New University Library – University of Roehampton

The University of Roehampton has a unique estate of Colleges rich with history and character in their beautiful historic buildings and commanding historic landscapes. The New University Library will bring a new heart to the campus and to Digby Stuart College. Getting the right relationship with the Parkland and the main entrance brings the opportunity to create a building of significance to the University and of value to campus life.

We designed a new Villa in the setting of the Digby Stuart parkland as a reinterpretation of the historical estate. Key qualities we adopted included:

A strong axial quality
A distinguished stone frontage set in front of a simple, rhythmic brick facade
Elegant proportion and order

Our approach to the design of the new library was to create a ‘library of libraries’ catering for all by providing a range of versatile and flexible environments, with unique characters but universal provision of services. Each library is centred around a different natural light source to bring daylight as well as tranquillity into the heart of the plan.

A fully integrated environmental approach aims to create long-term loose-fit buildings to meet current needs whilst allowing for future as yet unknown patterns of use, by using the following objectives:

To reduce energy demands through rigorously testing early design moves re building positioning, massing and orientation, to ensure we have maximised the potential of the site and day-lighting and thereafter focus with the design team on designing efficient and well controlled fabric and services.
To increase the energy efficiency of installations through more efficient heating, ventilation, lighting and electronic equipment and control systems.
To reduce the carbon in the fuel supply by measures both on and off-site, and by energy and utility suppliers. Many educational buildings are being reported as having 2 to 3 times the electrical consumption than that anticipated at design stage.