A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BUILDING
The Cumberbatch Building was designed by architects Keith Murray and Robert Maguire in 1965. Sadly Robert Maguire died earlier this year - just as his building was under threat of demolition.
In stark contrast to the medieval, classical and neo classical architecture of the surrounding college, this building was of a confident and robust Brutalist form - The Southbank, The Hayward Building and The Barbican in London share a similar aesthetic.
Some believed the distinctive architectural style of The Cumberbatch building added a narrative to the college but others considered it a blot on the Oxford architectural copybook. Attempts to have the building listed failed and it was granted an immunity from protection: the building was decommissioned and demolition began in 2019.