A bold and extremely well thought through contemporary interpretation
6a architects for Churchill College
Contract value: £9.22m
GIA: 2,420m²
This new hall of residence captures much of the ethos behind the original design for Churchill College but gives us a bold and extremely well thought through contemporary interpretation of it.
A courtyard of similar proportions and scale to the existing residential courtyards is given a distinctive twist. All rooms are on the outside of the building, making the most of views and avoiding internal overlooking. However what makes the interiors distinctive is the exploitation of the timber construction which is a further reference to the expressive concrete structure of the original buildings.
Hefty ceiling timbers are exposed, revealing the structure and giving character to the rooms. Otherwise the interiors are kept quiet. Not so with the exterior which is the most distinctive aspect of the building. Though seemingly square in plan each elevation is curved. Not only that, each level has a slightly different arc so that each elevation is animated by curved shadows of differing depths giving it intrigue.
This building is an important addition to the built form of Churchill College and continues, in a special and sensitive way, the legacy left by Sheppard Robson.
See the other winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2017 - East