New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School / Walters & Cohen

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Chair, Shelving, Beam, ArcadeNew Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Facade, BrickNew Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Facade, CourtyardNew Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Brick, FacadeNew Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - More Images+ 22

  • Structural And Civil Engineer: Price & Myers
  • Approved Inspector: BRCS Building Control
  • Fire Consultant: Fusion Fire
  • Cdm Services: RMB
  • Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
  • Civil Engineer: Price & Myers
  • Approved Inspector: BRCS Building Control
  • Fire Consultant: Fusion Fire
  • Cdm Services: RMB
  • City: Canterbury
  • Country: United Kingdom
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New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Brick, Facade
© Dennis Gilbert

Text description provided by the architects. In early 2014, Walters & Cohen won an invited competition to design new boarding accommodation for the school which was looking to increase pupil numbers and strengthen its co-educational balance by enhancing provision for girl boarders with an additional 50-60 places. 

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Facade, Courtyard
© Dennis Gilbert

Phase 1 comprised the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Butterfield building and Master’s House to create boarding accommodation for 30 pupils of Kingsdown House, a new girls’ boarding House, and includes a common room, quiet study area, kitchen and ‘brew’ areas. This was completed in time for the new school year in 2015. 

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Chair, Shelving, Beam, Arcade
© Dennis Gilbert

Phase 2 of the project recently completed, was the construction of a new building for older pupils of Kingsdown House. The site was acquired by The King’s School as part of a larger masterplan project; close to the existing campus, adjacent to the city wall and with fine views of the Cathedral, it offered the opportunity to create a new relationship and interaction between contemporary design and the historic setting. Different options were explored for the new building footprint, its position on site, height, composition and roofscape, in close consultation with Canterbury City Council, Historic England and members of the public.

Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan

The design is of a gabled, two-storey building with rooms in the roof, accommodating 23 single study bedrooms, and housing the 6th form girls who require a more private and quiet setting to study for exams. A modest, single storey element connects to the Butterfield building with a frameless glass link joining them to the new accommodation building and allowing views out towards the city wall.

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Facade, Brick
© Dennis Gilbert

The new building is clad in handmade clay tiles, drawing on local architecture and construction techniques, while the building’s elegant profile and gabled roof complement the features of its neighbours. The dormer windows allow additional rooms to be located in the roof without raising the height of the building. This was a crucial consideration in order not to intrude on the existing rooflines which form part of the historic setting. The use of clay tiles also allows the continuous stone plane of the Butterfield building, Master’s House and the street wall to retain its prominence.

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Brick, Facade
© Dennis Gilbert

The landscape was conceived as an integral part of the design, offering spaces for study and socialising, with views towards the Cathedral. The design draws on the historic gardens beside the city wall and aims to revive the relationship between the two. It provides a series of connected external spaces of different character, allowing routes through, seating and a balance between soft and hard landscaping.

New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School  / Walters & Cohen - Windows, Facade
© Dennis Gilbert

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Project location

Address:Canterbury, UK

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "New Boarding Accommodation at The King’s School / Walters & Cohen" 22 Feb 2017. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/803299/new-boarding-accommodation-at-the-kings-school-walters-and-cohen> ISSN 0719-8884

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