The Kitchen and Buttery at Newnham have key roles to play at the social heart of the College.  However the outdated and inflexible 1970s accommodation did not meet current standards and was unable to offer the range of functions the College required. As a result rhp were asked to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study with a view to a major redevelopment and upgrade of the facilities.

Our briefing workshops with users, existing building fabric assessments and development option appraisals, led to a clear case for our final proposals for a new contemporary design that sensitively reconnected the surrounding late 19th century Grade II and II* listed buildings, while creating a striking new frontage offering the College a transparent street presence for the first time.

The new Buttery provides a 24-hour living space accommodating up to 110 students and staff with a mixture of traditional and café-style dining with soft seating areas. The room’s large picture windows feature an abstract modern artwork representing the acanthus leaf and sunflower motifs favoured by Basil Champneys, architect of the College’s early, Queen Anne style, buildings. The artwork doubles as a visual screen offering a good level of privacy for the diners.

A new street entrance provides access for functions within the College main dining hall or to the new events suite located at first floor level.  The new flexible meeting space provides additional accommodation for Council meetings, seminars and audio visual presentations for up to 100 people.