Contextual Architecture

Last week saw the awarding of this year’s Stirling Prize for The New Library at Magdalene College Cambridge by Niall McLaughlin Architects. If you haven’t seen the building, please do have a look on- line. I personally think it is a stunning building- a building fully informed by its context and beautifully detailed. A building which will age gracefully over time and undoubtedly will become a future listed building. It is a piece of architecture of the highest calibre and will make a significant contribution to both the city and to the many users of the library.

The architecture critic Oliver Wainright wrote “The new Magdalene library is an accomplished reinterpretation of tradition. “Settled” was the adjective that the then-master of the college, Dr Rowan Williams, kept returning to during the design process, to describe how he wanted the library to feel, and McLaughlin has responded deftly with a building that has a timeless air.”

Such architecture should be the benchmark to which we all aspire in the creation of buildings, taking the care to study the context and to then produce a building which seems as though it was always meant to be. Timeless in fact. This level of design can be applied to the most humble of buildings, so that they sit comfortably in their surroundings.

The challenge to the casual observer, when looking at buildings, is trying to appreciate the reasoning behind their creation. When assessing buildings, try to understand the parameters around why they were created. Be inquisitive and think about the constraints of a design. What is the building responding to? Is it a suitable neighbour? Does the building exhibit calmness? Does it feel right? Looking at buildings quizzically, will help shape our understanding of architecture and in so doing, perhaps help us make more informed decisions when we come to buy property, or even commission our own piece of work. Creating your own building for most of us is a unique, once in a lifetime experience. It is perhaps daunting to be presented by a blank canvas. The common response, is to say, I’ll “have one of those please”-the “one of those”, being to an already built project. Yet, if we encourage the uniqueness of each person, then we are able to create a bespoke contextual solution. A solution like Magdalene which sits perfectly in its surroundings-at one with the built and natural environment.

In preparing designs, account has to be taken of the scale and material nature of surrounding buildings and the local environment. Design is subjective, yet good design should make a positive contribution to the built fabric of a town or city. We see many ‘fashionable’ buildings, which I know in a few years’ time will look tired and outdated. Yet buildings such as Magdalene Library will exude grace for scores of years to come.

It is a fascinating debate that has been around for many years. In 1915, the famous architect CFA Voysey wrote “ And hence it is that we seek to show that by encouraging the individual to look for the signs of ethical ideas in material things, he will thereby attain spiritual culture and true distinction, and the joys of life will become more rich and fruitful. Life will be more beautiful, and our influence more acceptable.”

Several years ago, Sir Stuart Lipton noted in a paper about the value of design that “We cannot afford not to invest in good design. Good design is not just about the aesthetic improvement of our environment, it is as much about improved quality of life, equality of opportunity and economic growth. If we want to be a successful and sustainable society we have to overcome our ignorance about the importance of design and depart from our culturally-ingrained notion that a poor quality environment is the norm and all we can expect from British builders, developers, planners and politicians.”?