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Cambridge Architecture : Buildings

Contemporary Architecture Developments in Southeast England, UK

post updated 21 July 2024

We’ve selected what we feel are the key examples of Cambridge Buildings. We cover completed buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across Cambridgeshire. Our focus is on contemporary buildings in Great Brtiain.

Architecture in Cambridge

We have 5 pages of Cambridge Architecture selections.

Cambridge Architecture : news + key projects (this page)

Cambridge Buildings : A-D

Cambridge Building Developments : E-I

Cambridge Architecture Developments : J-N

Cambridge Building Designs : O-Z

Cambridge Architecture – Introduction

Cambridge is famous for its old and distinguished and prestigious University colleges. Like its twin city Oxford it has much brilliant historic and contemporary architecture. Cambridge is set on the River Cam and many of the colleges back onto gardens along the river, called The Backs, giving Cambridge a lot of its charm. Each college competes against the other to attain better and more beautiful architecture. Famous architects with buildings here include Norman Foster, Leslie Martin and Ted Cullinan.

We’ve selected what we feel are the key examples of Cambridge Architecture. Buildings are mostly located in the colleges. We aim to include Cambridge buildings / projects that are either of top quality or interesting, or ideally both.

Cambridge Architecture Walking Tours

photograph : David Butler
Cambridge Architecture Walking Tours – launched by e-architect

Latest Cambridge Building Designs

10 July 2024
Young’s Court, mmanuel College
Design: Stanton Williams

photo © Jack Hobhouse
Emmanuel College Cambridge

9 February 2024
Grafton Centre Redevelopment
Design: Corstorphine & Wright

images courtesy of architects practice
Grafton Centre Building Redevelopment

18 August 2022
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Robinson Way
Design: NBBJ

image : NBBJ / Brick Visual
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Building

14 June 2022
West Hub at the University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge CB3 0US
Design: Jestico + Whiles Architects

photo : Paul Raftery
West Hub University of Cambridge Building

8 June 2022
Northstowe Heritage Centre Building, Cambridgeshire
Design: Proctor & Matthews Architects

image courtesy of architects practice
Northstowe Heritage Centre Building Cambridgeshire

29 May 2022
Magdalene College Library, University of Cambridge
Design: Niall McLaughlin Architects

photo : Nick Kane
Magdalene College Library University of Cambridge

Cambridge Mosque
Design: Marks Barfield Architects

image from architects
Cambridge Mosque – 28 Nov 2011
The proposed mosque building will allow the downsizing of the existing overcrowded facility, housed in a former chapel on Mawson Road, which is no longer physically capable of accommodating Cambridge’s growing Muslim community. Visitors will be able to experience a gradual transition, through a garden, a covered portico, and an atrium, into the main prayer hall which is oriented towards Mecca. The building will be naturally lit and create an overall impression of calm, stillness, stability, quiet and focus.

Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge Botanic Garden
Design: Stanton Williams

image : Nigel Luckhurst
Sainsbury Laboratory. 4 May 2011
This building, a major new plant science research centre in Cambridge by architects Stanton Williams, has won the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize 2012 for the best building of the year. The RIBA Stirling Prize is the UK’s most prestigious architecture prize, awarded to the architects of the best new European building built or designed in the UK.

Ten Key Cambridge Buildings

Cambridge Architecture Designs, chronological:

1. Kings College Chapel
Dates built: 1446-1515
Design: various architects / masons

2. Queens’ College – Old Court & Cloister Court
Dates built: 1448-1540
Design: various architects

3. Emmanuel College – Chapel Building
Date built: 1674
Design: Christopher Wren Architect

4. Downing College – Wilkins buildings
Date built: 1820
Design: William Wilkins, Architect

5. Fitzwilliam Museum Buildings
Date built: 1841
Design: George Basevi Architect

6. St John’s College – Cripps Building
Date built: 1967
Design: Powell & Moya Architects

7. Faculty of History
Date built: 1968
Design: James Stirling Architect

8. Queens’ College – Cripps Court
Date built: 1980
Design: Powell & Moya Architects

9. Robinson College Buildings
Date built: 1980
Design: Gillespie Kidd & Coia

10. Centre for Mathematical Sciences
Date built: 2003
Design: Edward Cullinan Architects

Other important buildings include the first Cambridge college, Peterhouse, the Senate House and Trinity College’s Great Court

Cambridge Building News

Cambridge Architecture

Key Cambridge Architecture Projects, alphabetical:

Accordia Housing, Brooklands Avenue, south side of city centre
Design: various Architects

photo © Adrian Welch
Accordia Housing

Cambridge University Dept of Architecture – located just Northwest of the Accordia Housing
Design: Mole Architects

photograph : David Butler
Cambridge School of Architecture

Churchill College – original buildings
Design: Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners

image : Isabelle Lomholt
Churchill College Storey’s Way

Downing College buildings
Design: William Wilkins ; Quinlan Terry architect

photograph © AW
Downing College Buildings, Regent Street – an austere and very spacious layout compared to the older colleges closer into the historic city centre. The Neoclassical style has been kept going through the 20th Century, with the Quinlan Terry designs proving controversial when built. I recall the Architectural Review carrying some highly critical articles on these, and I had the fortune to visit these buildings many times due to Downing being my father and brother’s college.

Emmanuel College Chapel, St Andrew’s St
Design: Christopher Wren Architect

picture © Adrian Welch
Emmanuel College Buildings – this is such a delightful composition, one of my favourites in the city – Ed. Adrian Welch