Castle Bailey Quad: blending heritage & modernity

Steeped in Oxford's heritage, Castle Bailey Quad at St Peter's College seamlessly integrates modern sustainable design with historical surroundings.

The new student accommodation development consists of 54 study bedrooms and support spaces, and is designed to meet the Passive House Institute Low Energy Building (PHI LEB) standard. Situated on New Road in Central Oxford, the site is adjacent to the historic Castle Mound and listed buildings, making heritage considerations and spatial constraints key factors in the design and construction process.

The project not only enhances the college’s accommodation offerings but also reflects the university’s respect for the city’s rich architectural heritage and commitment to their broader decarbonisation strategy aiming for Net Zero by 2035.

Key stats

Construction: Concrete frame
Number of homes: 54 bedrooms
Build start date: 2022
Completed: 2024
Certified: Aiming for Passive House Institute Low Energy Building (PHI LEB)

St Peter’s College Castle Bailey Quad © Design Engine Architects

It is wonderful to be celebrating this cutting edge, ultra-low energy residential building. The building will be in keeping with the College’s philosophy of “honouring the past, building for the future”, allowing students to benefit from housing in one of the UK’s most sustainable residences. Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon

Castle Bailey Quad carefully integrates with its historical surroundings, using hand-made bricks in grey and sand colours that echo the tones of nearby Canal House. The building entrances are accented with patterned cast stone features, while terracotta ceramic cladding on the upper storey reflects the tiled roofs of the surrounding architecture. The design, while contemporary, pays homage to the existing context through its form, massing, and material tones, achieved through extensive consultations with Oxford City Council and Historic England.

St Peter’s College Castle Bailey Quad © Marcus Peel

Construction

Castle Bailey Quad features a concrete frame on pile foundations with a steel roof structure. The façade combines brick cavity construction with brick-faced precast concrete lintels, accented by architectural precast details. The upper storey showcases terracotta baguettes and an aluminum rainscreen, all insulated with mineral wool.

The site’s historical and archaeological significance necessitated careful planning and coordination. An archaeological investigation was required due to a medieval ditch running across the area, with the City Archaeologist closely monitoring the process during the foundation work. The central Oxford location on a busy bus route created challenging construction logistics. To overcome restricted site access, waste removal was tightly managed with only one wagon allowed outside the site at any time, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding area.

Join us to learn more

The project is now complete and welcoming students to move in for the start of the new term. The scheme is under the final stages of certification and the team is eagerly awaiting the project's final PHI LEB accreditation.

Do not miss the opportunity to explore Castle Bailey Quad and experience the comfort & quality first-hand during a site tour at the UK Passivhaus Conference 2024. PHT member Beyond Carbon, and Design Engine Architects will guide you through the key areas and discuss the impact on its students & staff as well as challenges of the scheme.