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Atlantic College, Wales
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Atlantic College, South Wales
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This student accommodation is designed to focus and enrich the social and 'family' life of the students. Dynamic and open environments focus on the landscape across the Bristol Channel towards the 12thC St. Donat's Castle enhancing the daily life of the student in this unique setting. Atlantic College stands in the Vale of Glamorgan. The competition was to replace existing student dwellings with four new houses over two sites to accommodate 40 international students each. A key feature of the design is the relationship between houses, and in turn, their relationship with the site topography which falls towards the Channel and the Castle. |
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The first pair of houses is positioned to define two external spaces. A new forecourt adjacent to the main entrance and a terraced garden share views of the Castle and Channel. A second pair of houses is pressed into the hillside and orientated to take full advantage of the spectacular views towards the Channel. The positioning of the four houses on the two sites enables a straightforward phased construction sequence, with minimum impact on the position of the existing trees. Within, each ´house' is arranged over two storeys, with sleeping above living. The larger first floor providing ´shelter' to both the internal living spaces and external terraces below. The ground floor accommodation follows the natural slope of the site and is partly excavated. The dayroom forms the social focus of the house, a grand double height space which sits beneath a clearing in the 'canopy' of the first floor above. The room is marked by social spaces around a fireplace and kitchenette. The open sky is sheltered by an almost imperceptible veil. The arrangement of the ground floor accommodation responds to each particular site topography and views. Students will recognise the differences and appreciate the similarities. |
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