Observatory (1772), Credit: Dr Geoffrey Tyack
Until the Oxford Study Tour can be conducted in person – hopefully in Autumn 2021 – Dr Geoffrey Tyack will introduce some of the university buildings and spaces we would have encountered in passing. The second of these talks about Oxford Radcliffe’s patronage will comprise a virtual tour of the Radcliffe Observatory site, starting in the forecourt of the old Radcliffe Infirmary (1759-67). The site combines ancient and modern architecture since the new John Radcliffe Hospital has relocated to greenfield site and, in this century, Rafael Viñoly Architects designed the master plan for the University of Oxford’s new Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, as well as its first building, the Mathematical Institute (2013).
In 1768 Thomas Hornsby (1733-1810), the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University, suggested building the Radcliffe Observatory and petitioned for funds to build an observatory out of the interest on the property that had been left to the University by Radcliffe in 1714. Building began in 1772 to plans by the architect Henry Keene with a change of architect and a new design by James Wyatt (1746-1813). After looking at the Observatory (1772) that functioned as a working observatory from 1773 until 1934 and is now Green Templeton College, the walk will move over to the Blavatnik School of Government's award-winning building developed by Herzog & de Meuron (2015) before returning past Niall McLaughlin’s residential Catherine Hughes Building for Somerville College. It is hoped that several of McLaughlin’s buildings will be visited in person in company of the architect.
For the foreseeable future the SAHGB Seminars will be virtual events via Zoom. We will circulate joining instructions via email the morning of the scheduled event. Please complete the form below to register.
Support the SAHGB
Please consider making a donation to support our virtual programme and educational mission: