Architect for Humanities Building appointed
27 May 08
Bennetts Associates has been appointed as architect for a new humanities facility, which will enhance the study of the arts at Oxford University in the 21st century and beyond.
The architect will work with the University on the £180 million humanities development in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, a site at the heart of the city of Oxford bounded by the eighteenth-century Radcliffe Infirmary building and the adjacent Radcliffe Observatory. The development will be part of the masterplan designed for the site by architects Rafael Viñoly.
Professor Sally ShuttleworthWe are confident that Bennetts will develop a design which will give users of the humanities library a fantastic space to work in
The new development will provide a home for most of the faculties in the Humanities, and will offer excellent teaching facilities, dedicated graduate space and academic offices, as well as space for visiting scholars and research projects. At the centre of the development will be a new humanities library, which will bring together holdings from faculty libraries, currently spread across the city. It will also include lecture theatres, and seminar and conference space, as well as cafes and space for art exhibitions, screenings of films and musical performances.
It is anticipated that the development will be delivered in two phases, with the first phase to be completed by mid 2012. The first phase will include the faculties of English, History, Philosophy and Theology.
Professor Sally Shuttleworth, Head of the Humanities Division at Oxford, said: ‘Bennetts Associates were selected because they showed the best understanding of the challenges posed by the site and the complex requirements of the project brief. They combine a strong analytical approach with sympathy for the historical context of the site. We are confident that they will develop a design which will give users of the humanities library a fantastic space to work in.’
Four practices were invited to participate in the competition, which was set up by Oxford University and PDCM, from an initial long list of twelve: Bennetts Associates Architects, David Chipperfield Architects, KPF and Wilkinson Eyre.
A spokesperson for the University of Oxford said: ‘The University has been hugely impressed by the effort made by the architects and the quality of ideas from each practice. The architects went through a rigorous selection process over several months including visits to their offices by the Project Sponsor Group, building visits, user group workshops and finally interviews.’’
The architect Rab Bennetts said: ‘We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work with the Humanities Division and University to create a development of this significance on such an important site. Our competition proposals for open quads and gardens reinterpret the historic grain of Oxford and provide a strong identity for the library. We also explored space syntax, daylight, natural ventilation and good views to create the best possible educational environment.’