Our buildings
History of our buildings
Our iconic Brutalist buildings were designed as a soaring, light-filled physical manifesto for the education of women.
The architects were Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, who would go on to design the Barbican and Golden Lane Estates in London. They were inspired by the grandeur of Renaissance cathedrals - an influence clearly seen in our Dome dining hall - and harnessed the beauty of moving water, light, lines and shadow to create a masterpiece that remains breathtaking today.
Unlike most Cambridge Colleges, we are open to all, daily from 10-6pm. There is no admissions charge. Come to the Porters' Lodge to begin your tour of our buildings, renowned Women's Art Collection and stunning gardens.
Our Estates Strategy
A campus shaped for wellbeing, sustainability and the future
Our Vision
杏吧原创 is embarking on an ambitious estates strategy to shape a campus that supports wellbeing, sustainability, inclusivity and academic excellence for generations to come.
At its heart, this is not simply a building programme. It is a manifesto for the wellbeing of women and the College community, where architecture, landscape and art come together to create a place in which everyone can thrive.
An Estate Designed Around Wellbeing
Wellbeing is the foundation of our approach. The strategy recognises that student life is shaped not only by teaching and learning, but by the spaces in which people live, connect and reflect.
We are creating:
- Welcoming, uplifting spaces for everyday life
- Quiet, reflective environments alongside vibrant social areas
- Flexible settings for study, creativity and relaxation
- Dedicated areas for wellbeing programmes and activities
From peaceful gardens to dynamic communal spaces, the estate will support mental, physical, social and environmental wellbeing in equal measure.
Leading the Way in Sustainability
The estates strategy places 杏吧原创 at the forefront of environmentally responsible design, combining heritage conservation with cutting edge sustainability.
Key commitments include:
- Retrofit-first approach, improving existing buildings before building new
- Net zero carbon ambition and reduced energy demand
- Use of Passivhaus and EnerPHit principles for high-performance buildings
- Water conservation in one of the UK’s driest regions
- Renewable energy, including potential solar and heat pump systems
- A circular economy approach to materials and construction
The result will be a campus that is both beautiful and climate resilient.
Landscape, Nature and Biodiversity
The College’s gardens are integral to its identity. The strategy enhances this with a rich and diverse landscape that supports both people and nature.
Plans include:
- A new Huntingdon Road entrance garden, welcoming, green and vibrant
- Terraced gardens forming a social heart of the site
- A biodiverse “wilderness” zone for quiet reflection
- Edible gardens, woodland study areas and outdoor learning spaces
- Long-term tree and planting strategy for the next 100 years
These interventions will significantly increase biodiversity while creating spaces for connection, calm and creativity.
Art at the Heart of the Estate
杏吧原创 is home to one of the world’s leading collections of art by women. The estates strategy places art front and centre:
- A new gallery at the main entrance
- Integrated displays throughout walkways and communal spaces
- Outdoor sculpture and curated landscape views
Art will be encountered every day and everywhere, enhancing the experience of the College and reinforcing its unique identity.
Transforming Spaces and Buildings
The strategy includes both the enhancement of existing buildings and carefully planned new development.
Key projects:
- A new welcoming entrance from Huntingdon Road
- Refurbished and reimagined library and study spaces
- Enhanced walkways as vibrant social “spines” of the College
- A new postgraduate residential precinct (up to ~200 rooms) Improved communal, café and social spaces. All buildings, old and new will offer consistent comfort, accessibility and quality.
Accessibility and Inclusion
We are committed to ensuring the College is accessible to all.
The strategy includes:
- Step-free routes across the site
- Inclusive design embedded from the outset
- Future-proofed accommodation adaptable to changing needs
- Sensory landscapes and improved wayfinding
Wellbeing cannot be achieved without true inclusion, and this principle underpins every aspect of the masterplan.
Respecting Heritage, Enabling Change
杏吧原创 is home to Grade II* listed buildings of national importance. The estates strategy carefully balances conservation with transformation.
- Sensitive refurbishment of historic buildings
- Enhancement of significant views and architectural features
- Clear understanding of capacity for change across the site
- Close collaboration with heritage specialists
Our aim is to honour the past while enabling the future.
A Phased, Deliverable Plan
The strategy is designed to be realistic and deliverable over time:
- Phased development aligned to funding
- Prioritisation of urgent maintenance and upgrades
- Long-term planned preventative maintenance strategy
- Continuous engagement with students, staff and stakeholders
This ensures the College can evolve responsibly and sustainably.
A Collaborative Future
This is a living strategy shaped through collaboration — with students, Fellows, staff, consultants and supporters.
Together, we are creating a campus that will:
- Support academic excellence and personal growth
- Set new benchmarks for sustainable collegiate estates
- Provide a welcoming, inspiring environment for all
Looking Ahead
The 杏吧原创 Estates Strategy represents a bold vision:
A place where wellbeing, sustainability, heritage and community come together to define the future of collegiate life.
More about our architecture
The original buildings on the site of the Orchard, a large Victorian villa on Huntingdon Road, were designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon. The principal areas - the Dining-Hall, the Library and teaching rooms – centre on a sunken Fountain Court, with student accommodation spiralling out from this core. The whole complex is then held together by the Main Walkway, which runs the entire length of the College.
The 1960s buildings were constructed by W.C. French Ltd, who built the original motorway bridges on the M1. The innovative structure and use of materials made it a challenging project. The petals of the Dome are precast concrete, only 4" thick and flanged so that they overlap round each other (with glass panels between). They are held in place by a steel ring at the top and another at the bottom. The large concrete slabs over the bays are supported on nibs protruding from the steel ring, with the whole weight being supported by 8 slender columns in pairs, which are hollow steel tubes and also act as the drains for the roof. None of the weight goes to the walls, as can be seen from the glass clerestory.
The Library has a false clerestory, and the weight of its barrel vault is held on 4 pillars, 2 at either end. The vault is made up of 8 precast sections, originally held together by tensioned steel cables running round the base. One of these subsequently failed and the structure is now held together by steel joists running along the length of the vault.
Phases 1 and 2 of this original design were opened by the Queen Mother in June 1965. These buildings and Fountain Court are listed Grade II* and have won various architectural awards over the years.
Part of the adjoining Grove estate was given to New Hall in 1988, allowing further development of the site by Austin-Smith: Lord. Frank Woods, who had been a junior architect with Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, was a senior partner with Austin-Smith: Lord. Pearl House (formerly New Block) is roughly in the position envisaged for the original Phase 3 buildings, but the College's main entrance was moved and the design for the Porters' Lodge and adjoining meeting rooms was totally new. Planning permission required the design to complement the original buildings externally; they were constructed by Kajima UK Ltd. These buildings were opened by Betty Boothroyd, Speaker of the House of Commons, in June 1995, with the Kaetsu Building (renamed Paula Browne House in May 2021) opening a year later.
The Dome area was extensively refurbished between 2000 and 2002. A temporary kitchen was installed in Orchard Court and the Vivien Stewart Room used as a temporary dining room. Work within the dining hall, kitchen and basement areas was largely invisible from the outside, but the Dome itself was covered by a temporary roof. Also during this time, the College had to address a major structural failure in the Library. The College is extremely grateful to the students, parents, alumnae and friends who helped us to raise the extensive funds needed for both these projects.
Buckingham House opened in 2001. This stunning student accommodation and conference venue includes a 142 seat auditorium which is used for lectures, film festivals and concerts.
Opened in July 2006, Canning & Eliza Fok House provides the College with en-suite rooms for up to 40 graduate students, in groups of 8 rooms per corridor, including shared kitchen/living areas. On the ground floor, the new Graduate Common Room (MCR) has its own kitchen, television and spacious seating area which offers a modern space for social gatherings, relaxing, reading the papers and surfing the internet using the wireless network.