As part of the University of Bristol’s expansion of its International Foundation Programme (IFP), we were appointed to refurbish underutilised office spaces within the Richmond Building, a multi-functional academic facility located in Clifton. The IFP offers a full-time, one-year university preparation course for international students and has seen significant growth, prompting the need for additional teaching spaces and a dedicated base for academic support staff.
The third and fourth floors of the building’s south wing were identified as optimal for this expansion. Working from an initial space planning exercise provided by the University, we undertook a comprehensive review of the layouts to unlock greater spatial efficiency.
Level 3 was reimagined to accommodate the programme’s support staff, with a focus on providing a variety of working environments. The design includes a central open-plan office with a communal breakout table, framed by furniture dividers that provide acoustic separation, storage, and visual interest. A series of 1-2-1 rooms for the provision of pastoral support for students and private offices for confidential work. Informal breakout booths and bookable meeting rooms to support varied working styles, along with a kitchenette to foster a sense of community amongst the team. The spatial arrangement creates a professional and welcoming environment that’s tailored to the needs of the academic staff.
Level 4 was configured to house seven teaching rooms, each ranging from 36m² to 46m². These spaces are designed to support modern pedagogical practices, featuring integrated lecterns and digital teaching screens. Circulation was rationalised from the original space planning exercise to maximise usable area of the classrooms.
Throughout the project we worked closely with the end users to understand both their functional requirements and aesthetic ambitions for the space. A key driver was to move away from institutional greys and create an interior that feels natural, warm, and uplifting. Earthy tones were selected for the carpets, along with warm, natural hues that were used above a defined tide line and across the ceilings.
At low level walls were painted white for ease of ongoing maintenance. Soft furnishings in muted pinks add a gentle contrast and reinforce the organic palette. Through careful spatial planning and a considered interior strategy, the project transforms previously underutilised offices into vibrant, efficient, and welcoming environments for learning and support.
