Portsmouth Student Housing

Client	Kingsleigh Group Ltd
Project	Student Halls of Residence
Value	£2.6 million
Status	Planning consent granted 2010

Design ACB were appointed by existing clients to undertake the design of a student halls of residence on the site of a former parish hall in Southsea, Portsmouth. As part of the project and working together with the clients, we developed a new model of student accommodation based on a traditional collegiate model. Each study room has its own kitchen and bathroom areas affording students complete independence, while social needs are met and positively encouraged by way of a large communal hall at ground floor level.

In terms of urban design, our proposals repair the historic street pattern of the area by creating a new ‘book end’ wrapping the edge of the site. The building skin is punctured along its length with a dynamic fenestration pattern; this is peeled inwards to create an entrance and the common room. The form generated by the juxtaposition of these elements makes a positive contribution to the street scene, by adding activity and energy to this prominent corner.

Facing a residents' courtyard, the northern facade of the building is carved into a series of coloured fins which act as screening devices to protect neighbours amenities and encourage light into rooms.