The Blue Boar Quadrangle is a quadrangle

Quadrangle (architecture)

In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...

 at the University of Oxford

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...

's Christ Church

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...

. It was designed by Hidalgo Moya

Hidalgo Moya

John Hidalgo Moya , sometimes known as Jacko Moya, was a famous American-born architect who worked largely in England. Moya was a native of California where he was born to an English mother and Mexican father but lived in England since he was an infant. He formed the architectural practice Powell &...

 and Philip Powell

Philip Powell (architect)

Sir Arnold Joseph Philip Powell , usually known as Philip Powell, was a ground-breaking English post-war architect.He was educated at Epsom College and then the Architectural Association....

, and built between 1965 and 1968. The quadrangle has been described as "One of the best buildings of its kind during the expansion of higher education" by Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Andrew McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey

Andrew Robert McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey PC was a British Labour politician and last elected Principal of the Working Men's College....

, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. The quadrangle has held the classification of Grade II* listed building since 17 October 2006, a status shared by only 20,000 other structures in the country due to the unique nature of its 1960s architecture. Blue Boar underwent a substantial renovation from 2007-8, resulting in the conversion of all rooms to modern en-suites.

The Blue Boar Quadrangle is just to the south of the historic Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street is a narrow historic street running betweenSt Aldate's to the west and the north of Alfred Street to the west, in central Oxford, England...

, off St Aldate's, hence the name.

Usage

The quadrangle, which hosts 61 Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...

 first years during term time and interviewees and conference guests during the Christmas

Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

, Easter

Easter

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...

 and Long Vacations is viewed by many as an eyesore when compared to other quadrangles (e.g., Peckwater Quadrangle

Peckwater Quadrangle

The Peckwater Quadrangle is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is on the site of a medieval inn, which was run by the Peckwater family and given to St Frideswide's Priory in 1246. The buildings, including the Library, date from the eighteenth century. They are built in...

, Tom Quad

Tom Quad

The Great Quadrangle, more popularly known as Tom Quad, is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is the largest college quad in Oxford, measuring 264 by 261 feet. Although it was begun by Cardinal Wolsey, he was unable to complete it...

) in the college. The accommodation consists of mostly medium sized rooms with a desk, bed, fridge and window seat. With the large windows, the lighting is sufficient to work by, although may be considered dull by some. Some rooms at ground level have a small problem with damp, due to the singly glazed windows and proximity to the grass. The green itself is used for games of ultimate

Ultimate (sport)

Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...

 and as an alternative sleeping place for those unable to locate their keys.

Architecture

Blue Boar Quadrangle was built on the site of an old car park and garages, next to the narrow, high-walled Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street is a narrow historic street running betweenSt Aldate's to the west and the north of Alfred Street to the west, in central Oxford, England...

. The quadrangle was designed so that the top floor penthouses provide a broken, set-back series of horizontal planes that help to reduce the scale of the development seen from the street and is constructed almost entirely of characteristic Portland Whitbed and Roach Stone, which adds a unique quality absent from most 1960s developments. The quad itself is an 'L' shape, the rectangular nature being interrupted by the old college brewhouse. Most of the staircases are four storeys, with 'penthouses' occupied by tutors at the very top. Staircase four is three storeys with a semi-basement, which houses archives and a meeting room. There is also a new route from the path to Tom Quad which loops back behind Killcanon and brings you straight into the middle of the Blue Boar Quad. This is for students only, but is repeatedly defied by tourists in an attempt to see Oxford Students in their natural habitat. The route is slightly longer than going through Killcanon but decidedly more aesthetically pleasing.

See also

• Tom Quad
  Tom Quad
  The Great Quadrangle, more popularly known as Tom Quad, is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is the largest college quad in Oxford, measuring 264 by 261 feet. Although it was begun by Cardinal Wolsey, he was unable to complete it...
  
  
• Peckwater Quadrangle
  Peckwater Quadrangle
  The Peckwater Quadrangle is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is on the site of a medieval inn, which was run by the Peckwater family and given to St Frideswide's Priory in 1246. The buildings, including the Library, date from the eighteenth century. They are built in...
  
  
• Meadow Building
  The Meadow Building
  The Meadow Building is part of Christ Church, Oxford, England, looking out onto Christ Church Meadow. It was built in 1863 to the designs of Sir Thomas Deane in the Venetian style...
  
  
• Christ Church Library
  Christ Church Library
  Christ Church Library is a Georgian building which forms the south side of Peckwater Quadrangle in Christ Church, Oxford, England. It houses the college's modern lending library and early printed books on two floors....