High-end Purpose Built Student Accommodation scheme in the heart of Southampton. The tight urban site achieves 139 studio apartments in a building of 8 – 13 storeys.

Having previously gained approval for a market residential scheme of similar scale, ArchitecturePLB worked closely with the Southampton City Council planning and design officers and Historic England to ensure that this prominent site on the edge of the Listed Central Parks represents the highest possible architectural response, while also mitigating impacts on local heritage assets, such as the Bargate through the careful selection of external materials.

To complement the studio based accommodation, high quality communal spaces are proposed, included a lounge, gym, cinema and high level dining room.

The scheme takes a sculptural architectural approach with stone wraps containing a patchwork of windows and brise soleil; these elements all come together to also passively mitigate the impacts of climate change by minimising overheating and energy use.

The scheme is also represents a Higher-Risk Building under the Building Safety Act. Having successfully negotiated Gateway 1 through the planning system, we are proceeding towards Gateway 2.