Newnham College, Cambridge
Dorothy Garrod Building, Newnham College
A new garden court for College’s much-loved gardens
Location Cambridge, UK
This project provides new student accommodation complementary to the College’s Arts and Crafts style.
Our masterplan considered the potential impact of various locations for the new building to stand among Basil Champneys’ Arts and Crafts buildings and the much-loved gardens. Our solution – to create a new building wrapped around a new garden court – complements the quality, variety and layout of Newnham’s existing buildings and gardens.
The courtyard is a flower garden with trees and lawns, reminiscent of the layout of the historic grounds, designed to be traversed as a route to entrances and French doors that open on to the gardens. The café has an external dining terrace, while smaller seating areas between borders create a more intimate setting.
Newnham’s garden committee sought a scheme that related to the historic grounds in terms of space and quality. Our modern interpretation of the Arts and Crafts concept of ‘sweetness and light’ comprises rectangular spaces aligned with the buildings’ geometry and set against soft and flowing borders.
We were keen to create a sense of privacy so students could feel at home.
Client Newnham College, Cambridge
Architect Walters and Cohen Architects
Planning Authority Cambridge City Council
Status Completed - 2018