Darwin College, Cambridge

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Darwin College enjoys an enviable location on the banks of the River Cam. Within this setting, a Victorian conversion of an eighteenth-century grain warehouse is set in lush gardens and contains a sequence of graduate student rooms. The John Bradfield Court project is a refurbishment - the first since the college was founded - that significantly upgrades these facilities whilst retaining the building's special character. Neighbouring it is a new free-standing pavilion, which will provide a focal point for College life as a flexible social and meeting space. Its tall, slate pitched roof echoes the old oast house roof of neighbouring Malting House.

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The pavilion's irregular faceted shape responds to the geometry of the court

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Restored river frontage

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Context

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Refurbished graduate student rooms

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Plenty of natural light filters into student rooms

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Ad-hoc alterations from the 60s and 70s were removed and improved kitchen and dining spaces were introduced into former service areas

City
Cambridge, UK
Use
Education
Client
Darwin College, University of Cambridge
Status
Current
Size
640 sqm
Awards

RIBA East Award 2024, Cambridge Design and Construction Award Best Conservation Project 2021, Cambridge Design and Construction Award Craftmanship Award 2021

Collaborators
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Structure: Cambridge Architectural Research Ltd

Services: Max Fordham LLP

Landscape: Bradley Hole Schoeniach Landscape

Cost: DR Nolans & Co