Middle East Centre, St Anthony’s College, Oxford
Middle East Centre
Zaha Hadid Architects, 2015
This is the last building designed by Zaha Hadid Architects before her death and she took a personal lead on this project. It’s one of Oxford’s boldest new buildings.
The mirrored stainless steel tube snakes its way out of a Victorian building and provides an interesting 21st century counterpoint to its neighbours from the previous centuries.
It’s officially named the Investcorp Building after the firm donated £11m to the project. The building later won an Oxford Preservation Trust Award in the New Building category.
Planning permission proved difficult, given the site's setting among Victorian houses in North Oxford. The footprint was shaped to fit around the existing rectory and a protected mature pine tree, leaving both undisturbed.
