Mæ Architects has created a day center for the residential charity Morden College, set up by wealthy 17th-century merchant John Morden to provide a home for destitute and "decayed" sailors. The cross-laminated timber (CLT) and brick construction, which offers medical and social facilities, is integrated among existing structures (including an asylum and a chapel attributed to the architect Sir Christopher Wren of London's St Paul's Cathedral) of the listed university grounds. maximum protection.
The center is actually a necklace that links a series of red brick "pavilions" that house various social and service spaces characterized by their large chimneys that establish an interesting dialogue with the neighboring 17th-century buildings. The connection is made through a central wooden "cloister" or covered path whose cover is coated with zinc.
The award was initially introduced in 1996 and aims to recognize the best architectural proposals in the UK. It is the first time that Mae Architects, selected from a group of 6 shortlisted projects, and which was also shortlisted for last year's award, has won the UK's top honor.
Ellen van Loon, speaking on behalf of the RIBA Stirling Prize jury: "The John Morden Centre is a place of joy and inspiration. It sensitively and seamlessly integrates medical facilities and social spaces, delivering a bold and hopeful model for the design of health and care centers for the elderly. Creating an environment that lifts the spirits and fosters community is evident at every turn and in every detail. This building provides comfort and warmth, with thoughtful features designed to prevent isolation. It illustrates how buildings can themselves be therapeutic – supporting care and instilling a sense of belonging. Great architecture orients people so they can thrive, and this building is exemplary at achieving exactly that."
John Morden Center by Mæ. Photograph by Jim Stephenson.
Project description by Mæ Architects
John Morden Centre is a daycare center for residents of Morden College. It brings together facilities currently spread across the college site into an innovative, characterful new building designed to tackle social isolation among older residents by providing spaces to interact.
Morden College is a Grade I listed almshouse in Blackheath, London founded in 1695 by Sir John Morden and built by Sir Christopher Wren’s master builder and successor, Edward Strong. The new building makes reference to the historic architecture in its colonnade, roofscape, and brickwork.
The public spaces of the college –dining room, chapel, library– form additions to the main quadrangle connected by a colonnade. The generous social spaces of the new building are also linked by a meandering colonnade, which forms a spine of circulation and opens up connections to landscaped gardens.
Each part of the building has a distinct roof and a chimney for stacked ventilation echoing the profile of the neighbouring buildings.
"John Morden Centre sits at the heart of the college, a hub of life and activity. A place that not only inspires our residents to spend time in, because time spent in John Morden Centre will enable them to feel good about themselves and about life; but also a place that inspires our staff, to care even more. Residents walking into John Morden Centre find themselves in a place that recognizes their importance."
David Rutherford-Jones CEO of Morden College
