herzog & de meuron completes school of government building for oxford university

herzog & de meuron completes school of government building for oxford university
all images courtesy of the blavatnik school of government

since its founding in 2012, the blavatnik school of government at oxford university has been spread across three separate sites. now, three years later, students have moved into the school’s new amalgamated home, a series of disc-shaped volumes conceived by swiss architects herzog & de meuron. the building primarily houses teaching and academic spaces, supported by meeting, administration, research, and service areas.

externally, the structure appears as a series of vertically stacked discs

designed to promote open discussion, interaction, and collaboration, the scheme is internally organized around a centrally positioned public zone, known as the ‘forum’. this void, around which teaching spaces are located, ensures that natural light reaches lecture theaters and provides a space for exhibitions, presentations and impromptu engagement.

the building primarily houses academic spaces for the university of oxford

on the lower ground floor, two horseshoe-shaped lecture theaters provide seating for 80 and 120 people respectively. these auditoriums are designed to facilitate interaction among the students as well as with the lecturer, and are equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual facilities. above, a flexible teaching space can be used as a single, large room for lectures and conferences or divided into four separate spaces for smaller seminars, group discussions or meetings.

the internal program is organized around a vertical public space

the quieter upper levels contain academic programs, while the building is topped with a library research tower — a facility which adjoins an outdoor terrace that offers views across the city. glazed dividing walls and mini internal courtyards with skylights help illuminate study spaces, ensuring that the building serves as a warm, comfortable and open environment in which to work. externally, the scheme appears as a series of discs, vertically stacked and shifted slightly to give the school a distinct presence within its historical context.

teaching spaces are located this part of the design, known as the ‘forum’

from an environmental perspective, the building is expected to consume 49% less energy in comparison to existing UK buildings of the same size and use. a host of integrated solutions have been utilized, including: automated natural ventilation, a ground source heat pump for warming and cooling the building, rooftop photovoltaic panels, and rainwater harvesting.

see designboom’s previous coverage of the blavatnik school of government here.

the scheme provides a space for exhibitions, presentations, and impromptu discussions

the design gives the school a distinct presence within its historical context

the building is topped with a library research tower

the school’s layout ensures that each area of the plan is brightly illuminated

a spiral staircase forms a dynamic circulation route

a rooftop terrace offers views across the city

students moved into the new building in late 2015

project info:

location: oxford, UK
client: the university of oxford

herzog & de meuron team:

partners: jacques herzog, pierre de meuron, ascan mergenthaler (partner in charge)

project team: john o’mara (associate, project director), marinke boehm (project manager), ben duckworth (associate), simon demeuse (associate)

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