New BSG headquarters in Oxford by H&deM

The Swiss duo Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron were commissioned for the project of the new Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, England, after winning an international competition in 2011. The new building is set to be another modern intervention in the expansion of the prestigious university, following Zaha Hadid's school. The fluid five-story glass structure will soon become a new landmark in the southwest corner of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter campus designed by Rafael Viñoly. The lower two floors create a massive plinth for the three upper, tiered lecture halls. Due to its close proximity to historic buildings, the resulting form of the school has been criticized by local heritage groups. The internal layout resembles that of an auditorium or concert hall. From the oval 'square', tiered lecture halls can be accessed. The interior 'forum' spans all height levels and interconnects the various programmatic elements. The main idea was to maintain openness, transparency, and easy access to the different parts of the building. The top floor houses a library with direct access to a spacious rooftop terrace. The new university building is made possible primarily thanks to a generous donation from billionaire Leonard Blavatnik amounting to £75 million and is expected to be completed in 2015.

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