The Sainsbury Building
Worcester College, Oxford
Our project for Worcester College, Oxford, is an early and successful example of our work in the area of student accommodation. The building forms a threshold between the private world of the College garden and the city outside.
The incredibly difficult task of successfully placing a new building in such a special setting has here been met with architectural distinction.
The theme of an unfolding landscape characterises the College’s gardens, in which the building is set. A serpentine lake seems to beckon the visitor from the College’s main buildings towards the new building, which appears to be an island in the lake.
The scheme is conceived as a community of rooms set in groups around kitchens. The glazed, cabinet-like quality of the kitchens creates an open, sociable atmosphere in the shared parts of the building. In contrast, the bed-sitting rooms are designed for visual and acoustic privacy. The common room is positioned close to the water with its floor at punt level.
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- Client
- Worcester College Oxford
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- Awards
- Civic Trust Award, 1984
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