St Catherine's College

St Catherine's College is a college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and presents a consistently modernist architectural style dating from the early 1960s. The campus extends across rectangular low-rise structures with flat roofs, long window fronts and open courtyards interspersed with broad lawns and geometrically arranged pathways.

A delegacy supporting students without formal college membership emerged in 1868 and offered teaching outside the traditional college framework. In 1962 the institution gained full college status under Alan Bullock's direction and moved into the newly completed buildings designed by Arne Jacobsen.

Students and staff refer to it as Catz, a familiar nickname that reflects the informal daily language used within the university community. The entrance from Manor Road leads into one of Oxford's youngest colleges, combining functional clarity with Scandinavian design principles.

The library, computer rooms and music practice spaces are centrally located within the grounds and reachable on foot within a few minutes from residential buildings. Sports facilities including tennis courts and a gymnasium complement the offer and are situated in the outer areas of the main structures.

The architect designed every visible object in the dining hall down to the cutlery and chairs, so that spoons and tables share the same design concept. The gardens hold Grade I listed status, the highest level of protection, and display the same consistent design language as the interiors.

Location: Oxford

Inception: 1962

Founders: Alan Bullock

Part of: University of Oxford

Website: http://stcatz.ox.ac.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.75590,-1.24420

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:53