OXFORD STATION AREA IDEAS COMPETITIONSTAGE 2

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OUR CONCEPTOxford Station Area Design CompetitionKey principles of the concept with diagram(s) as appropriate

A new Oxford Station.

Oxford is changing and much of this new focus hinges around the new

station and it's associated benefits. Stations are important civic buildings

and should be destinations in their own right and in-turn successful pieces

of a city. The Oxford station area has significant potential for a much

improved interchange and a wider improvements to an attractive, green

and historically significant part of the city.

Our proposal creates a sensitive yet impactful mixed use development

around a new station and new city square. The station creates a new

destination at the head of the Frideswides Square whilst also establishing

routes west and north. Spaces and streets are defined by new place-

making buildings including the station entrances, a new hotel and 13 other

new buildings.

The new south-facing public space has a tapering form, orientated to the

south and leading to routes to the north. The station entrance located

at the southern tip, denoted by a clocktower, and combines a new civic

building with active ground floor uses such as cafes and restaurants.

In tandem with framing a new square, the existing connection to the Botley

Road underpass has been widened to achieve a pleasant, active and safe

environment under the railway bridge(s) and connecting the west of the

city to the centre.

To the south a new and enlivened Becket Street will provide the vehicular

component of the interchange and is further enriched with commercial and

small retail & commercial units. The buildings provide an improved setting

for St. Thomas the Martyr. Beyond Becket Street extends and connects

to the Thames, Osney and south Oxford reinforcing a complete ‘green’

route through this edge of Oxford.

Views in this part of Oxford are important and the proposals are carefully

configured to be invisible from Boars Hill and Port meadow whilst being

mindful of closer views including the Thames bridge on Botley Road.

A new city square for Oxford.

Our proposals aim to create the station and its surrounds as a destination

and new amenity for Oxford. The new square, an extension of St.

Frideswides Square, is defined by a new station clocktower and entrance;

a new cloister, a station hotel and a new frontage and better connection

to the Said Business School. The buildings that define the new space

are generous, active and offer a variety of uses. The buildings are low

& medium scale to avoid impact on the skyline whilst simultaneously

providing high-level roof terraces and views across the skyline of Oxford.

As a large and flexible south-facing open space the square will be suitable

for a variety of events and uses. The space will be softened with a water

feature and planting extending the wider landscape into the space.

From the square a new route is promoted north to a new 'crescent'; the

Sheepwash channel and to Port Meadow and the Thames beyond.

The increased Botley Road underpass gives priority to pedestrians

and cyclists and has a generous connection to the new square further

extending the high quality public realm.

// Gateway buildings close down vista to west side of Frideswide square and tapering of new frontage draws people to new public square and station entrance connecting civic spaces

Improved pedestrian routes across the site

Additional route through

underpass

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OUR CONCEPTOxford Station Area Design CompetitionKey principles of the concept with diagram(s) as appropriate

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Centred on a new station.

Our proposals aim to create the station as a new urban centre for Oxford

and an important gateway into and out of the centre. A truly mixed use

square of station entrance, shops, cafes, hotels, connecting to office,

employment and new homes. It is a great tradition in Oxford buildings to

define open spaces and landscapes and an important here where new

buildings should create high quality public realm as well as vastly improve

the entrance for rail visitors to the city.

The approach is holistic and aims to join up development for an overall

improvement to this area of Oxford. New vistas, squares and enlivened

streets are central to our proposals. Spaces and entrances are defined

by new landmarks, clocktowers and taller elements to define routes and

frame spaces.

Taken together the developments and variety of routes will extend the city

centre west – focussed around the square and the station gateway.

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Regeneration of area - Mixed use across site proposed

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MATERIALSOxford Station Area Design Competitionb. Discussion of materials and colour palette

All our projects are carefully designed with hard wearing materials in mind,

allowing easy maintenance and / or efficient replacement and repair. If due

care is taken getting the design and configuration of the spaces right, both

inside and outside, there is little need for elaborate and complicated details.

Which are heavy on maintenance, and low on lifespan. We apply this

approach in all our work, by prioritising and carefully vetting specifications,

our buildings are both durable and value for money.

