Convent for the Sisters of Begbroke, Ripon College, Oxford

The Sisters of Begbroke combine two orders of nuns who work, pray and live together.  The Sisters had been based in a Priory north of Oxford when they were invited to become involved in proposals to extend the facilities at Ripon College.  Plans were being drawn for new teaching space and student accommodation, with a new Chapel to replace the existing first floor facility, which was too small to serve the whole community and awkward to access.  Following a competition, Niall McLaughlin Architects were invited to develop designs in tandem for a connected Chapel.

The Sisters were enthusiastic about becoming involved in the life of the College and saw a pastoral role.  They wanted their Convent to be open and welcoming, yet retain a means to withdraw and seek quiet contemplation.  The design exploits an open cloistered arrangement that places the day facilities adjacent to the campus with a quieter internal aspect overlooking a sheltered garden, that might be planted by the Sisters.  The bedroom wing is disconnected further, forming a colonnade of cells with peaceful views across the countryside.

Graham worked closely with NMLA to develop a scheme that shared a contemporary approach with the Chapel, to create a sense of unity that is reinforced through a common palate of materials.  The Convent plays a deferential role, defined by its scale and expressed through a hierarchy of components and finishes.  It also references elements of G.E. Street’s grade II* listed facades and utilises details in common with the sister scheme for Harriet Monsell House to form an integrated and harmonious overall composition.

Guided by a team of consultants, Graham, acted as lead architect for the schemes.  He steered the design from initial concepts towards the complex application for Planning Approval, aided by Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners, and through the working drawing phases.  He consulted regularly with the client body, the Local Planning Authority and with Historic England.  Approval was achieved without objection and the scheme was tendered successfully on budget.

The Convent remained unconstructed and The Sisters of Begbroke took residence instead in Harriett Monsell House.  NMLA’s Edward King Chapel received numerous awards and was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2013.

Graham was the design and project architect for these proposals whilst working for Hopper Howe Sadler.