Structural alterations and refurbishment of the existing Lodge at Pembroke College, and the adjacent office in the Grade I listed College building, to provide an improved space which functions to meet the needs of its users while complementing the historic context.

The existing lodge, constructed in the early 1800’s, did not provide sufficient space, and offered little in terms a ‘sense of arrival’ to the College. The quad adjacent to the lodge required a strategy to provide fully level and accessible circulation to all areas of the College.

The key to realising the potential of the entrance area was to form new doorway openings through the existing tower wall. Breaking through the historic stone wall to form openings for the new entrance involved discussions with Historic England regarding design and materiality of the proposals, to obtain the necessary Listed Building Consent.

Ridge carried out an assessment of the existing tower structure and designed the necessary alterations, including bespoke reinforced concrete lintels and columns which could be carefully concealed by the finished ashlar stonework to maintain the historic aesthetic. The College wished to develop a scheme that was sensitive to its historic context, but also offered a modern take on the College’s vernacular style.

All proposed works were sympathetically detailed working closely with the architectural team to ensure a seamless integration between the old and new building fabric.