Gaps between buildings allow views into the quad layout while maintaining student privacy
Allies and Morrison for Wadham College, University of Oxford
Contract value: undisclosed
GIA: 5,432m2
Sited on the arterial Iffley Road, but on the edge of a residential conservation area, the brief called for high quality accommodation for 135 second year Wadham students; the design intent being to convey a strong collegiate feel. To this end, the new building was laid out in a traditional quad form. The new buildings are scaled according to the hierarchy of the streets they front, stepping down from 3.5 storeys onto the main road to 2.5 storeys on the side streets. The buildings framing the quad are distinct, with gaps which allow passersby to see into the courtyard while preserving privacy for students within. A gabled roofscape, regular windows and the use of light brick tones respond to the locality’s residential nature while still embodying a contemporary spirit.