26 WESTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, OXFORD
© Nick Caville
© Gareth Gardner PROJECT FACTFILE
Client and developer: Westgate Oxford Alliance Masterplanner, lead architect and common elements architect: BDP Block architects: Glenn Howells, Panter Hudspith, Allies and Morrison, Dixon Jones Services engineer: Hoare Lee Structural engineer: Waterman Main contractor: Laing O’Rourke Delivery architect: Chapman Taylor / Hawkins Brown Glass roof structures: Seele Glass roof: Roofglaze Glass canopy: UMG Laminated glass supplier: Tough Glaze
All the buildings used precast facades which meant cranes were required for almost everything – at one point there were a total of eight onsite. Coordinating all the various elements is “quite a logistical exercise,” says Downey. “Part of my role was working with the architects for each of the blocks, making sure they’re working within the constraints and getting information together at the right time.” BDP defined the base materials and tones that could be used on the buildings, ensuring they were in keeping with the existing city. In particular, the entrance wall at Bonn Square, created by Dixon Jones, uses a local stone, while the brick facade of the John Lewis building was inspired by the Bodleian Library. BDP’s lighting designers also worked on the project, who, says Hayward, “successfully fulfilled the brief by integrating subtle lighting throughout the scheme.” There was also collaboration with Hoare Lea, who helped develop the cleaning and maintenance strategies, and also on a study which ensured the various glass roofs weren’t going to cause unwanted glare at verifiable view points outside the
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city, as well as an environmental study for weather ingress and smoke ventilation. Seele manufactured and installed all the glass elements. “They fixed netting below all the roofs which is quite unusual,” explains Hayward. “It allowed everyone else to continue with the work below.” They used a nearby plant area to store everything so it was easily accessible. Downey adds: “When they put the glass panels in, they apply mastic to the joints between the glass; they were amazing craftsmen.” Various other factors also threw challenges at BDP – an existing road had to be rerouted around the development and the project included nine months of archaeology recording during the site works. Findings included Greyfriars bodies and tiling from a 700-year-old monastery. Despite the project’s complexities, overall the development was “smooth and efficient,” says Hayward, and since the opening it’s received “very good footfall”. “Oxford is one of the most sensitive cities in the world,” he adds. “Working on a project like this was a truly unique experience.”
ADF MAY 2018
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