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Learning Spaces With Awesome Architecture

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#architecture #design #construction #architecturaldesign
Published
08/05/2021

People learn in all sorts of environments – from basic tin-roofed rural outbuildings to palatial premises that were established hundreds of years ago.

But although students are resilient and will often perform exceptionally well in the most spartan setups if there’s no other option, it’s interesting to consider which building designs are most conducive to learning.

Airy, expansive designs with lots of glass to maximise natural light are popular in contemporary college campuses, while classrooms in traditional universities tend to be more cloistered and controlled.

Meanwhile, architects and designers are often tasked with extension projects that have to fuse old and new design elements so that they complement each other rather than clash – no easy task by any stretch of the imagination.

With all that in mind, let’s take a look at a couple of learning spaces with awesome architecture.

Glasgow University

When it comes to amazing architecture, as one of Britain’s oldest educational institutions, the University of Glasgow has plenty to choose from.

Founded in 1451 by Bishop Turnbull, lectures were first held in Glasgow Cathedral Chapter House, but the dedicated campus that became known as the Old College was constructed over the subsequent century and featured the famous Lion and Unicorn staircase, which was later moved to Gilmorehill, the site of the university from 1870.

The impressive Gothic Revival complex at Gilmorehill was the second-largest construction project in Britain at the time – only trumped in scale by the Houses of Parliament in London. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the famous building, with its expansive quadrangles and ornate features like the cloisters under Bute Hall, has welcomed generations of students since.

3M Buckley Innovation Centre

Huddersfield’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre is a dynamic growth hub where entrepreneurs can tap into a wealth of knowledge from cutting-edge academic researchers in order to progress their projects.

So it’s appropriate that the striking Larchfield Building which houses this hub began life as another site of industry and innovation – an Industrial Revolution-era mill. Designers AHR Building Consultancy balanced old and new elements by incorporating a glass and steel frame within the remnants of the old mill and the resultant innovative building with pleasant river views enhances its Firth Street surroundings no end.

The enterprise and innovation centre comprises 26 offices and three special laboratories for small and medium start-up businesses – it’s an excellent example of an imaginative space where traditions of industry and intellect flourish.

While Glasgow is a far older university than Huddersfield and this is reflected in the style and grandeur of its iconic buildings, as they’ve evolved to meet the demands of expanding student populations with different expectations, they’ve blended old and new elements in fantastic ways.

These are just two learning spaces with awesome architecture, and they prove that learning and innovation, in common with so many areas in life, are about brilliantly balancing style and substance.

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