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  • Essay / Wolfson Oxford - 976

    Wolfson is a humanist college located on the banks of the River Cherwell, north of the city centre. Although one of the younger colleges, it appears to have acquired the best site in Oxford, a site which encouraged the development of a punt port with a fleet of well-maintained punts , chaired by a student named Admiral de Punts. . A tranquil setting away from the tourist hordes of Oxford - well worth the ten minute cycle ride from the Bodleian Library. The college has two historic meadows across the bridged river which, because of their "significant scientific interest", are protected. Beautiful green spaces. The architecture is executed in modern, minimalist concrete, covered in crushed granite, avoiding the brutal excess of some contemporary structures. It is dignified among the magnificent green spaces and well-kept gardens. The buildings offer good value for money but end up looking a bit like a continental holiday resort, positioned around three loose quads. From the start of construction, efforts were made to leave established trees standing. The institution is for mature postgraduate students only. It was founded to provide places for the ever-increasing number of graduate students wishing to continue their studies and has approximately 608 men and women studying. Family housing is offered as well as childcare services that Wolfson is passionate about. The nursery strives to provide a safe and nurturing environment where children can develop at their own pace. Carers aim to achieve this in close consultation with parents. The middle school's humanistic principles are evident in the recognition that all children have different needs and ...... middle of paper ...... a new vision of middle school with an instantly recognizable entrance. A functional ventilation tower breaks the horizontal rhythm of the existing buildings, suggesting the gatehouses of medieval Oxford. Architects Berman Guedes Stretton took inspiration from the original Powell and Moya buildings, but also included suggestions from the college, which requested a more interesting roof shape. , than initially planned, to echo the original dining room. The architects introduced bands of granite and angles of interior beams that appear to dance across the space they surround. The effect is particularly spectacular in the conference room, further enhanced by the recline of the seats and the chestnut trim. Wolfson avoids the disruptive extravagances that undergraduates can cause and offers a civilized, close-knit community of motivated and focused academics in a supportive, liberal environment..