Gowar and Wedderburn Egham, Surrey
- Client:
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Location:
- Egham, Surrey
- Contact:
- David Hunter 0117 974 3271 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This sensitive scheme has provided 570 student bedrooms on a site surrounded entirely by mature woodland in the grounds of the Grade I Listed Founder's Building at Royal Holloway.
The fundamental concept of the design was to retain the genius loci of this setting, and impact as lightly as possible on the ecology of the site. Buildings are arranged around a central, informally landscaped space and are clad in cedar shingles.
The undulating planted roof, which visually responds to the deciduous trees surrounding the site is the only element of the development visible from the surrounding area.
Despite its apparent complexity, the design uses the simplest of identical blocks of accommodation to maximise opportunities of prefabrication and standardisation of components.