PRP wins appeal for controversial Oaklands site

14.08.2006

An innovative scheme of new homes, designed by PRP, on the Oaklands College site in the centre of St Albans, has won planning approval at appeal for Fairview New Homes. The controversial proposals, involving the conversion of five listed post war Hertfordshire education buildings to residential use, has been supported by CABE, DOCOMOMO and The 20th Century Society.

The appeal decision upheld PRP’s proposals to convert five of the seven listed buildings on site to apartments and to build new homes in a series of pavilions in the adjoining mature landscape. Chris Rudolf, Managing Director of PRP, led the development of the concept design and masterplan. PRP partnered with John Pardey Architects whose expertise in post war architecture was used in the conversion of the listed buildings and detailed design of the pavilions.

The listed buildings in the centre of the site are uniquely laid out to form a series of human-scaled landscaped courtyards. New residential pavilions radiate out from the listed buildings to form a series of new interconnected courts that benefit from mature trees and paths through the site to provide urban parkland for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. The proposals convert five of the celebrated Hertfordshire system education buildings, constructed in the 1960’s, to one and two bedroom ‘open plan’ apartments. The two single storey listed buildings remain in their current uses as a hall and gymnasium. 329 new apartments will be built in total including 40 in the listed buildings.

The appeal decision states in its conclusion that ‘the proposals would enhance the setting of the listed buildings and preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area’; further adding that ‘the proposed layout is innovative, securely based on the layout of the listed buildings and potentially extremely attractive’.

CABE recognised the quality of the proposals in its report ‘Design Reviewed : Issue 2’, stating ‘The existing layout on the site is an example of a particular type of modernist approach to site planning – object buildings placed within a free plan – that is difficult to reconcile with contemporary approaches to urban design. These focus on ideas of defensible space, definition between public and private spaces and a clear hierarchy of uses. A key challenge has been adapting the modernist approach to these contemporary requirements without losing the original integrity and character of the project. We feel the scheme has shown the promise to do so’.

ABE went on to state ‘we applaud the client for recognising the difficulties of the project and for realising a bespoke solution is required. We believe the scheme has every possibility of creating a very special environment’.

The language of the new buildings is an architecture founded on the idea of complementing the existing rather than competing with it – echoing rather than mimicking – and this is achieved by careful translation of the ideas and forms that are employed on the listed buildings.

Chris Rudolf, PRP, concluded, ‘We are extremely pleased to have received a positive result. The redevelopment of the Oaklands Campus provides an opportunity to preserve a unique collection of Hertfordshire education buildings from the 1960’s within a high quality environment. Through a carefully conceived strategy of conversion, refurbishment and new residential building, the proposals will breathe new life and vitality into the existing buildings and build upon the campus philosophy of pavilions within an urban parkland setting’.