New university buildings

The colourful, pepper pot-shaped constructions at the University of East London's Docklands campus, designed by Edward Cullinan Architects Photograph: Edward Cullinan Architects/Edward Cullinan Architects

The 'Lock-keeper's Cottage' Graduate Centre at Queen Mary, University of London, by Surface Architects. The striking design led one critic to comment that it looked as if the building had been ‘peeled and folded outwards from its original architectural form’ Photograph: Surface Architects/Surface Architects

The Graduate Centre at London Metropolitan University, designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind: visually impressive but poor in terms of the spaces and facilities Photograph: Daniel Libeskind/Daniel Libeskind

Another view of Daniel Libeskind's Graduate Centre at London Metropolitan University Photograph: Daniel Libeskind/Daniel Libeskind

The faculty of education at Cambridge University, designed by architects BDP. An internal 'street' linking formal and informal spaces creates an atmosphere in which students and staff can congregate, chat and exchange ideas Photograph: BDP/BDP

Inside Cambridge's faculty of education building Photograph: BDP/BDP

The School of Slavonic and East European Studies at UCL, designed by Alan Short Associates. In contrast to the strangely pseudo-historical aesthetic, the building uses cutting edge environmental technology Photograph: Alan Short Associates/Alan Short Associates

The Blizard building at the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science at Queen Mary, University of London. Created by Alsop Architects, it is a design statement aimed at pursuing the serious business of top-line research Photograph: Alsop Architects/Alsop Architects

The Business School at Napier University, designed by architects BDP Photograph: BDP/BDP

One of two lecture theatres inside the titanium-coloured egg-shaped construction that is Napier's Business School Photograph: BDP/BDP

The faculty of law at Cambridge University, designed by Sir Norman Foster Photograph: Foster & Partners/Foster & Partners