The Master’s Field Development for Balliol College in Oxford has won one of only 29 coveted Royal Institute of British Architects National Awards.
The RIBA National Awards are given to buildings across the UK in recognition of their significant contributions to architecture.
2022's winners, announced last week, were selected by the jury (members of the RIBA Awards Group), chaired by Denise Bennetts, from the RIBA Regional Award winners.
From a shortlist of 13 projects the building, designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects, was the only one within Oxford to receive this prestigious award.
Earlier in the year the building was also awarded a RIBA Regional award and RIBA Project Architect of the Year.
READ ALSO: Resident's fury at 'mad' works to remove traffic islands ahead of quickways cycle scheme
Níall McLaughlin Architects said the project provides furnished en-suite student study bedrooms across eight buildings, supported by ancillary facilities and a new Sports Pavilion.
The College brief sought to create a development in the spirit of a traditional collegiate setting, placing student welfare at its heart.
Their ambition was to minimise student isolation and cater for a range of academic vocations within varied bedroom layouts. This ethos underpinned the entire design process.
The RIBA judges commented on the project: “Masters Field Development is a significant addition to the edge of the urban centre of Oxford, comprising 228 bedrooms along roughly 200m of streetscape in total.
READ ALSO: Casualty cut free from overturned car on A34
"It also represents the development of a sophisticated visual and constructional language that allows for the degree of repetition and subtle variation that is both necessary and appropriate for a single building project of this size and in this context.”
The added: "The whole ensemble is the result of a very well-judged exercise that makes an important contribution to the life of the college and the built environment at large."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here