Because the new building was not allowed to block light from its surroundings, it is folded inwards along steep, sloping surfaces in such a way as to preserve the angles of incidence of the sun. It is thus entirely shaped by the existing environment.
One of the facade lines, viewed from St. Clement's Lane, forms a precise diagonal between the eaves of the row of houses on the right and the pavement on the left side of the street. Openwork sections in the brickwork soften the visual impact from the outside, allow light to enter, and provide privacy for the fitness studio and prayer rooms located behind it. The centre is also completely carbon neutral, making it the most sustainable university building in London.
O'Donnell + Tuomey already demonstrated their understanding of how to utilize London's urban space with the ingenious expansion of the Photographers Gallery two years ago. The new student centre of the London School of Economics (LSE) has been aptly described by British architecture critics as "origami in brick": a complex structure that cannot be fully grasped from any single angle and that embraces the strict building regulations in Westminster as an opportunity.
The neighbors are mostly brick houses from the early 20th century. The building material for the student centre's facade was therefore an obvious choice, says Sheila O'Donnell. The bold, yet by no means ostentatious, overall impression is particularly evident in comparison with the squat, Charles Dickens-famous "Old Curiosity Shop" on the opposite street corner: the Victorian shop and the newly arrived student residence seem like mismatched, but friendly, conversational partners from different stylistic periods.
Named after a Singaporean alumnus whose donation made the construction possible, the Saw Swee Hock Centre is intended to be a hub for LSE students, who can work, eat, train, and socialize here across eight floors and a total of 6,000 square metres. Sheffield Street has been transformed into a pedestrian zone, from which, according to the architects, visitors are meant to be "drawn" into the building. A bare concrete staircase connects the floors in the spacious interior, from whose windows surprising views to the east unfold, until finally, from the roof terrace, one can take in the view of the City. With its towering, prestigious skyscrapers, the City increasingly dominates the London skyline. But it is welcome projects like the LSE student centre that will hopefully point the way to the future of architecture in this city.
