Introduction
"The client was rightly delighted with the solution which resulted in such high standard accommodation, built at half the cost of a traditional Oxbridge residential building. Nevertheless it is a fitting neighbour to those by Butterfield. The means of containing all vertical movement within a single atrium is a neat solution."
Judges comment
British Construction Industry Awards
Following a winning competition entry in 1991, the initial proposal identified a number of potential sites within the grounds, offering a long-term development plan for Keble College. Two of these sites have now been built on to enclose a new Quad, known as the Newman Quad.
Adjacent to the Grade I listed nineteenth century North Range by William Butterfield, the ARCO Building is located at the north end of the Newman Quad. The Sloane Robinson Building defines the western edge with the Butterfield dining hall completing the Quad to the south. The new buildings continue the precedent of edge development helping to reinforce the street and define green space within.
In the ARCO Building 93 study bedrooms are organised into a series of large flats over four storeys, each terminating with a shared kitchen/dining room facing south over the garden. The central staircase brings light into the centre of the plan and opens connects to a roof terrace at the top level. Seminar rooms at Garden level open out through a full height glass façade to a south facing terrace.
Externally, reference is made to Butterfield's rich brickwork by the use of vertically and horizontally laid hand-made bricks that adopt a colour from Butterfield's polychromatic palette.
1997
Civic Trust Award
RIBA Award
British Construction Industry Award
Building Design
All you need to know about bricking it
Michael Hammett - 26 May 00
Brick Bulletin
Case Study: Arco Building, Keble College Oxford
4 Nov 99
Costuire in Laterizio
Low-tech per il college a Oxford
Patriz'ia Abbruzzese - Feb 99
Brick Bulletin
Oxford Red
Summer 96
RIBA Journal
Brick Layers
John Welsh - Sept 95
Architectural Review
Keble Connection
Catherine Slessor - Sept 95
Perspectives
University Challenges
Kenneth Powell - Aug 95
Building Design
Oxford job for Mather
20 Mar 92
Client
Keble College
Location
Oxford, UK
Size
3,300m²
Value
£3.2m
Completed
Aug 95