grafton architects has completed its first building in the UK, a learning center for london?s kingston university conceived as a ?warehouse of ideas?. the £50 million ($65m USD) project, which grafton was chosen to complete in 2013, has been designed to act as the school?s ?front door? and as a gateway to kingston upon thames. known as ?town house?, the scheme is part of a new vision for the region that hopes to build stronger links with the town center and its local community.

image by ed reeve (also main image)
 
 
grafton ? led by irish architects yvonne farrell and shelley mcnamara ? designed the building to be as welcoming as possible, with with over 50% of the 9,400 square meter (101,180 sqf) accommodation designed to be open plan. a matrix of interlocking spaces and uses overlap and weave together physically and visually, allowing students, visitors and staff to find secluded corners for studying and collaborative work while remaining part of an interconnected whole. these spaces have been designed so that users can always see what is happening, encouraging exchange and facilitating learning as a social process.
image by dennis gilbert
 
 
?imagine a place where reading, dance, performance, lectures, exhibitions, research and learning, happily co-exist, under one roof, and the door is open to everyone. this is the new town house in kingston,? says grafton architects. ?the juxtaposition of contemplative and active performative activities offers an imaginative ...