Introduction
Planning the development and expansion of the University of East Anglia campus for 25 years, Rick Mather Architects masterplan identified sites for new construction by subtly changing the campus datum from a raised deck to ground level and establishing a series of buildings which created a series of 'outdoor rooms'.
Completed buildings include the multi-award winning student housing at Constable Terrace and Nelson Court, along with the UEA Drama Studio. Earlier academic departmental buildings include the environmentally ground breaking Climatic Research Unit and the Schools of Education & Information Studies.
Catering for no less than 800 students, the new low energy accommodation and communal facilities 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. As Consultant Architect, Rick Mather worked with the University of East Anglia from 1981 and, in addition to the new residences and Drama Centre, earlier work on the campus includes the Schools of Education and Information Systems and the Climatic Research Unit.
The masterplan allows for individual buildings to be added to the scheme, providing streets along which new buildings can be created and pedestrian routes which re-orientate the primary circulation level to the ground.
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.
1984
Architectural Design Award
Casabella
Due edifici per la University of East Anglia a Norwich
Andrew Saint - Jun 95
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
Casabella
Due edifici nel campus della University of East Anglia
John Miller - May 87
Client
University of East Anglia
Location
Norwich, UK
Size
130 hectares
(320 acres)
Value
c.£20m
Completed
Sep 93