Institute of Education & SOAS

Architect: Denys Lasdun
Date Completed: 1975
Client: University of London
Listed Status: Grade II

In 1959 the University of London had commissioned a development plan for the Bloomsbury precinct. It won the support of the London County Council and led to the recommendation that architect Denys Lasdun be appointed to prepare the first detailed designs. Lasdun had been noticed with his building for the Royal College of Physicians and this work in Bloomsbury was sandwiched between that and the Brutalist gem that is The National Theatre on London’s South Bank.

In 1969, prior to the work commencing, there was a great debate within the University of London about the redevelopment of a beautiful Georgian square in their Bloomsbury home. A group of students and lecturers from university colleges started a conservation campaign to save Woburn Square which had been developed by the Duke of Bedford in 1829. An extraordinary general meeting, after much debate, voted in favour of the re-development but only by 301 votes to 281. This is clearly visible today with the combination of Woburn Square’s remaining Georgian terraces and Denys Lasdun’s Brutalist buildings.

His brief was for a new extension to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and a new building along Bedford Way, accommodating the Institute of Education and others. Virtually all the visible concrete structure was formed in situ, in contrast with the SOAS extension, which was constructed largely from a kit of pre-cast concrete elements. Between Lasdun’s favoured service towers (containing stairs, lifts, and other necessary amenities) are four floors of teaching and admin space, forming a spine along the full length of Bedford Way. The spine was originally to have with 5 arms coming off it. In the end only the SOAS library arm appeared. The entrance courtyard sits in Woburn Square opposite the SOAS Library. Here you will also see original exposed staircases, so loved by fans of Brutalism and these too are a common feature of Lasdun’s work. Sadly (in my opinion), and supposedly with his blessing just before he died) some of them were glazed over in 2007.

Further planned development was halted in the late 1970’s as Brutalism fell out of favour and it was considered “too much” to further demolish older Bloomsbury Buildings.

Coupled with the Brunswick Centre these 2 buildings give the area a large and long-standing Brutalist presence and In 2000, the year before his death, in a final, fitting irony, Lasdun’s building won its own Grade II* listing. Therefore meaning that in 21st century Woburn Square, old and new stand together forever.