Grafton Architects

Kingston University Town House

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

KINGSTON UNIVERSITY TOWN HOUSE

Grafton Architects

CATEGORY
University

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

YEAR
2020

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ed Reeve, Dennis Gilbert / VIEW

MANUFACTURER
SEffisus

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT
DES Electrical/CMB Engineering, chapmanbdsp, Chapman - BDSP

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Turner & Townsend

CLERK OF WORKS (CIVILS & SERVICES)
Fulkers

CLIENT
Kingston University

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
AKT II

CONTRACTOR
Willmott Dixon

AREA
9400 m²

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COST MANAGEMENT
Turner & Townsend

QUANTITY SURVEYOR, CDM ADVISORY AND BIM ADVISORY
Turner & Townsend

COST MANAGEMENT
Turner & Townsend

M&E CONSULTATION
chapmanbdsp (Design Stage), DES Electrical/CMB Engineering (Construction Stage)

CLIENT TECHNICAL TEAM
Architon Group Practice and MG Partnership

CLIENT TECHNICAL TEAM
Architon Group Practice and MG Partnership

Text description provided by architect.

The recipient of this year’s RIBA Gold Medal, Grafton Architects, has completed Town House – a £50m landmark teaching building for Kingston University in London.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Dennis Gilbert / VIEW
Kingston University Town House
© Dennis Gilbert / VIEW

The Dublin-based practice was selected to design the scheme from a five-strong shortlist following a competition initiated by Kingston University in conjunction with RIBA in 2013.

Designed to act as the University’s front door and a gateway to Kingston upon the Thames, Town House is part of a new vision for Kingston, encouraging informal learning and building stronger links with the town centre and connecting its vibrant student population with the local community.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

Designed as an innovative learning centre for the University, the open ethos of the building is reflected internally, with over 50 percent of the 9,400sqm accommodation designed to be open-plan.

A matrix of interlocking spaces and uses overlap and weave together physically and visually, allowing students, visitors and staff to find secluded corners for inventive studying and collaborative group work while remaining part of an interconnected whole.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

Occupants of Town House can always see what is happening throughout the building, encouraging collaboration and helping to facilitate learning as a social process.

Constructed by the multi-award-winning contractor Willmott Dixon, the new building replaces a pre-fabricated building accommodating student, meeting and office space.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

Town House signifies an important milestone in the revitalisation of Kingston University’s estate and amplifies the University’s place at the heart of the Royal Borough of Kingston.

With sustainability and community access central to the University’s key principles, Grafton Architects’ design radically reconfigures students’ learning experience, creating spaces that are liberating and open, allowing informal learning, research, and performance to take place organically under one roof.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

Designed with the local community as well as staff, students and alumni in mind, Town House delivers a new dynamic and much needed civic presence for the community, offering a world-class vision for the future of Britain's university buildings.

Conceived as a cultural and educational hub for students, staff, alumni and the local community, Town House houses the main university library and archives alongside a covered courtyard, dance studios, studio theatre, and adaptable learning space as well as two cafes. 

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Dennis Gilbert / VIEW

Town House has also been designed with community needs in mind.

Reflective of the external cloisters seen in Northern European architecture, the colonnade is a key part of the scheme providing amenity space with no barriers that are intended to draw students, staff, visitors and the community into the life of the building.

On the upper floors, three cascading landscaped terraces promote external movement throughout the building effortlessly connecting the scheme from ground level to roof.

Kingston University Town House
© Dennis Gilbert / VIEW
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

Constructed from reconstituted stone, the outer face of the colonnade echoes the Portland stone facade of the Surrey County Council building opposite.

The triple-height internal courtyard, café, foyer and performance and assembly spaces are located on the ground floor, intended to welcome visitors.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve

A grand open stair weaves its way through the building forming a connection between volumes and uses. Meanwhile, private study areas allow learning to occur uninterrupted.

Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve


Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve
Kingston University Town House
© Ed Reeve


Kingston University Town House
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Kingston University Town House
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Kingston University Town House
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Kingston University Town House
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Kingston University Town House
Ground floor Plan
Kingston University Town House
Floor Plan
Kingston University Town House
Floor Plan
Kingston University Town House
Floor Plan
Kingston University Town House
Floor Plan
Kingston University Town House
Floor Plan


Kingston University Town House
South Elevation
Kingston University Town House
Diagram
Kingston University Town House
Detail Elevation
Kingston University Town House
Detail section-elevation


Kingston University Town House
Site Plan

Kingston University Town House
Facade detail section

Grafton Architects
T +353 1 6713365
Grafton Architects
12-14 College Green, Dublin 2, D02 YY72, Ireland