Francis Gardner Apartments, London

Francis Gardener Apartments is a new student accommodation building in West Hampstead, London.

The new building will provide accommodation for 88 students. These will be a mixture of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments. A basement will contain entertainment room, a lounge, gym and laundry. A communal lounge with a small outdoor terrace area will be located on the top floor.

The internal organisation of the proposed building is simple. All the accommodation enjoys views to the street or to the quiet courtyard to the rear. An internal lightwell brings light down into the circulation spaces in heart of the building. The aim is to increase the potential for chance social interaction and so to generate a feeling of community amongst the residents.

The new building will sit amongst grand Mansion-type housing buildings and ornately decorated Victorian townhouses. Great care has been taken to develop a modern architectural language that will sit comfortably within the Conservation Area and reflect the materiality of the neighbourhood. The proposals aim to create a modern building of its time that respects the existing rich character of the surroundings and enhances the streetscape

Photography: 56three