The Architectural Selection Panel of the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London has chosen Herzog & de Meuron to design its new 16,000-square-foot Battersea South campus, a £108 million ($134 million) project.
The south London campus represents the widening of the prestigious art and design university’s focus to science, technology, engineering, art, and math/medicine (STEAM).
The selection committee sought an innovative architectural design that would reflect these interests, and that could house study, research, and collaborations in these fields.
Visualization of Herzog & de Meuron’s design for the new Royal College of Art campus in Battersea. Image courtesy Royal College of Art, ©2016, Herzog & de Meuron.
Professor Naren Barfield, Pro Rector of the RCA and member of the Architectural Selection Panel, said in a press release that Herzog & de Meuron’s design does just that, with “a new configuration of space typologies to explore the expanding frontiers in learning and research in art and design, and especially where these meet technology, engineering and science to transform STEM to STEAM.”
The Swiss architectural firm will develop the project alongside the RCA, its partners, and shareholders. The initial design mockup features ample studio space, a large-scale project room, and indoor garden.
“The Battersea site offers an opportunity to rethink the RCA campus and establish the patterns of connectivity and organization that will make a successful building,” Pierre de Meuron said of the challenge.
Visualization of the interior of Herzog & de Meuron’s design for the new Royal College of Art campus in Battersea. Image courtesy Royal College of Art, ©2016, Herzog & de Meuron.
Herzog & de Meuron currently has a few other significant arts and cultural projects underway, like renovating the disused Tacheles department store, and building the new Museum of the 20th Century in Berlin. That’s not to mention the recent opening of the Tate Modern by the firm.
The winning design was selected over six runner-up designs, including Switzerland’s Christian Kerez, France’s Lacaton & Vassal, Belgium’s Robbrecht en Daem, Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Studio Gang from the US, and the UK and Singapore-based Serie Architects.