Education and Contextualism

Architects Design Partnership

“Education and Contextualism” focuses on Architects Design Partnership’s work for schools, universities and colleges. The book begins by placing the founding of the practice against the cultural backdrop of Britain in the 1960s, with the death of Winston Churchill, the emergence of The Beatles, and the foundation of many ‘redbrick’ universities. The reader is then taken on a journey through ADP’s development, taking in their major educational projects, which encompass a wide variety of purposes – auditoria; halls of residence and boarding houses; support and leisure services; education spaces for specialist subjects such as Art, Technology, Sport, Medicine; and Information Technology and E-learning. The book follows ADP’s work both for new projects, such as the University of Birmingham and Oxford Science Park, and their extensions and additions to historic and listed buildings, such as the Palace of Westminster, Oxford Castle and Highgate School. In doing so, ADP’s concern with building materials, budget, regeneration, landscaping, and environmental context is fully explored. “Education and Contextualism” reflects ADP’s unique approach to architecture and is a worthy celebration of the practice’s 40th anniversary.