Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
T
hough such a famous (even and the warm, even comfortable,
sometimes notorious) London surface of the building. The warmth
institution, the London is that of handmade bricks, laid in
School of Economics had always been Flemish bond a warmth which will
visually muted. As you enter it on surely modulate as the bricks darken
Houghton Street off Aldwych, it just with weathering. The oblique planes
seems part of the anonymous business into which they are cut model the
streetscape in sharp contrast to the internal mechanics of the complex and
nearby Inns of Court, which are, after fragmented accommodation which has
all, Londons first university; the many been shoe-horned into an awkward
recent additions some substantial site, but are also determined by the
have not attracted much attention. stringent daylight requirements of
Over the last two years this their neighbours. The brick surfaces
changed as a new, obliquely faceted are curiously scored by expansion
red-brick building took shape joints here and there, but more
1. LSE Parish Hall
conspicuous from within the LSE 2. LSE Peacock
notably marked by rectangular areas
campus, but really startling from Theatre on the surface which read as darker in
Lincolns Inn Fields. It is perhaps 0 5m
daytime, being in an alternate brick-
fitting that this should be the new N
and-void bond which createsa>>
students centre, named after Saw
Swee Hock, a generous Singaporean
graduate benefactor. There had been
a competition, to design the best
student building in the UK in 2009
po
rt
Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics, London WC2A
ODonnell + Tuomey
..
1. Lobby/entrance
8 7 5 4 2. Void
3. Pub
4. Bicycle parking
1 5. Store
6. Servery
7. Service yard
8. Plant
2 9. Seat
2 10. Reception/
3 18
entrance foyer
6
11. Post room
17
16 12. Cloakroom
13. Events room
2
6 14. Events mezzanine
8 above
1 15. Green room
1
16. Student union
1
office
2 17. Coffee/juice bar
9 18. Roof garden
19. Exercise studio
20. Caf
1
2 19 21. Meeting space
9 9 22. Activity centre
10
11 9
5
5 5 5
15
1
1
9
6 14 13 6
2
20
9
9
9
1
1 1
1 12
2 Previous page
The canted facade
of handmade
21
bricks responds
8
to sights of light
to neighbouring
22 buildings
1 Opposite A
generous stair
8 5 winds up through
the building, linking
disparate activities
0 5m
N
Lower basement plan First floor plan on different floors
..
Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics, London WC2A
ODonnell + Tuomey
The secondary entrance leads to a Returning to the reception desk, Above Glazed
ground-level pub also accessible you make your way past it and up the facade onto THE ENVIRONMENTAL STORY
from the reception area, and to a wide welcoming terrazzo-paved staircase triangular court
concrete circular staircase which goes which will take you to the relatively brings daylight into
down to an acoustically insulated quiet and relaxed learning caf the stair The best buildings result from a lively
events room (called nightclub on the which with its services takes up Above, right Career dialogue between an architect and an
plan). There is a raised stage at the the entire area of the centre; the steel services offices on engaged and informed client. In the
far end, over which a kind of lantern, columns which articulate it also carry the fifth floor case of the new LSE student centre,
glazed but heavily insulated, rises wide brackets to hold strong upward Above, far right A and in particular its environmental
to intrude into the space of the pub lights. These columns also support circular concrete agenda, this truism is most apt. An
above so that both the clients of the wide acoustic baffles which absorb stair provides an aspiration for BREEAM Outstanding,
pub and passers-by in Sheffield Street some of the inevitable clatter and act alternate route EPC A and DEC A ratings was written
can look down on the proceedings. as reflectors for the lights. From that through the building into the buildings brief.
