34


PROJECT REPORT: EDUCATION & RESEARCH FACILITIES


The architects took inspiration for the study spaces from a University of Cambridge research paper


was very satisfying. “Connectivity and collaboration” were the designers’ guiding objectives, but inherent to that was a challenge to define certain spaces to create more intimate areas for study. In addition to that instinctive approach to a new typology however, the architects took inspiration for the study spaces from a University of Cambridge research paper, ‘Protolib: Researching and Reimagining Library Environments.’ This looked at needs across the university’s facilities, and prototypes for groupings of users in future facilities. The architects used the document to develop a detailed brief for the Hub, resulting in a concept of “low, medium and high intensity” study spaces. Each of these would be distributed fairly exclusively on each of the building’s three levels, with each requiring a different


WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


approach to acoustics, furniture, space and flexibility. Tatham said it was “interesting to draw on a bit of real research done by the university on the sorts of spaces people liked; even plants, lighting, it added a bit of academic rigour.”


Programme


The architects focused on addressing “both the needs of the community and the preferences of the individual.” In practice this meant a mix of “structured” educational spaces with generous circulation areas that function well as breakout and informal social or study areas. The ground floor houses all of the food and beverage areas – as well as the substantial canteen and cafe/bar; it also contains a shop, and shower rooms to encourage users to travel by bike to the


ADF JANUARY 2023


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76