Kingston University, Town House designed by Grafton Architects

 It was in late 2013 that Grafton Architects won the design competition for a significant new building for Kingston University. Following Grafton’s appointment in early 2014, design work commenced, with the building losing a floor during pre-planning negotiations. The first planning application was rejected by the Local Authority in March 2015, a rejection which was converted to a unanimous approval in August 2015. Detailed design and contractor procurement followed, with Willmott Dixon starting on site in April 2017. 

The building achieved practical completion in January 2020, nine months later than planned, principally due to the insolvency of a major sub-contractor. Three months later, in March 2020 the building closed briefly because of the Covid pandemic, before becoming the first building at KU to reopen in July 2020. The building did not close again, during the further lockdowns that followed. 

Town House won the Stirling Prize in 2021 and the EU Mies van der Rohe award in 2022. The axonometric drawing was part of the original Grafton design competition submission and clearly illustrates the 200 metres of linear park proposed, as well as the design concept of the interlocking volumes, stepping down towards neighbours on Grove Crescent and the colonnade which wraps three sides of the building.

Image Credits

Image 1: ©Grafton Architects / Image 2: ©Dennis Gilbert