Home to the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, the Ratan Tata Building represents a sensitive yet bold architectural intervention to the prestigious Somerville College. Through a thoughtful balance of heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design, the project will provide a new hub for learning and collaboration.

Somerville College
Oxford
700m2

+ 10 tutor offices/teaching rooms
+ 2 seminar rooms
+ Shared study space
+ Flexible lobby
+ Flexible event space
+ An internal link connecting back to the existing College buildings across the ROQ

+ The design prioritises sustainability, utilising Passivhaus principles to seek to achieve a Net Zero carbon building in operation
+ Sensitively complements both the historic and contemporary buildings that form the College setting
+ A versatile educational hub, featuring flexible spaces for teaching, study, and events
+ Provides a new connection between the public landscape of the Blavatnik Centre and Schwartzman Centre for the Humanities

Related work

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Somerville College presents The Ratan Tata Building "An iconic location to announce itself and engage in what will be exciting new centre of gravity of the University." Andrew Parker, Treasurer, Somerville College
Mr. Ratan Tata, Sara Kalim, Baroness Royall, Sidarth Arora “This building is the fruit of many conversations, hopes, and dreams over the past decade. Now it will stand as a permanent legacy to the life of a remarkable man and a dear friend to Somerville.” Baroness Royall
Flythrough video
Presentation model
Presentation model
Visualisation
Design development booklet
Design development booklet
Vignettes Chai ideas room
Vignettes External amenity space
Vignettes High specification studio flat
Vignettes Ratan Tata Hall
Vignettes Tutorial room
Vignettes Seminar room
Vignettes External roof terrace
Visualisation Internal view from Second Floor landing looking through oculus to ROQ beyond
Axo diagram
Plan Third floor
Plan Ground floor
Plan First floor
Plan Second floor
Model development
Concept Design Ground Floor Plan, highlighting connection to Somerville College
Concept Design Sketch diagrams highlighting key moves adopted by developed design response
Concept Design Development Sketches

Ratan Tata Building