Guide to the city's key buildings: Cambridge Architecture

This is the Cambridge guide in full, with all image thumbnails included (ie slower to donwload/navigate but it's all here):

All buildings in alphabetical order


Allies & Morrison building: University of Cambridge - Faculty of English
Sidgwick Site, 2004


Bingo Hall, 1930 - Hobson St
Art Deco architecture - converted cinema opposite Christ's College


Casson, Conder & Partners - Arts Faculties Campus: University of Cambridge Sidgwick Site, 1959-61


Christ's College - entry


Christ's College - new King St building, Architects Design Partnership, 1993: Postmodern shops with student accommodation above, overly fussy.


Churchill College - Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners, 1959-68

Competition winner, beating Stirling & Gowan, Chamberlin, Powell & Bon and Howell, Killick & Partridge; Judges included Sir Leslie Martin and Sir Basil Spence. Leslie Martin designed Harvey Court with Colin St John Wilson, a seminal Modern building; Basil Spence also designed a Cambridge building, at Queens' College.
Stirling went on to work on the History Faculty for the University of Cambridge whilst Chamberlin, Powell & Bon worked on New Hall College.


Churchill College - Fellows' Houses


Churchill College - buildings by Henning Larsen


Clare College - Memorial Court buildings. The central octagonal building (left of picture) 1984-85, is surrounded by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's severe court of 1923-34. Located beyond the River Cam across The Backs from the old Clare College.


Institute of Criminology Building - Allies & Morrison: University of Cambridge Sidgwick Site 2005


Darwin College, Extension - Dixon Jones Architects


Downing College, photo centre of Quinlan Terry building


Emmanuel College - The Queen's Building 1996
Another building by Michael Hopkins Architects - Dynamic Earth


Emmanuel College - Chapel by Christopher Wren, 1668-74
Sir Christopher Wren also designed the Chapel at Pembroke College


Faculty of Education Cambridge - Building Design Partnership 2005


Fitzwilliam Museum - interior


Fitzwilliam Museum - exterior

Nearby is Pembroke College complete with Chapel by Christopher Wren and in 1997 the beautiful Foundress Court by Eric Parry


Fitzwilliam College - Sir Denys Lasdun, 1959-60
Key Sir Denys Lasdun buildings are the Royal National Theatre (1967-76) at the South Bank complex in London, the University of East Anglia, Norwich (1963-72) and the Royal College of Physicians, London (1960-64).

Allies & Morrison completed the Fitzwilliam Gatehouse & Auditorium in 2004 and MacCormac Jamieson Architects and Van Heyningen & Haward have also designed buildings at this College.


Jesus College - old buildings


Jesus College - old buildings


Jesus College - David Roberts building
Strongly articulated student rooms, being refurbished in 2005


Jesus College - Evans & Shalev building


Judge Institute - John Outram, Trumpington St: 1991-1995
Controversial postmodern architecture, clumsy inside, has dated badly


The Junction Nightclub & Theatre


King Street Housing


Law Library - Foster & Partners, Sidgwick Campus
Another architectural project by Foster & Partners - Glasgow Bridge


Centre for Mathematical Sciences - Edward Cullinan Architects 2003
Maths Campus off Clarkson Rd in West Cambridge


Michael Stoker Building by Clare Hall


Town Centre building, Sidney St opposite Christ's College
Part of the shopping precinct on Petty Cury adjacent to Lion's Yard


Modern building, 9 Wilberforce Rd - Dora Cosens, 1937
More Modern Cambridge Architecture: see Trevor Dannatt's house under 'T'


Moeller Building, Huntingdon Road


New Hall College - Chamberlin, Powell & Bon Architects, 1962-66


Our Lady and the English Martyrs: Catholic Church, Hills Road


Porters Lodge built over garage, West Cambridge


Queens' College - old buildings


Queens' College - Cripps Court: Powell & Moya Architects


Queens' College - Mathematical Bridge over River Cam

Basil Spence completed his only Cambridge building - the Erasmus building - 1959-60 at Queens' College


Robinson College - Gillespie Kidd & Coia, 1977-80


Robinson College - Gillespie Kidd & Coia
Another building by GK&C: Cardross Seminary


Church of the Holy Sepulchre - 'Round Church', Bridge St


Sidgwick Site, view - Stirling's Library with Allies & Morrison building beyond


Spiritualist Church, off Bridge St


St John's College - old buildings west of Cam: New Court


St John's College - old buildings west of Cam: New Court


St John's College - 'Bridge of Sighs' over River Cam


St John's College - old building


St John's College - Edward Cullinan building


St John's College - Cripps Building: Powell & Moya Architects
Exquisite in conception + articulation, floating above the grounds


St John's College - Cripps Building: Powell & Moya Architects


St John's College - Cripps Building: Powell & Moya Architects


Faculty of History (Library centre) - James Stirling, Architect, 1964-68
Controversial modern Cambridge building that had probelms with overheating, leaks, falling tiles, etc. James Stirling had entered two architecture competitions in Cambridge with no joy, at Churchill College (1958) and Selwyn College (1959).
Another building by James Stirling - St Andrews University Halls of Residence


Faculty of Divinity Building, University of Cambridge - Sidgwick Site: Edward Cullinan Architects 2000 £8m RIBA Award
Another building by Edward Cullinan Architects - Edinburgh Botanic Gardens


Housing south of Botanic Gardens - Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects


Timber-framed house, Bridge St: 16th C.


Travel Lodge Hotel


House - Trevord Dannatt, Architect
More Modern Houses


University Arms Hotel: Modern Building - Feilden & Mawson, 1965-66
Regent St, Parker's Piece


William Gates Building for University of Cambridge - RMJM, 1999-2001


Wolfson College - Modern College Housing
evoking Arts & Crafts houses such as 'Elmside' by E.S. Prior on Grange Rd.



The Author
My connection with Cambridge, and specifically its architecture, goes back to childhood visits through to nine months working as an architect in the city. My father and brother both went to Downing College and my Aunt to Homerton College. I helped design new buildings at Homerton for RMJM Cambridge and new buildings at Hills Road Sixth Form College whilst at RH Partnership.
Adrian Welch

Stirling Prize

Cambridge Architecture not yet included:
Foundress Court, Pembroke College - Eric Parry Architects 1997
Jerwood Library, Trinity Hall, Freeland Rees Roberts 1999

Historic Cambridge Buildings - all by Giles Gilbert Scott:
Pembroke College
Clare College
Cambridge University Library



World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Buildings / photos for the Cambridge Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

Cambridge building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt