RCA seeks ‘active practitioner’

The staff committee of the Royal College of Art will today consider the resignation of furniture professor Floris van den Broecke, who leaves at the end of the academic year after 12 years.

RCA rector Professor Christopher Frayling says: “We are definitely going for a replacement of van den Broecke (as head of the furniture school)”. But how the appointment will affect the structure of the furniture and architecture schools, both of which van den Broecke heads, is unresolved.

The RCA is looking for “an active practitioner” to fill the furniture post, says Frayling. But the new person will not head both schools, he adds. He cannot, however, say whether Nigel Coates, current head of architecture, will take on the dual responsibility. “We are looking at the structure of the schools,” he says.

Van den Broecke is leaving to spend more time on his own practice. He is currently advisor to one firm, but is keen to do more design work.