#EYAArchitecture allows us to bring one of our building models from storage and to play with tiny cars and trees! The model shown here was constructed by Architects Design Partnership in the mid-1960s for a proposed extension to OUP’s Bindery in Oxford.
The first major extension for the Bindery had occurred in 1921; preliminary planning for a further extension began in 1961 but was held up by the death of the original architect David Booth. His successor, appointed in 1964, was John Fryman of Architects Design Partnership in Henley, who built this model.
The front of the model represents the main OUP facade on Walton Street with the original nineteenth century building and quadrangle behind (the small building to the left of the frontage is the original Clarendon Arms pub which closed in 1961 to be converted into offices). The buildings to the rear of the model form the proposed 1960s extension, incorporating the 1920s Bindery building.
There must have been an option to build over the residential section between Wellington Street and Great Clarendon Street for use as additional office space, as the model allows for that section to be revolved, showing both the possibility with and without the extra structure. Presumably the decision was taken not to go ahead with the further extension as the houses remain to this day. If you look closely, you can see that the clamps used to hold the removable section in place are actually a miniature bus and truck!
Construction of the extension began in August 1966, and staff began moving into the new Bindery in September 1968. The whole move was completed in February 1969 when the Litho department moved in, the first time that the department was housed under one roof, having previously been located at times in a cellar, an old slaughterhouse, a former furniture warehouse, and two upstairs bedrooms! As noted in The Clarendonian, “Now the department must be one of the best housed and equipped in the country.” The plan here shows the layout of the new building against a photo of the architect’s model.
