Oaklands College, St Albans

Client: Fairview New Homes Ltd

Role: Masterplanning and Urban Design

Redevelopment of an iconic 1950’s Grade II listed college in St Albans.

Oaklands College was designed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Architects in the 1950’s and was listed Grade II as a consequence of the application of economy of means as a driving force, which lent their school’s programme a decisive design edge. The elegant and efficient curtain walled structures were arranged to create a series of attractive courts, set within a parkland setting that benefited from several hundred mature trees.

PRP’s masterplan for the regeneration of the campus set the framework for the residential conversion of the listed buildings providing 48 new dwellings. It also built on the principles of the original campus design, removing all inappropriate later structures and extending the built area to provide an additional 290 new homes. These were contained within a series of contemporary apartment blocks that formed additional landscaped courts and enhanced the context of the listed blocks.

It was important to maintain the original visual openness of the campus and its public courts, whilst creating a physical separation for the privacy of residents. This was achieved through the careful use of changes of level demarcating public routes from communal gardens. PRP secured full planning, listed building and conservation area consents for the scheme, following extensive consultation with the Conservation Officer, CABE, DOCOMOMO and the Twentieth Century Society.