The insulation ensured that the light open caf, you go up to the next floor Following spread, Hence it is no accident that
and flicker would create the attraction, which is divided between a smaller left Coloured ODonnell + Tuomey has shoe-horned
while the noisy and sometimes even media centre (including a glazed and vitreous enamel a passively designed, imaginatively
rowdy proceedings below would very visible radio studio) and the panels wrap the daylit and largely naturally ventilated
only be faintly heard. Anyway, the larger, but more private religious space: lift core and are building into an extraordinarily tight,
puband the nightclub form an almost separate male and female Muslim designed to take urban site on the northern extremity
independent suite. prayer rooms; a large rectangular the abuse of of the LSEs Aldwych campus. Such
assembly I am almost tempted to student posters an approach is not new to ODonnell
call it chapel with a glass end-wall Following spread, + Tuomeys work. We have a long-
A kind of glazed lantern (waiting to be stained) for everyone right Hardwood standing interest in low-key buildings
rises to intrude into the else, as well as a smaller, brick-enclosed flooring and with minimal systems. Whatever the
semi-cylinder, a quiet chamber for timber windows project, we like to make a building feel
space of the pub above private meditation. Student union add warmth to naturally ventilated, says associate
offices and the accommodation >> the interiors Willie Carey. The practices Irish
.. ..
Film Centre in Dublin centres of a design approach which relies on aspects of its design and operation.
around a naturally ventilated atrium, delivering an even 500 lux throughout. Screens in niches display energy
and An Gaelras in Londonderry Rooms have radically different qualities use to promote awareness among
introduces a courtyard into a 15m x of light and moods from banks of occupants, and perhaps even a degree of
50m shoebox site so that every space timber windows in the caf, to filtered competitiveness between departments
in the building with the exception light through a perforated brick screen to reduce energy use. These measures
of the main performance area is where solar gain or privacy is an issue. may be a response to the BREEAM
naturallyventilated. The architect went to extreme lengths Outstanding requirement for
At the Saw Swee Hock building, to provide a rooflight via a quadruple- dissemination of information about
Carey insists that the design team was height connection to the street for the the building; regardless, they have been
not chasing a BREEAM Outstanding basement nightclub venue. This is as handled with a light touch.
For more on
rating. Partly due to the constraints much an orientating device as a source this project
This is a building whose form and
of rights to light to neighbouring of daylight, and a welcome one. expression result from an intelligent
The AJ on iPad
buildings, the architect devised a plan The student centres windows and uncompromising understanding
& iPhone
with a pinched centre, dividing the are operated by the BMS system, of passive performance. With its
accommodation into two halves, which which can be overridden manually by welcoming entrance, and varied and
simultaneously makes the 6,100m2 pushing a button. You cant just open thoughtfully crafted interior spaces,
building feel smaller and increases or close a window. This highlights the buildings articulated brick exterior
the amount of facade and windows. the fact that the centre despite its confounds expectations of what
Whether youre moving along the west professed low-key design approach is an environmentally performative
or east elevation, you are always close to highly sophisticated to operate. And AJ Buildings Library building might look like. It is proof
a facade, says Carey. to its credit, the LSE appears to be that fundamental principles of passive
The capturing and manipulation of embracing this challenge. On the rainy design clever massing, daylight, views
daylight is one of the buildings many day I visited shortly after the building and windows that open and close
strengths, and is evident throughout opened, flyers were posted throughout canbe made to work even on a tight
the student centre. This is the antithesis the building explaining different urban site. Hattie Hartman
..
Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics, London WC2A
ODonnell + Tuomey
.. ..
Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics, London WC2A
ODonnell + Tuomey
Clients view
Julian S Robinson
LSE director of estates
Without a design competition, its
highly unlikely ODonnell + Tuomey
would have been selected. Although
in my final 20, they were relatively
unknown to me, but my colleague
Ricky Burdett suggested I take another
look at their work.
We held design workshops with
each of the shortlisted practices. The
depth and integrity of John and Sheilas
rudimentary design shone through, so
that by the time we left I doubted any
of the others would surpass them. The
LSE jury unanimously agreed.
As I walk around the building today,
I know for certain we made the right
decision. The building is beautiful
inside and out an architectural tour
de force. The interplay of complex
geometry, a carefully selected palette
of materials, the constraints of this site
and, I would contend, a brave client,
has produced a remarkable building.
Project data
.. ..
Working detail
Type 268
Type 10 (RHS)
Type 11 (RHS)
..