SCOPE OF WORKS

We were appointed to design 56 self-contained luxury student apartments, with shared common areas including a cinema, lounge, study room and gaming area. Previously The Last Plantagenet pub, the property is located in a prime position on Granby Street in Leicester city centre and has benefitted from a multi-million-pound transformation.

DESIGN

Featuring a rich and vibrant colour palette, with contemporary artworks and design-led furniture pieces, Leicester One caters for young adults who value comfort and want to immerse themselves in city life.

With a youthful and fun design for the common areas, we opted for more muted colours in the apartments to encourage a sense of calm and relaxation.

With student residents moving in from all over the world, we wanted to create a sense of place and connection to the local area within the design. The corridors feature hand painted artworks in a relaxed continual line depicting Leicester icons and landmarks. The subject matter is echoed in the stairwells but in the form of a colourful digitally-printed bespoke wall mural on each floor.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

With the end-users in mind, we were careful to specify fabrics and finishes that can withstand heavy usage, from easyclean fabrics with high rub counts to wall coverings dyed all the way through (rather than surface printed) so any knocks or chips are less visible. While we were keen to achieve a high-end finish, cost was also a key consideration.

OUTCOME

In a university city with a broad array of student accommodation options, Leicester One stands apart from the competition. The location, décor and facilities warrant higher rental fees, for those willing to pay more for the added benefits. 

Prior to opening its doors to the first residents in September 2023, all 56 apartments had been successfully let.  There’s been great feedback from students and property managers alike, with the accommodation consistently receiving 5* reviews across multiple independent review sites.