Downing Students City Village

Simpson and Haugh have managed to blend in their intervention in this rather disparate mix of buildings that forms the context they had to work in, and with. To mitigate the change of scale imposed by the high-rise, the foot of the tower consists of additional low- and mid-rise volumes, with a gridded pattern to further break up their mass. The facades of these lower volumes are cladded with ceramics of AGROB BUCHTAL in earthy shades, harmonizing with the brick buildings in the area. The tower is finished in light-blue, glazed terra-cotta tiles with a glossy coating. The effect of these light-hued ceramics and their reflective finish is that it makes the tower appear lighter, and lighting it up, adding a welcome brightness to Coventry.