London Metropolitan Archives
  Holds archives of construction firms, important registries of building control case files, plans and drawings series created by the architects, engineers, surveyors and planning departments of the Greater London Council and predecessor bodies, also the City of London Corporation.
  
  
• London Residential Research
  Free half year reviews of the residential market in the City and Docklands reported in the press (Estates Gazette). It provides an in-depth analysis into market trends, sub-market activity and the planning pipeline, and provides the opportunity of highlighting the future direction of the residential market in Central London.
  
  
• National Building Survey (NBS)
  NBS National BIM Library - The only BIM object library which directly links to the market leading NBS specification software. A free website including the latest downloads for NBS National BIM report 2014. Building information modeling (BMI) is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places. Visit the NBS National BIM Library.
  
  
• Survey of London
  This is the website of the Survey of London's Whitechapel project. Use it to explore the histories of Whitechapel’s buildings and places. It includes a map, information about every building in Whitechapel as of 2016, photographs, stories, research, film clips and audio recordings.
  
  
• World-architects.com
  Useful website for international profiles on architects, landscape architects, engineers, interior designers, lighting consultants, and architectural photographers. Also provides reviews and job vacancies.