UK - Oxford Open Doors 2024 - Rhodes House Basement 01_sq_5009178
My Website : Twitter : Facebook : Instagram : Photocrowd
An 8mm fisheye shot of the beautiful new basement access stair in Rhodes House, Oxford.
Like many Oxford University buildings, this isn't normally open to the public so the Oxford Preservation Trust organised 'Open Doors' weekend provides a much appreciated chance to explore such buildings.
Rhodes House was the last venue on our Flickr photowalk 'Open Doors' itinerary and I'm glad we had a chance to visit as it's not somewhere I'd set foot in before.
More fisheye photos here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157655179707591
From the RIBA Journal, "But that demanded a new access stair in Baker’s memorial hall, which required buy-in from local planners and Historic England. ‘Their initial reticence forced us to address their concerns with something as good as it could be, and though bold, it was absolutely the right solution,’ says Davies. Stanton Williams associate Tom Fotheringham adds that the firm’s handsome, self-supporting limestone stair, designed with engineer Webb Yates, has both a functional and architectonic purpose. ‘Part of the justification was that the alternatives were more harmful to the building and that it could enhance the quality of the volume by making it feel less transitory – giving it gravitas.’
But if gravitas at this lower level pre-supposes darkness or weight, visitors may be surprised, for the architect has used cleverly inserted roof glazing to bring unexpected lightness, beauty and utility to formerly unlit spaces."
© D.Godliman
UK - Oxford Open Doors 2024 - Rhodes House Basement 01_sq_5009178
My Website : Twitter : Facebook : Instagram : Photocrowd
An 8mm fisheye shot of the beautiful new basement access stair in Rhodes House, Oxford.
Like many Oxford University buildings, this isn't normally open to the public so the Oxford Preservation Trust organised 'Open Doors' weekend provides a much appreciated chance to explore such buildings.
Rhodes House was the last venue on our Flickr photowalk 'Open Doors' itinerary and I'm glad we had a chance to visit as it's not somewhere I'd set foot in before.
More fisheye photos here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157655179707591
From the RIBA Journal, "But that demanded a new access stair in Baker’s memorial hall, which required buy-in from local planners and Historic England. ‘Their initial reticence forced us to address their concerns with something as good as it could be, and though bold, it was absolutely the right solution,’ says Davies. Stanton Williams associate Tom Fotheringham adds that the firm’s handsome, self-supporting limestone stair, designed with engineer Webb Yates, has both a functional and architectonic purpose. ‘Part of the justification was that the alternatives were more harmful to the building and that it could enhance the quality of the volume by making it feel less transitory – giving it gravitas.’
But if gravitas at this lower level pre-supposes darkness or weight, visitors may be surprised, for the architect has used cleverly inserted roof glazing to bring unexpected lightness, beauty and utility to formerly unlit spaces."
© D.Godliman