Project :: 320 : Constable Terrace

Introduction

"Constable Terrace and Nelson Court, both four-storeyed halls of residence, are courageous and striking yet contextual buildings. They ... alter the whole mood of the UEA campus. But they do so by inflection rather than open challenge ... At both ends of the campus, Mather 's contextual touch is sure."

Andrew Saint

Casabella

 

Description

Planning the development and expansion of the University of East Anglia campus for the next 25 years, Rick Mather Architects' masterplan identified sites for new construction, including several residential buildings and a new Drama Centre.

Catering for no less than 800 students, the new low energy accommodation and communal facilities of Constable Terrace were constructed on two of these sites, consisting of three storey houses for students, and a top floor of two-person flats. Living rooms and kitchens face a southerly terrace and pedestrian street. Energy conservation is recognised as a priority, and the scheme is so energy efficient that no central heating is required.

The double curve of Constable Terrace is a soft reference to Lasdun's 45 degree angles and defines a large outdoor space in front of the Sainsbury Centre. Constable Terrace contains 400 bedrooms. Nelson Court also provides 400 bedrooms and is arranged around a courtyard opening to the south to the lake and countryside.

The residential units have ten bedrooms with communal space and a kitchen at ground level, forming a large terrace house. This avoids the institutional character of a hall of residence yet is of an appropriate scale for the campus when combined into terraces that define spaces. There are also one bedroom flats on the top floor, accessed from lifts and stairs at the end of each block. The living/dining/kitchen rooms at ground floor open south to sunny terraces and the adjacent route. All houses overlook this route, and face south, gaining maximum benefit from the sun.

Awards

1995

RIBA Award

Civic Trust Award

Press

Casabella
Due edifici per la University of East Anglia a Norwich
Andrew Saint - Jun 95

Baumeister
Studentenwohnheime in Norwich
Jun 94

RIBA Journal
Student Union
John Welsh - Feb 94

Architecture Today
Energy - warm space, cool aesthetic: Rick Mather at UEA
Mark Swenarton - Feb 94

The Independent
Hallmarks of quality on the campus
Peter Dormer - 8 Dec 93

Architects' Journal
Airtight Additions to the Campus
Barie Evans & Don Ward - 28 Apr 93

CIBSE Journal
Lessons in Low Energy
Jun 92

Details

Client
University of East Anglia

Location
Norwich, UK

Size
9,600m²

Value
£6.6m

Completed
Sep 93

  • Started : 1991-11-18
  • Completed : 1993-09-01
  • Country : UK
  • City : UEA Norwich
  • m2 : 9600