1. LOCATION LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Case Study The Cable & Wireless College, Coventry MacCormac Jamieson Prichard
A creative collaboration Richard Wilcock looks at the important
role of Blanc de Bierges in the
realisation of the design by architects
The versatility and scope of the Blanc de Bierges system of handcrafted MacCormac Jamieson Prichard.
building and landscaping components - as well as the company’s ability to The training facility for Cable &
collaborate with designers - were fully tested in this Cable & Wireless project. Wireless in Coventry has been
recognised as one of the finest
buildings completed in the UK in
recent years: ‘It is one of the best
new buildings in Europe,’ according
to Jonathan Clancey, architectural
correspondent for The Independent.
Having won the accolade of the Royal
Fine Art Commission/Sunday Times
Building of the Year A ward for 1994,
the Cable & Wireless College has
achieved a string of other awards and
commendations.
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2. Case Study The Cable & Wireless College, Coventry
Setting the tone
Cable & Wireless is one of the
world’s largest telecommunications
enterprises with associated companies
in 50 countries, including Mercury in
the UK.
The brief for the building to architects
MacCormac Jamieson Prichard was
to provide a ‘centre of excellence
in training and research’. The
architects had extensive experience
in designing educational facilities.
Partner David Prichard realised that
this brief for a complete college was
‘quite exceptional’ and that the client
wanted a very special solution.
“One of our key early concepts
was that all the buildings on
the campus should appear to
be sitting on a single plinth.
To achieve this, we knew we
needed one product range to
cope with the many different
shapes and forms. But we
wanted something softer and The prestige nature of the project is
more textured than machined reflected in the quality of the design
and the materials used. The natural
precast concrete. “
creamy-buff colour and handcrafted
appearance of Blanc de Bierges is an
integral part of the visual appeal of
the project. It blends beautifully with
other materials, such as the Kirkstone
slate, needle-gunned in-situ concrete,
copper cladding and the distinctive
green-blue glazed roof tiles used on
the wave-like, north-light roofs of the
two teaching wings.

3. “Where new moulds had to be
created, we adapted them to
extract as many variations from
the mould type as possible, to
produce all the components
we required.”
But quite apart from its attractive
appearance, the variety of the Blanc There are two of these elegant seats on campus, gracing the ends of
de Bierges range is such that the paths. The unique design is inspired by the
architects were able to use it in many convex/concave elements often found in the work of Lutyens.
different ways. Not only does Blanc They are specially created in Blanc de Bierges material.
de Bierges define the main circulation
routes for the campus, it is also used
to express one of the fundamental
design concepts of the project. Stephen
Cherry, Architect and Associate in
charge explains:
“We were aware of the Blanc de
Bierges range, and visited their
factory to see the manufacturing
process and discuss our requirements.
Following that visit we produced
over one hundred 3-D sketches
of the forms we were developing.
These sketches became the basis of a
close collaboration with the team at
Blanc de Bierges, and we spent many
hours together devising ways to use
and manipulate standard moulds
and minimise the need for specials.
We learned a good deal about their
manufacturing process, and this
enabled us to tweak dimensions,
rationalise step heights and so on, to
reduce the need for expensive new
moulds.”
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4. Case Study The Cable & Wireless College Coventry
In total there were 76,000 elements the edge of the west teaching block,
of Blanc de Bierges used in the under the library and through the
project, based on 139 different types central oculus to the reception area.
of components. Some 68,000 of these Flights of stairs, constructed with
elements came from 11 standard steps cast at an angle to orientate with
components, 5000 from 85 specially the paving, lead up to the walkways
created components and 3000 around the plinth and down into the
from 43 modifications of standard lake.
components.
Sited on the edge of a technology
Central facilities
park close to Warwick University, the Central facilities - such as the refectory,
Cable and Wireless College looks out common rooms, library and museum
over open countryside. It caters for - are placed around the ocular court.
around 300 students, more than half Here, four copper-clad columns
living on site. The teaching areas are support a high-level canopy with an
laid out in a series of strips across the oval cut-out. The shape is reflected in
site running from east to west. The the paving where the Blanc de Bierges
main entrance is to the south where slabs harmonise with an oval inset of
the wings of the teaching blocks open Kirkstone slate.
out and embrace the countryside
beyond, like a Palladian villa - one of Because of its lively appearance, its
the inspirations for the design. ability to perform both internally
and externally, and its modularity,
Blanc de Bierges is first seen at the Blanc de Bierges has been used as a
entrance where ‘L’ Modules have been unifying material throughout the
used on the haha wall, which reduces scheme on vertical planes as well as
the impact of the main road on the horizontal. Stephen Cherry explains:
College’s view of the countryside. The ‘It was essential that the vertical slabs
powerful diagonal route, paved with did not appear as cladding. To create
Blanc de Bierges 600 x 600 mm slabs the plinth, standard Blanc de Bierges
and 140 x 140 x 40 mm setts, leads along ‘L’ Modules have been detailed and

