An innovative new building, by architects

HawkinsBrown, uniquely situated at the nexus

of art, architecture and science, rises on

Oxford s hallowed grounds. Few contemporary buildings demonstrate the purpose of their

existence as effectively as HawkinsBrown s newest project.

Built to bring together lecturers, researchers and students

previously based in separate buildings across Oxford s

campus, the building s glass and steel exterior literally reveals

the cutting-edge work being done in its interior challenging

the notion that laboratory walls should be opaque and

secretive. The building includes an ambitious art project, Salt

Bridges, which combines chemistry and design to illustrate the

chaos and coincidence that so often shape scientific discovery.

This volume features a fascinating critical introduction to the

project, photographs of plans and models, contributions from

the builder on the construction process, and conversations

between architects, artists and scientists at the heart of the

building s conception. The story of a collaboration between

seemingly disparate disciplines makes this monograph

particularly appealing to those interested in the relationship

between art, architecture, and science.