Output details

Bonn Square, Oxford

Bonn Square Oxford is the output of an exploration of how a contemporary public space can be created from the unpromising conditions of a misused, non-level piece of land within a busy city centre. The challenge was to take a small area, formally composed of a number of autonomous land parcels, and transforming these into a coherent and successful public space with meaningful connection to the historic fabric of Oxford. The development attempted to bring the formal and tectonic quality of the private realm of the College quads into the public realm. This project establishes a convincing analysis and design rationale for addressing issues of urban and social tension that are widespread in historic city centres across Europe and has become an exemplar of good practice that has been emulated by a growing number of small scale urban realm projects of international quality by emerging UK architects (e.g. Copenhagen Square by Hall McKnight). Four key elements were explored: a variegated sandstone surface unifies the space and establishes a link to the existing material fabric of Oxford; a central ramped area retains archeological remains in situ, provides access to the Oxford University Union and creates a central open space; a grove of Robinia Pseudoacacia trees, commonly found in the college gardens, provides shade to loosely arranged seating below; a line of four phosphor bronze lighting columns delineates a forecourt for the New Road Baptist Church. Within professional architectural and landscape circles, the project has recieved national and international awards and publication exposure following its success as the winner of an international competition organized by the RIBA including RSA Medal, AR Emerging Architecture Award and Oxford Preservation Award. The project’s public success and impact can be judged by its sustained public usage since its completion and a lack of vandalism and misuse.