Homerton College Cambridge

Winner RIBA East Award 2024

Ketley Staffs Brown Brindle Quarry Tiles

Architects - Feilden Fowles

Homerton College, now the largest college at Cambridge University by student number, has a striking new faience-tiled dining hall, designed by Feilden Fowles Architects. Lying next door to the Grade II listed Arts and Crafts style Ibberson Building this new addition looks sure to become the social heart of college. Brown brindle quarry tiles at Feilden Fowles new building at Homerton College Cambridge photo by David Grandorge

Sustainability was a major factor in this project and the building has achieved a whole life embodied carbon which surpasses the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge (version 2) for non-domestic buildings. The exterior is tiled in bespoke glazed terracotta tiles and features a dramatic valley shaped roof. Both internally and externally the architects have chosen their materials very carefully, using local where they can and looking for robust materials that will have a minimum 100 year life-span. They selected Ketley Staffordshire brown brindle paver sized quarry tiles for the reception,“buttery” and servery areas in a combination of both half bond and basket weave patterns. The use of a variety of laying patterns helps to break up the space whilst still bringing continuity and simplicity.

Brown brindle quarry tiles in the new building at Homerton College Cambridge in various laying patterns images by David Grandorge

The natural pinkish/brown tones of the brown brindle clay complement the other materials including the timber as well as the dusky pink pigmented concrete which forms the base of the building both internally and externally. They also reference the brick of the nextdoor Ibberson Building, visible through the large windows and add to a timelessness of the new structure.

Ketley Brown brindle quarry tiles at Feilden Fowles new building at Homerton College Cambridge