New Court

Nestled behind the bustling King Street, New Court at Christ’s College might surprise you. It’s not your typical Cambridge scene of ancient stone and gothic grandeur. Instead, this student residence complex, affectionately nicknamed “The Typewriter,” is a striking example of Brutalist architecture. Designed by Denys Lasdun, the architect behind London’s National Theatre, New Court is a concrete landscape of terraced levels and repeating forms. Completed between 1968 and 1970, its seven-story stepped structure houses student rooms, each with its own concrete window seat and terrace. The design, with its precast concrete panels and beam system, creates a unique rhythm, punctuated by the craggy peaks of the plant rooms. Lasdun envisioned the building as a series of hills and valleys, maximizing interior space while minimizing the overall height. While the King Street side might appear as an unassuming multi-story car park, the real impact of New Court is revealed within the private college grounds. Here, the building unfolds majestically, culminating in courtyards and common rooms that face inwards towards the college lawns. A long flight of concrete stairs connects the grounds to the upper levels, leading students through this Brutalist masterpiece. While opinions on its aesthetic merits may differ, New Court stands as a bold statement in the heart of historic Cambridge, a testament to Lasdun’s distinctive vision.