Working in Oxford, we have been set briefs for and delivered buildings with

800 year design lives. An informed and practical approach to long term

maintenance and life cycle costs is inherent in our work. Our architecture

makes strong connections with inside and outside. By using orientation

and articulation intelligently, it allows the interior and exterior finishes to be

enduring, simply constructed and designed. If the balance of solid and void

is carefully managed, great effect and value for money can be achieved

by the careful orientation of spaces to exploit light and views. Similarly by

developing a language from a “kit of parts” the maximum flexibility and

variety can be achieved by careful and considered design.

The material treatment of the proposals will balance the aspirations for a

civic quality to the public realm and engineering and “kit of parts” driven

solutions for the station infrastructure. By juxtaposing these elements, a rich

and complementary materials palette would be developed.

Typically, public realm facing buildings and frontages would be of more sold

masonry type finishes, matching the colour tones of the city, in stone, brick

or coloured precast concrete. These would be designed to complement

and merge with the language of the transfer deck and station canopies

and furniture. The transfer deck could be expressed in flush finished steel

work giving a sleek and elegant appearance and the station canopies and

infrastructure could consist of a palette, mixing precast concrete steel and

glazed elements. The palette would be developed such that the materials

were true to the elements they express while at the same time working

together as a coherent whole.

Civic Materials

Structural Materials Suggested material finishes for building types and public realm - simple, contemporary, robust.

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PROTECTED VIEWSOxford Station Area Design Competitionc. How the ideas can enhance the skyline and respect the protected view cones.

OXFORD STATION MASTERPLAN | Masterplan DOCUMent

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Boars Hill is a hamlet southwest of Oxford. The vantage point from here is over 4.8km of green and wooded country.

Big, green pastural setting with fields rolling down the hillside to the city centre in the river valley creates a remote focus with no intervening developments visible. Further down Chilswell Farm Cottages form part of the historical rural landscape and provide a reference for perspective.

The main group of high buildings, representing medieval and post-medieval Colleges and University, forms a prominent cluster in the east that isn’t challenged by other groups of high buildings. Together they form a ‘pyramid’ rising to the tallest point at St Mary’s Church. The Radcliffe Camera, Tom Tower and St Mary’s form a ‘three graces’ group that is an instantly recognisable image of Oxford. The City centre is spread out with Oxford Castle and Nuffield College at western extremity.

North Oxford suburb softened by tree canopy with Georgian and Victorian Spires and other high buildings indicates the 18th, 19th and early 20th century extension of the city and University to the north. It highlights the city’s role within the development of both science and religion. Big, white rectilinear structures of Engineering and Hans Kreb Towers distract from the architectural elegance of the other high buildings.

Distant ‘blue’ wooded hills provide a backdrop to the view.

the masterplan site is away from the view cone and below the skyline. potential development would not adversely affect the view.

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Diagram illustrating an approximate impact of the proposed Station on the Oxford View from Boars Hill (based on information form Oxford City Council Heritage and Specialist Services Team)

Oxford View from Boar Hill

Boars Hill View Cone

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OXFORD STATION MASTERPLAN | Masterplan DOCUMent

raleigh parK

Approximately 1km from Oxford Station, Raleigh Park is a sloping area of mainly grassland in North Hinksey. The height of the park offers views out to the Northeast of Oxford. Trees in the park frame the view to the city centre.

Osney Mead extends right across the framed area of the view.

Trees lower down the hill, along the Hinksey Stream and surrounding fields in the Thames Valley, help obscure Osney Mead, but also hide the meadows and rivers that are part of the historic foreground.

Historic high buildings, spread across the framed area of the city centre are seen against the green backcloth of Headington Hill, contributing to their prominence and providing a green setting that defines the extent of the historic city centre. The University and Christ Church groupings of high buildings are particularly notable for the juxtaposition of attractive historic structures rising above the city rooftops.

The large, white, rectilinear structure of the John Radcliffe Hospital is prominently located behind the high buildings resulting in a major negative impact on the architectural character of the view and the sense of Oxford in its green setting. Large commercial buildings with extensive shallow-pitched roofs create a plateau of undistinguished big, modern rooftops in the foreground that blur the definition of the historic city centre and compete for prominence with the historic high buildings.

the masterplan site is outside the key view cone focus and potential development would not adversely effect the view to the city.

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Diagram illustrating an approximate impact of the proposed Station on Oxford View from Raleigh Park (based on information form Oxford City Council Heritage and Specialist Services Team)

Raleigh Park View Cone

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City centre

OXFORD STATION MASTERPLAN | Masterplan DOCUMent

sOUth parK

South Park is located on Headington Hill. It is the largest park within Oxford city limits. The best view of the city centre with its historic spires and towers of Oxford University can be obtained at the park’s highest point, a favourite location for photographers.

Large green parkland setting frames the view and draws the eye down to the city centre. Eye passes over suburb and green mantle of Cherwell Valley trees without incident.

Compact medieval city centre with the Magdalen College Tower centres the view.

Glimpses of other historic rooftops can be seen between the trees. London Place creates a historic urban edge.

Large skyscape is balanced by large open foreground and hills beyond the city centre. The background hills draw the eye to the city centre.

all potential redevelopment would be below and behind the key university group of buildings and would not adversely affect the view. Development would need to be very high to be seen. additional care and consideration would be required to ensure there is no harm to the view.

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Diagram illustrating an approximate impact of the proposed Station on Oxford View from South Park (based on information form Oxford City Council Heritage and Specialist Services Team)

Oxford View from South Park

South Park View Cone

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City centre

Protected views - no impact

View from Port Meadow

View from Thames Bridge

View from Castle Mound

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The three relevant protected Oxford viewpoints have been tested for the

outline masterplan which we have followed. Our building height is in line

with the masterplan and below the +18m datum with a single exception.

Our clocktower is higher by 2m although is narrow, in profile and outside

of the key views.

With this in mind we have selected closer views where the new

station is visible. For this we have selected the Thames Bridge

on Botley Road , Port Meadow and Castle Mound all of which

indicate invisibility (Port Meadow) or minor and incidental impact.

Three further closer views have been tested and included in the

presentation.

View from Thames Bridge

Plan showing tested views Port Meadow - no impact

View from Castle Mound - no impact

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The redevelopment of Oxford Station will present logistical issues

associated with constructing new structures in a live rail environment and

keeping the station operational. The proposed new passenger routes are

in different locations to those in the existing station. Minimising disruption

to operations and customer experience can be achieved by reducing the

construction programme through designing with prefabricated modular

units, which are manufactured and finished prior to assembly onsite.

A key challenge is the construction of the Cross-Track Building. YHA is due

to be demolished in Phase 2 (April – December 2018), the cycle parking in

Phase 6 (January 2020 – December 2021). These activities will unlock the

crane access required to construct the Cross-Track Building.

The proposed Cross-Track Building is predominantly a single storey

structure (there is an additional floor which forms part of the new station

building) which reduces the complexity of the works. The complete

installation of the main deck effectively provides a crash deck and working

platform from which the remainder of the construction can be performed

safely above the railway tracks.

Primary steelwork structure would be required to facilitate the long spans

and cantilevering elements, using support on the platforms, integrated

within the stairs and lift structures, where possible. The deck could

be installed in sections which span between these primary steelwork

elements, which may require temporary propping during installation.

These supports would require piling to provide the load bearing capacity.

The maximum span between platforms is approximately 20m. These deck

sections could be fully pre-assembled and finished, transported to site,

lifted in by crane and fixed into place. This approach is similar to traditional

bridge construction. Installation is envisaged during night time closures of

the station in Phase 6.

CONSTRUCTIBILITYOxford Station Area Design Competitiond. A Constructability statement

The Cross-Track Building would comprise of deck, glass walls, internal

columns, and a lightweight roof. The deck would be a stiff steel

grillage capable of spanning 16m. The overall finished depth would be

approximately 1m. The glass walls are fixed into pockets set along the

edges of the deck, with internal columns located within the main space.

The lightweight roof spans between the glass walls and internal columns

and provides lateral restraint through diaphragm action.

Phasing

The current masterplan shows an 8 phase sequence to achieve the

full transformation from the existing station. Our proposals align with this

phasing sequence and are deliverable in the same manner. The existing

station is not demolished until phase 7 and as per the current masterplan,

the proposed station is sited to the south of the existing station in order that

it can be constructed adjacent and be operational prior to the demolition

of the current station.

Main deck in modular sections.

Primary steelwork truss spanning across all platforms.

Primary steelwork spanning between supports on platforms

Supports on platforms integrated into vertical circulation.

Lightweight roof in modular sections.

Temporary support from platforms during construction.

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Station Structural Arrangement Diagram

Phasing Diagram showing boundaries of new and existing stations

Existing Station

New station Proposals