New College Oxford Song School

This project involves remodelling, upgrading and extending the current accommodation between the north wall of the chapel and the Scheduled city wall. Caroe Architecture Ltd was appointed to lead the design team in September 2014 following a design competition.

The project comprises:
• Removal of the existing clerks’ vestry and part of Wyatt’s organ stair
• Enclosure of the chapel yard, creating a large new song room, kitchenette, WCs, storage, clerks’ vestry, and organ access stair
• Creation of a dedicated music library, office and teaching room in the current song room
• Returning the vestry to clergy use, with new furniture and storage.

Our design reflects the historic top-lit spaces between the city wall and buildings further east. Introverted spaces break out in surprising ways, responding to this very special and historic context. The vestry will reflect the numinous before entering the chapel. The proposed song room is larger than the existing, and there is a room adjacent for gathering.

Spaces are arranged for flexibility and increased use and acoustically separated for simultaneous bookings. There will be an office for the organist, a store for spare tables and chairs, and two WCs. The rooms have large doors through which the choir can comfortably process. Fuller use of the three entrances allows more creative and intensive use of the chapel yard. We propose a limited palette of expressive materials, including new joinery for inward-looking spaces.