Project: Creation of new reception and social space
Location: Winchester, United Kingdom
Area: 350.0 sqm
Project Year: 2018/2019
Contractor: EG Silverthorn & Darts
INTERIOR DESIGN FOR PROMINENT CITY CENTRE SITE & WELL LOVED CYBER ITALIA CAFÉ
As part of the University of Winchester’s developments, the University required an impressive reception for its new City Centre site. In addition, VA were asked to provide interior design for one of their well used central study cafes; Cyber Italia Cafe, kenneth Kettle Building.
The City Centre reception featured natural Maple timber, Corian and lighting effects, and integrated the University brand. The reception was designed around the users, and the desk ergonomically designed for the receptionists utilising it to ensure all requirements were met.
Cyber Italia Cafe has undergone a number of transformations, it began as a chapel in the 1960’s, was then transformed into an IT Centre in the1990’s, and over the past 10 years has developed into a study and learning cafe. In August 2019 it underwent its most recent transformation where the cafe and social interaction became a more dominant element, providing flexibility for students wishing to eat and study independently or in groups, and opportunities for socialising or individual contemplation.
This was achieved through the use of mixed furniture and defining areas. The University brand played a large part in creating the important aesthetic.
“Our ambition for the University of Winchester is to become a leading provider of sound and music education. Veale Associates understood the Universities ambitions from day one, whilst appreciating the constraints on cost and time. They brought a wealth of industry and higher education experience to the project. The concept from day one was to deliver not only first class education facilities from the visual perspective but studios fully equipped to deliver the key learning objectives whilst achieving the acoustic and technical criteria necessary for studios of this type. We couldn’t have done this without the professional and creative input from Veale’s leading people Eddie, Eloise and Richard. The outcome is visually stunning, well equipped functional facilities that fully meet the project brief delivered to quality, time and cost.”
Professor Joy Carter, Vice Chancellor, University of Winchester