The Twentieth Century Society

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Supported

Hilda Besse Building, St. Antony’s College, Woodstock Road, Oxford; Howell, Killick, Partridge & Ami, (1966-71)

Completed in 1971, following the erection of the Gatehouse for St Anne’s College, the Hilda Besse building is a well-balanced composition, detailed and executed at high standards. Its designs repeat the bolstered heads of the columns and ‘mediaeval feel’ theme used in The Gatehouse and, in this way, demonstrates a clear line of continuity between separate projects by HKPA. Innovative elements include the ingenious breaking up of the apparent symmetry of the building both on plan and on elevation and an experimental approach to concrete design. The building was put forward for listing by a local resident in September 2008. The Society has written to EH and supported the proposed listing.  

Hudson Beare Lecture Theatre, Department of Engineering, Edinburgh University King’s Buildings, Mayfield Road, City of Edinburgh; Robert Gardner-Medwin in association with Stephenson, Young and Partners (1961)

Completed as part of a larger scheme for the extension of the Department of Engineering, the Hudson Beare Lecture Theatre is by far the most original part of this 1960s extension. Its bold form—a detached, fully enclosed concrete box—clearly expresses both the function and the structure of the building and demonstrates a skilful choice of finishing details. Despite several significant differences between the two schemes, the building calls for an interesting comparison to Gillespie Kidd and Coia’s Teaching Block or Category A listed St Peter’s Seminary at Cardross, opened six years later in April 1967. The Society supported the proposed listing of the lecture theatre by Historic Scotland at Category B. 

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