Town House Building, Kingston University
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom · 2019
Photo · Ed Reeve
This interior precedent showcases a monumental, multi-level university atrium that utilizes exposed concrete framing and integrated timber bleacher seating to create a highly functional, social, and civic learning landscape.
- What we like about this project
- The integration of warm, concealed LED strip lighting within the vertical timber-lined niches along the concrete columns.
Materials
- exposed-concrete
- timber
- terrazzo
- glass
- steel
Visual identifiers
- concrete-bleachers
- exposed-concrete-frame
- timber-slat-cladding
- double-height-atrium
- terrazzo-flooring
Style tags
- contemporary-brutalist
- monumental
- rationalist
- expressive-structure
Visual tags
- educational
- civic-space
- atrium
- social-stairs
- brutalist-influence
- monumental-interior
- Geometry
- A vast, multi-level atrium defined by a rigorous orthogonal concrete frame. Deep concrete ceiling beams run transversely, while vertical concrete piers form colonnades on the upper levels. Two large, perpendicular concrete bleacher staircases frame the central open floor.
- Facade system
- Internal glazed partitions and timber-framed windows overlooking the central void.
- Structural guess
- Precast and in-situ concrete post-and-beam structure with integrated concrete floor slabs and precast stair units.
- Spatial scale
- Grand, multi-story civic scale with wide, generous steps designed for human gathering and informal study.
- Lighting
- A mix of natural daylight filtering from upper-level glazing and soft, warm uplighting integrated into the timber-lined wall niches and stair risers.
- Atmosphere
- An open, academic forum that balances the raw weight of concrete with warm timber details and inviting, light-filled gathering spaces.
- Environmental context
- An indoor university hub with views through large windows toward the surrounding urban campus fabric.
- Spatial experience
- The space feels monumental yet highly social. The massive concrete structure is softened by warm timber linings and integrated lighting, creating a series of informal, tiered seating zones that overlook a flexible, double-height central hall.
- Composition rhythm
- The repetitive rhythm of vertical concrete columns and deep ceiling beams creates a highly structured, grid-like framework that organizes the open volume.
- Style reading
- Contemporary Brutalism / New Brutalist Revival
- Program
- University student center and library hub
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- exposed-concrete, timber, terrazzo, glass, steel
- Visual identifiers
- concrete-bleachers, exposed-concrete-frame, timber-slat-cladding, double-height-atrium, terrazzo-flooring
- Style tags
- contemporary-brutalist, monumental, rationalist, expressive-structure
- Visual tags
- educational, civic-space, atrium, social-stairs, brutalist-influence, monumental-interior
- Geometry
- A vast, multi-level atrium defined by a rigorous orthogonal concrete frame. Deep concrete ceiling beams run transversely, while vertical concrete piers form colonnades on the upper levels. Two large, perpendicular concrete bleacher staircases frame the central open floor.
- Facade system
- Internal glazed partitions and timber-framed windows overlooking the central void.
- Structural guess
- Precast and in-situ concrete post-and-beam structure with integrated concrete floor slabs and precast stair units.
- Spatial scale
- Grand, multi-story civic scale with wide, generous steps designed for human gathering and informal study.
- Lighting
- A mix of natural daylight filtering from upper-level glazing and soft, warm uplighting integrated into the timber-lined wall niches and stair risers.
- Atmosphere
- An open, academic forum that balances the raw weight of concrete with warm timber details and inviting, light-filled gathering spaces.
- Environmental context
- An indoor university hub with views through large windows toward the surrounding urban campus fabric.
- Spatial experience
- The space feels monumental yet highly social. The massive concrete structure is softened by warm timber linings and integrated lighting, creating a series of informal, tiered seating zones that overlook a flexible, double-height central hall.
- Composition rhythm
- The repetitive rhythm of vertical concrete columns and deep ceiling beams creates a highly structured, grid-like framework that organizes the open volume.
- Style reading
- Contemporary Brutalism / New Brutalist Revival
- Program
- University student center and library hub
- Perspective
- Interior Spatial
- Discipline
- architecture