Client The Governors of The King's
School
Project New Music Hall
Location Ely, Cambridge
Services Full Architectural ServIces
The practice has worked at the King’s School for many years on both historic buildings and new build projects. Three mediaeval monastic buildings which serve well as boarding houses have been comprehensively repaired and refurbished. The monastic gatehouse has been adapted to provide a fine new library, and amongst new building projects are a low energy technology teaching building and a Music School with Recital Hall.
The new music school is designed to link to the existing school hall - the Hayward Theatre - and to anchor a range of Arts Facilities which are still in the making. The design of the new building was deliberately simple and calm externally, using a limited palette of traditional materials, responding to the sensitive historic setting. The raft foundation of the building safeguards the archaeology of the site.
The new facilities include a recital hall for 100 people, with a variable acoustic. A range of teaching and practice rooms, staff office accommodation and an IT suite. Within the simple language of the external envelope a rich plan was developed to make an architecture that enjoyed (but was not dictated by) acoustic and overlooking requirements. The result is a building with a real sense of place within the school and a prominent public outlook.
