The new gatehouse creates a welcoming, secure and fitting entrance to St. Edward’s School in Oxford.  The building redefines the arrival experience for both visitors and members of the school community. It includes, beside a crafted, sensitively scaled gatehouse building, an elegant system of access gates, tied together with clear landscaping.

The chosen layout carefully defines two thresholds: visitors access the gatehouse through the porch, echoing the entrance of others building in the school grounds, and exit through a lobby. This sequence is marked by the intersection of the roof gables, tiled in handmade multicolour clay tiles and supported by beautifully crafted oak scissor trusses. Special attention was dedicated to the design of the metal connections of the timber structure, which match the detailing of the gates.

The large windows towards the south east side are free to span the entire width of the space, thanks to a large arched precast stone lintel. This glazed elevation creates a special visual connection between the internal space, the gates and the surrounding buildings.

Great attention was dedicated to accessibility for visitors, especially for wheelchair access. The desk itself is ergonomic, and the space in front of the desk is large and full of light, with a seating area intended also as a waiting space for guests.