The University of Roehampton takes up three major sites in Roehampton, southwest London. Tucked away and rarely ventured on by students, ‘The Yard’ of the University had old storage buildings and sheds. However, thanks to a Master plan by Architectural Practice Henley Halebrown Rorrison, along with Wienerberger’s use of Slim Pave clay pavers, The Yard has been transformed into a generous open space, connecting the historic and contemporary sections of the University, while also creating an area for students to sit, study and socialise.
The nine-month project needed to effectively unify the old with the new, while complying with the restrictive requirements of monument conservation and creating a shared space on campus. The architects decided to use clay pavers as it offered the versatility needed for the task. Structural openings were made to open up views from the chapel and a café to The Yard, while the University’s historic boundary wall’s height was reduced to make it structurally sound. Additional openings with flat arches linked the historic Froebel garden to the courts, while copings of cast and etched reconstituted stone and benches were built into niches, encouraging university students to take advantage of the newly created space.
Jo Roberts, Landscape Category Product Manager at Wienerberger, commented: “It was important we kept the historic character of the area, while also adhering to its modern, contemporary features. The unique properties of our Herne Dark Brindled paver were not only able to achieve this, but also created an innovative shared area, which was awarded Best Outdoor Space category by the Brick Development Association (BDA), and we hope that it will be valued and enjoyed for many years to come.”
www.wienerberger.co.uk