The Raymond Chandler Library

In counterpoint to Dulwich College’s august 1869 red brick main building by Charles Barry Junior – and in conversation with Grimshaw Architects’ 2016 Laboratory building – alma-nac’s pale brick library marks a new gatepost to the school estate in the Dulwich Village conservation area. The three-storey building replaces a single-level portacabin in use since 1998 with two open and airy library floors united by a double-height atrium. A third level, set back from the main frontage and clad in scalloped precast panels, provides ICT learning spaces and a robotics suite.

The subtle, light coloured brickwork is tonally in tune with the precast elements which creates a bright, contemporary façade with texture provided by the projecting headers, the deep angled reveals and the scalloped concrete.