Keele University Campus

Having topped the table for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey for three consecutive years and ranking first for student satisfaction with their courses in the Guardian University guide the experience of life at Keele is considered of paramount importance .

The parkland setting of the campus plays a large part in helping the University attain the title of ‘ University of the Year for Student Experience for consistent excellence ’. The campus has a green and rolling character with meandering walks and tree lined avenues . As well as its heritage the campus houses the National Collection of Cherry trees within its arboretum and a number of feature buildings , such as the chapel or House 99 , provide important landmarks .

Bringing Unity

Initial development of Keele Hall and its designed landscape was transformational - essentially bringing an order to the agricultural landscape through subtle ground modelling , tree planting , lakes , new avenues , paths and buildings etc . University development to the present day initially saw the construction of development within the framework of spaces established by the designed parkland . However with increasing pressure for space the campus of today is now somewhat at odds with the order and character of the former parkland . With new development , looking to the future , Keele University has the opportunity to once again create something truly transformational .

New development offers the opportunity to respond positively to the University ’ s parkland character , to significantly improve connectivity throughout the hall sites and to unify the campus . By removing some of the piecemeal development that now appears out of place within the campus and replacing this with well-mannered buildings that fit sensitively within their immediate context the character of each hall will be enhanced .

New development needs to unify and to be distinctive . Each hall must have its own identity whilst positively responding to the character of the wider campus . The spirit of Keele is an intangible thing , but by seeking to capture this spirit within each hall the development will be truly transformational for the University . To capture these elements and to respond to the University ’ s parks and gardens setting , the design rationale for each hall is to be grounded in the guiding principles that underlie a designed landscape .

These principles are : conceal and reveal ; colour and contrast ; and pattern and texture .

Conceal + reveal Colour and Contrast - Barnes Hall

Barnes Hall - inspired by the site ’ s existing grid , opportunities to use light in a playful way through shadows and the contrast provided by light and dark and the use of colour within both the buildings and landscape for accent .

Unity - Well Mannered Background Buildings EXPERIENCE - SOCIAL BUILDINGS & LANDSCAPE

Pattern and Texture - Horwood Hall

Horwood Hall - inspired by existing diamond patterning evident within the existing hall , ones experience of views across the landscape at different heights due to topography .

Conceal and Reveal - Lindsay Hall

Lindsay Hall - inspired by open views across the wider countryside , the walled garden , and ones opportunity to experience the landscape at different levels .

New residential buildings will be designed so that they are simple , well mannered and offer a unity across the whole campus . The new social hubs within each hall by contrast will be individual and distinctive in order to help give each hall an identity , The landscape design will work in reverse . The landscape surrounding the residential buildings ( the Foreground Landscape ) will be distinctive and engaging whilst the landscape surrounding the social hubs ( the Background Landscape ) will be more muted .

Campus facilities such as the proposed music building , Keele Postgraduate Association and Medical Centre will have their own character befitting their context .

Concepts , Context & Design Rationale

Keele University Campus

Keele University Campus

Having topped the table for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey for three consecutive years and ranking first for student satisfaction with their courses in the Guardian University guide the experience of life at Keele is considered of paramount importance .

The parkland setting of the campus plays a large part in helping the University attain the title of ‘ University of the Year for Student Experience for consistent excellence ’. The campus has a green and rolling character with meandering walks and tree lined avenues . As well as its heritage the campus houses the National Collection of Cherry trees within its arboretum and a number of feature buildings , such as the chapel or House 99 , provide important landmarks .

01 Bringing Unity

NATURAL Disorder ORDER ORDER Order

DISCORD Discord

UNITY Unity

PAST Past

PRESENT Present

FUTURE Future

02 Celebrating Distinctiveness

Bringing Unity

Initial development of Keele Hall and its designed landscape was transformational - essentially bringing an order to the agricultural landscape through subtle ground modelling , tree planting , lakes , new avenues , paths and buildings etc . University development to the present day initially saw the construction of development within the framework of spaces established by the designed parkland . However with increasing pressure for space the campus of today is now somewhat at odds with the order and character of the former parkland . With new development , looking to the future , Keele University has the opportunity to once again create something truly transformational .

New development offers the opportunity to respond positively to the University ’ s parkland character , to significantly improve connectivity throughout the hall sites and to unify the campus . By removing some of the piecemeal development that now appears out of place within the campus and replacing this with well-mannered buildings that fit sensitively within their immediate context the character of each hall will be enhanced .

New development needs to unify and to be distinctive . Each hall must have its own identity whilst positively responding to the character of the wider campus . The spirit of Keele is an intangible thing , but by seeking to capture this spirit within each hall the development will be truly transformational for the University . To capture these elements and to respond to the University ’ s parks and gardens setting , the design rationale for each hall is to be grounded in the guiding principles that underlie a designed landscape .

These principles are : conceal and reveal ; colour and contrast ; and pattern and texture .

Colour + Contrast Pattern + Texture

Conceal + reveal Colour and Contrast - Barnes Hall

03 Creating Intelligent Backgrounds

Barnes Hall Horwood Hall

Lindsay Hall

Barnes Hall - inspired by the site ’ s existing grid , opportunities to use light in a playful way through shadows and the contrast provided by light and dark and the use of colour within both the buildings and landscape for accent .

Unity - Well Mannered Background Buildings EXPERIENCE - SOCIAL BUILDINGS & LANDSCAPE

Pattern and Texture - Horwood Hall

Horwood Hall - inspired by existing diamond patterning evident within the existing hall , ones experience of views across the landscape at different heights due to topography .

Conceal and Reveal - Lindsay Hall

Lindsay Hall - inspired by open views across the wider countryside , the walled garden , and ones opportunity to experience the landscape at different levels .

New residential buildings will be designed so that they are simple , well mannered and offer a unity across the whole campus . The new social hubs within each hall by contrast will be individual and distinctive in order to help give each hall an identity , The landscape design will work in reverse . The landscape surrounding the residential buildings ( the Foreground Landscape ) will be distinctive and engaging whilst the landscape surrounding the social hubs ( the Background Landscape ) will be more muted .

Campus facilities such as the proposed music building , Keele Postgraduate Association and Medical Centre will have their own character befitting their context .

Accommodation Enhancement and Expansion