Jowett Walk

The site and the brief

The Jowett Walk Buildings for Balliol College, Oxford, contain student residences and a range of shared College facilities. They run along one side of the College’s sports field, on the periphery of the historic city centre.

Phasing and flexibility

The design had to allow for phased construction, with the first phase fulfilling the College’s immediate requirements. Sufficient flexibility was needed to allow possible changes to the brief for future phases.

The design

The solution consists of a series of linked pavilions that reflect the suburban residential character of the area, rather than the quadrangles of medieval Oxford. The layout creates small three-sided courts between the pavilions, some open to the sports field and some to the road. It also allows the required phasing of the development.

College facilities

Public rooms are all on the lower ground floor, and include a student theatre, porter’s lodge and seminar rooms in the two built phases. There is scope for a lecture theatre, squash courts and other facilities in future phases.

Student residences

The residential accommodation is on the upper floors. Access is entirely separate at first floor level to increase privacy. Each pavilion has its own stair, with a group of ensuite study bedrooms on each floor sharing a kitchen/dining room.