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
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.
1995
RIBA Award
Civic Trust Award
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
Client
University of East Anglia
Location
Norwich, UK
Size
9,600m²
Value
£6.6m
Completed
Sep 93