St Hilda?s College, Oxford Building, New English Architecture Design
St Hilda?s College, Oxford
1 Feb 2022
Architecture: Gort Scott Architects
Location: Oxford, England, UK

Photos: Peter Cook
St Hilda?s College, Oxford
Gort Scott have completed a significant and transformative development for St Hilda?s College in Oxford, comprising an Anniversary Building and Pavilion, all set in a reimagined landscape.

The Anniversary Building defines the boundary of the College, strengthens the street scene on Cowley Place and creates enclosure to the tranquil gardens within the College, whilst the Pavilion nestles on the edge of the River Cherwell within this verdant riverside setting. The form and layout of these buildings resonate with the meandering river itself and for the first time connect the north and south parts of the College estate.
St Hilda?s was founded in 1893 and the College site has evolved into an informal sequence of buildings set within beautiful gardens on the banks of the River Cherwell. Gort Scott ? appointed following an international design competition in 2016 ? introduced spatial coherence and a greater sense of place and brought the landscape ? one of St Hilda?s prime assets ? into the heart of the college.

The previous entrance sequence was underwhelming and confusing, with a distinct ?back of house? feel and a large swathe of tarmac that detracted from the potential of the College?s picturesque setting. A small residential building dissected the Colleg...