Cranfield University - String Fellow Hall

Bedfordshire, Great Britain
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
© Peter Cook
Architekci
Stanton Williams
Year
2008

We were asked to provide cost-effective but high quality and inspiring accommodation for 250 mature post graduate students who have high expectations of student life. From appointment in April 2006, we needed to design, construct and complete the project by January 2008.

The design creates a sense of community by building a ‘village’ of five, five-storey residential blocks around a landscaped, outdoor space. The bedrooms are positioned to enjoy morning or evening sun with floor to ceiling windows and vents for natural ventilation. One block is equipped with roof-top solar panels. Costs and construction time were minimised by standardising elements with a tunnel-form concrete frame, modular brick cladding and pre-fabricated shower room pods. The interior provides practical, and high quality en-suite rooms and kitchens that are low maintenance, easy to clean and durable, drawing in light from windows at the end of each corridor. Timber was used externally to link with the landscape. The groups of buildings are related to their rural setting and the rest of the campus by encouraging a route through a series of courtyards, ‘outside rooms’ and raised terraces, using low maintenance planting.

Built on a tight programme with limited budget, the project sets a high standard for student accommodation. The group of buildings provide a secure and inspiring environment that will encourage students to study, relax and socialise.

Related Projects

  • Gebäudeadaptierungen Rathausbereich - Zwentendorf
    maul-architekten zt gmbh
  • FON - Wohnbau und Kindergarten Fontanastraße
    GERNER GERNER PLUS
  • GOLD - Wohnbau Goldberg
    GERNER GERNER PLUS
  • BENE - Wohnbau Benedikt
    GERNER GERNER PLUS
  • PUCH - Wohnbau Puchsbaumgasse
    GERNER GERNER PLUS

Magazine

Other Projects by Stanton Williams

University of the Arts London Campus
London, Great Britain
Sainsbury Laboratory
Cambridge, Great Britain
Belgrade Theatre
Coventry, Great Britain
Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition at V&A Museum
London, Great Britain
Issey Miyake Shops
London, Great Britain