‘The ‘crazy and kooky’ redevelopment of a college and school has been backed by heritage groups but has sparked concerns over buildings breaching the city’s height limits’, according to a report in the Oxford Mail.
The Oxford Mail writes:
New College School, in Savile Road, wants to demolish its school hall, Warham House, and part of Savile House to build a music hall, study space, porter’s lodge, accommodation for pupils and a dining hall. The curved and wavy stone buildings were described as ‘unusual’ by Historic England, but the organisation ultimately backed the designs. Oxford Preservation Trust noted the scheme’s 25 metre tower was above the 18.2 metre limit in the city.
Director Debbie Dance said: ‘We have no doubt about the intention of the college, not only to create something extraordinary but also to do so to the highest quality. These proposals are not alone and the proposed 25m tower, in particular, follows the recent trend among the colleges to signal their presence in this way putting forward towers and high buildings which openly exceed the height limit.’
The trust called for Oxford City Council to consider whether the public benefits outweighed the breach. Plans to demolish St Hilda’s College, in Cowley Place, and build a new block containing 59 student bedrooms, a common room and office, was approved last month. But the project’s 19.3m illuminated tower will be reconsidered once more information is provided.
New College’s 25 metre tower would sit one metre higher than Saxon Tower at St Michael’s in Cornmarket Street and one metre lower than New College Bell Tower. St Mary’s Church in High Street – 54.8m – Tom Tower in St Aldate’s – 45.7m – and Magdalen Tower – 44m – are the highest points in the city.
The Victorian group of the Oxford Architectural History Society said: ‘The architects seem to have overdosed on expressionism and this random and frantic style would look crazy in Oxford.
It is impractical, with its kooky plan, restless windows and rooms of wildly varying shapes and sizes.’
But Historic England said: ‘The proposed buildings are unusual, quite unlike anything currently in Oxford, but we are convinced that the architectural concept is very good’.
Oxford Civic Society’s head of planning John Goddard said the design was ‘welcoming and refreshing’…
For background see the Oxford Preservation Trust website
