Harriet Monsell House, Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford

Ripon College is located in the Oxfordshire countryside and offers theological training for ministry in the Church of England.  The original structures were the first major commission for the 29 year old G.E. Street, to which he continued to add significantly throughout his career.  The last sections were designed simultaneously with the Royal Courts of Justice in London and were completed three years before his death.  The College influences much of his output and stands in testament to the breadth and vitality of his work.  In recognition of their great architectural and historical importance, Street’s ranges are all listed grade II*.

Following our competition-wining entry to extend the College’s facilities, a masterplan was evolved which introduced a new education centre, a new accessible chapel and a connected convent for two orders of nuns.  Niall McLaughlin Architects were invited to design the chapel.

The Education Centre is a contemporary building designed to remain sensitive to its important historical setting.  It extrudes the form and mass of the adjacent listed structure to preserve the scale and orientation set by the original ranges.  A common palette of materials links the new elements together and binds them with the historic fabric.  Reference is made throughout to the ecclesiastical vernacular.

Sixteen study bedrooms are arranged above flexible teaching and conferencing facilities.  Balconies and sweeping areas of glass draw in the fabulous panoramas across the valley to the west, an outlook across to the world outside that was considered important to preserve.

Graham acted as lead architect during his time at Hopper Howe Sadler.  He designed the initial concepts for the competition winning entry, developed the masterplan for the site and evolved detailed proposals for the new education centre and convent.  Supported closely by a team of consultants, he steered the designs towards the complex application for planning and listed building approval and through to the successful tendering of the works.  He collaborated closely with NMLA to evolve an integrated scheme and consulted regularly with the client body, Historic England and the Local Planning Authority.  Approval was given without objection and the proposals were tendered on budget.

Harriet Monsell House was awarded Oxford Preservation Trusts’ Certificate of Commendation.  NMLA’s Edward King Chapel was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2013.