October 21 2019

The University of St Andrews and Campus Living Villages have formally applied for planning consent to build a revised student campus at Albany Park.

Overseen by Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson the latest plans take into account ecological and flood risk concerns previously raised by Fife Council against the scheme while still delivering 900 bedrooms.

This has been achieved despite an overall reduction in the number of buildings by pursuing more efficient layouts with larger individual footprints and a modest height increase for some blocks.

Promoting their approach the architects wrote: “The proposal is to regenerate the important ‘The Central Area’ with the East Sands area of St Andrews by providing a high-quality development.

“Overall the proposals provide a positive development for the site utilising a disused site with outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose. The proposals enhance the site by carefully incorporating new buildings and refurbishing and retaining important existing buildings that contribute to the area and its relationship with the conservation area.”
 
A key element of the masterplan will be a new facilities building along the seafront which will adopt the form of a series of gable end features extending from a retained element of the existing Woodburn Complex.

Residential buildings will extend the use of prominent gables, employing a mix of brick and stone at lower level combined with metal panelling and inhabited roofs to reduce apparent impact.

At the heart of the plan is a reinstated ‘Woodburn Square’ in front of a refurbished Woodburn House which will serve as the main entrance to the university faculties.

3 Comments

#1 Posted by D to the R on 21 Oct 2019 at 12:14 PM

I love the way the minimal eaves line touches the ... oh ... no ... wait ... I've just been sick in my mouth. If this can get planning in St Andrews then we should all just give up.

#2 Posted by Stylecouncil on 21 Oct 2019 at 18:48 PM

Truly awful. Wtf is going on with that stairwell elevation?
This depressing website has become a comprehensive database (graveyard) of evidence highlighting our professions complete lack of creativity and judgement, mostly at the larger commercial practice end of the scale.
Try harder UR, there are actually many decent projects emerging out there, ‘penned’ by practices with a bit of passion, care and who actually give a fig.

#3 Posted by mick on 21 Oct 2019 at 22:45 PM

The architect clearly sees this as " providing a high quality development " surely the administrative heavy dudes of the university cannot possibly agree. If they do they must be relying on pecuniary rather than architectural sensitivities.

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