Sensitive Heritage Retrofit of Iconic Grade II Listed Pub

Energy optimisation and sustainable refurbishment and extension of Oxford's Eagle & Child Pub

Client: Ellison Institute of Technology

Architects: Foster + Partners

Heritage Architects: Donald Insall Associates

Sustainability Consultants: Ecospheric

Status: Planning approved and listed building consent granted (October 2025)

Listing: Grade II

Location: Oxford

Overview

Once the meeting place of the legendary Inklings — including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis — The Eagle and Child is one of Oxford’s most culturally significant public houses. After several years of closure, this Grade II listed landmark will be undergoing a sensitive restoration and extension commissioned by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) and designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Donald Insall Associates.

Ecospheric has been engaged to deliver energy modelling, sustainable detailing support, and material specification, ensuring that every design decision aligns with both conservation principles and long-term environmental performance.

Programme

Pub restoration: Retention of historic interiors with light-touch interventions
Café addition: Conversion of the lower levels of 50–51 St Giles’ Street into a café serving coffee and baked goods, activating the street frontage.
Dining room and garden: New dining space reconnecting the interior with a landscaped garden for flexible social use.
Upper levels: Informal study and meeting spaces for EIT’s scholars, staff, and fellows, for research and collaboration.

Ecospheric’s Contribution

Ecospheric’s role in The Eagle and Child project is to embed deep sustainability and energy performance into the heart of a complex, heritage-sensitive retrofit. Working alongside Foster + Partners and Donald Insall Associates, our team has provided multi-stage technical support across design development, modelling, and detail coordination — ensuring that every environmental improvement complements the building’s historic integrity. Service areas:

Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) to establish the benchmark for energy performance and inform all subsequent optioneering.
Passive design and sensitivity studies
Fabric improvements and insulation performance
Heritage-Sensitive Building Services Review
Thermal Bridge Modelling
Specialist Detail Development Support