5. assembled in a manner expressing swimming pool, fitness centre, sports
solid masonry. This can most clearly hall and bar. The pool and plant room
be seen in the ha-ha, steps, and the are buried into the ground, which is
angled, exposed corners to the west then reformed around the building.
teaching block plinth rising out of the The bar is at first-floor level and its
lake’ terrace forms the roof of the pool. The
terrace can be reached externally and
Blanc de Bierges paving slabs (600 x internally, via Blanc de Bierges steps
600 mm and 300 x 600 mm) are used in a variety of shapes, sizes and edge
to define the covered cloister on the profiles.
south facade of the residential block.
This links the student bed-sitting
rooms, grouped around staircases in
the traditional Oxbridge manner, with ‘It was essential that the vertical slabs did not appear
the communal facilities. The College,
as cladding. To create the plinth, standard Blanc de
as a consequence of its location, is
quite self-contained, hence David Bierges ‘L’ Modules have been detailed and assembled
Prichard emphasises the importance in a manner expressing solid masonry. This can most
of the refectory as the social hub of
clearly be seen in the ha-ha, steps, and the angled,
this community.
exposed corners to the west teaching block plinth rising
At the east end of the site, where the out of the lake’
ground rises to form a small hillock,
is the leisure pavilion containing the
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6. Case Study The Cable & Wireless College Coventry
A splash of inspiration
Blanc de Bierges paving slabs (600 x terrace can be reached externally and
600 mm and 300 x 600 mm) are used internally, via Blanc de Bierges steps
to define the covered cloister on the in a variety of shapes, sizes and edge
south facade of the residential block. profiles.
This links the student bed-sitting
rooms, grouped around staircases in A distinctive feature crafted out
the traditional Oxbridge manner, with of Blanc de Bierges components is
the communal facilities. The College, the fountain in the leisure pavilion.
as a consequence of its location, is Here, the architects have created the
quite self-contained, hence David impression that the fountain is the
Prichard emphasises the importance source of water for the swimming
of the refectory as the social hub of pool and that it then flows outside
this community. the building over a waterfall, before
passing along a narrow rill or water-
At the east end of the site, where the filled channel framed with Blanc de
ground rises to form a small hillock, Bierges 400 x 600 x 200 mm steps.
is the leisure pavilion containing the
swimming pool, fitness centre, sports The other main water feature is
hall and bar. The pool and plant room the lake at the main entrance to the
are buried into the ground, which is college. Here, Blanc de Bierges ‘L’
then reformed around the building. Modules rise out of the water to form
The bar is at first-floor level and its the plinth to the west teaching block.
terrace forms the roof of the pool. The

7. The non-slip finish and low porosity
of Blanc de Bierges were particularly The non-slip finish and low porosity of Blanc de Bierges
useful for the wide surrounds to the
were particularly useful for the wide surrounds to the
external water features, the internal
swimming pool and for the stairs, external water features, the internal swimming pool and
reception area and restaurant areas. for the stairs, reception area and restaurant areas.
MacCormac Jamieson Prichard’s
attention to detail on Cable & Wireless
is impressive. They produced
approximately 1,600 drawings for the
project.
The complexity of the design and
the large number of special features
and fittings placed great demands
on the contractor, subcontractors and
suppliers involved in the construction
of the college.
As it has on other special projects
- such as Evans and Shalev’s Tate
gallery at St. Ives - Blanc de Bierges
rose to the occasion, It was able to do
this because it has a dedicated team,
steeped in a philosophy similar to that
of architects.
At the end of the day, 76,000
elements from a complex 16-week
manufacturing schedule were
produced exactly on time, and
delivered in 52 mixed loads to
coincide with the contractors’ phased
programme. To achieve this, staff in
the Blanc de Bierges factory worked
throughout the Christmas/New Year
holiday period.
Blanc de Bierges is proud to have
been have been involved in this
challenging project, which shows how
close collaboration between designers
and manufacturers helps to produce
outstanding buildings.
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10. Case Study The Cable & Wireless College Coventry
Almost 90 per cent of the Blanc de Bierges elements
used in the project were standard items from the range.
140 x 140 x 80 mm setts and kerbs in a variety of
profiles are used to mark the parking bays and the main
pedestrian routes in the car park to the north.

11. colour, shape & harmony
“The waterfall is a fissure in the pavilion’s plinth and special
shapes - some of the most complicated on site - were
formed to create this feature. These ‘specials’ contain the
waterfall and obscure the trough, which together with the
noise of the waterfall, creates the illusion that there is a
subterranean reservoir.”
Stephen Cherry
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12. Blanc de Bierges components used on the Cable & Wireless Scheme
Saddlebaks
Steps
Retaining Walls
Spiral Stairways
Bespoke
Setts & Slabs
Copings
Pool Tiles
Gullies & Kerbs
Architectural Masonry
Architectural Cladding
Street Furniture
TM
AmphiSystem
Tree Grilles
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