Rhodes House, Oxford
Background
Designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1929, Rhodes House is located on South Parks Road, in the centre of historic Oxford. Set within extensive gardens, the building is the historic headquarters of the Rhodes Trust, an educational charity which oversees the world-renowned Rhodes Scholarships at the University of Oxford and several other global fellowship programmes.
Architects Stanton Williams turned to Modular Clay Products to provide bricks for the project after previously teaming up on several previous jobs. According to lead architect on the Rhodes House project, Tom Fotheringham, Modular Clay Products was chosen because they had been helpful in sourcing appropriate bricks the unique requirements of each of the previous projects.
Challenge
In collaboration with the Rhodes Trust, Stanton Williams was tasked with creating a scheme to transform Rhodes House and gardens, with significant but respectful interventions that complement Herbert Baker’s architecture, while doubling its usable space and substantially improving its environmental performance.
For the project, MCP was challenged to find a brick that could complement the historic stonework of the existing adjacent building. The project also needed factory-made special brick shapes to form the sloping soffits above each bedroom and for other features of the design, which limited the range of bricks available.
Architect Tom Fotheringham has praised Modular Clay Products’ help in sourcing ranges of bricks to choose from, providing samples and advising on the selection. He explains, “The bricks supplied include custom made shaped bricks, and tonally complement the historic building adjacent.”
Project Images
Solution
The 1920s building and its historic gardens have been meticulously restored in this project. The site has been reorganised to establish clear circulation routes and zones, with new conference facilities located in the centre, residential uses to the east, and new staff and scholar working accommodation to the west.
The sensitive reconfiguration of the lodge buildings and ancillary spaces to the north of the site restored the symmetry of the main façade; while the newly crafted interior spaces engage with the gardens on multiple levels to draw natural daylight and fresh air into the building and enhance wellbeing.
A new 300-seat conference hall and adjacent foyer have been created by converting existing restricted archive spaces beneath the house’s main rooms and gardens. In the newly created conference hall, a new vaulted roof provides a generosity of scale and flexibility for a variety of convenings as well as opening up views to the verdant gardens beyond.
Benefits
“The transformed Rhodes House accelerates the Trust’s ability to foster a vibrant and diverse community committed to building a better world. Its world class facilities provide an ideal place for gathering, learning, collaborating, and sharing, and offer improved accessibility for all as we open our doors to new local and global audiences.” Elizabeth Kiss, CEO and Warden of the Rhodes Trust
“This project has been about acknowledging and transcending history to unlock Rhodes House’s potential to fully support the Trust’s strategic vision. In preserving and enhancing their historic premises in the heart of Oxford the project has avoided the need for an entirely new building.” Paul Williams OBE, Principal Director, Stanton Williams