Middle East Centre Oxford

A reflective building wrapped around a majestic tree

The Middle East Centre (MEC) designed by Zaha Hadid is located on the campus of St Anthony’s College, within the University of Oxford. The building -bridging between two 19th century buildings- is characterised by its distinctive concave / convex flowing design in contrast with the traditional architecture of Oxford, however the soft reflective qualities of the stainless-steel double skin cladding make the building blend with the bucolic landscape surrounds. Form is driven by a series of tension points spread on a synthetic landscape that blends built and natural elements. The sweeping form of the bridging shell is mirrored horizontally in the forecourt access area, where a frameless glass façade reveals this public plateau and frames the main access.  Careful attention was placed upon wrapping round a majestic 150-year-old redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) by and to preserve serene green spaces in close vicinity to the building. According to Zaha Hadid:” It is important that historic cities are allowed to reinvent their future”. For once, GROSS. MAX. was happy not to add but to reveal. Stil, it is hard work to do almost nothing….