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University College Durham

Dr. Robert O’Hara (who runs one of my favorite website) recently took it upon himself to visit the University of Durham and provided a few snapshots. Of most interest to me is University College Durham, situated in ancient Durham Castle. I think perhaps when I start my university our very first college might be partly modelled on this.

The Castle is a beautiful location for a college and must be an ideal place to live. The above gallery reminds me of Falkland Palace. Perhaps we shout petition the Queen to have Falkland turned into a college of the University of St Andrews. Fra’ Freddie can be Master. Certainly not any space left in our town and the short-sighted administration is dead set on expanding the University while devaluing our education and experience.

Above is the Castle’s Great Hall, which serves as the dining hall for University College. Much better than our paltry refectory at Uni Hall, the only redeeming value of which was the oddly-coloured portrait of General Eisenhower which hung atop the entrance.

The Chapel is beautiful, though if we’re talking Durham chapels, I prefer Pugin’s chapel at Ushaw College. Besides, there’s a leading contender for greatest cathedral in the world right next door anyhow.

Now there’s a heck of a college courtyard if ever I’ve seen one.

A Norman gallery as well. (Top three images from Dr. O’Hara’s site, bottom three from the University of Durham’s).

In terms of aesthetics, the proposed university ought to be a mishmash. Georgian, art deco, gothic, some sort of baroque even. But I’d like to promote a gothic modernism. Something like St. Mary’s Cathedral in Baltimore was definitely after but certainly failed to successfully achieve. If only James Gamble Rogers was alive and could ally himself with Santiago Calatrava to create great a modernist gothic masterpiece. Though I suppose that’s what Gaudi’s for.

Published at 2:23 pm on Thursday 6 January 2005. Categories: Architecture Great Britain.
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