The Recent Convergence of Living and Hospitality
Studio Moren explores bringing luxury hospitality standards to the student living sector
By Mark Wood, Partner at Studio Moren, for PBSA News
Fifty One, Kensington
Rising construction costs, prolonged planning processes and ever-shifting geopolitical landscapes have slowed the delivery of large-scale, de rigueur new-build PBSA and co-living schemes, despite sustained demand and a clear deficit in the UK’s housing stock.
At the same time, a well-established drive to retain embodied carbon has accelerated a shift towards the reuse of existing buildings. This has rightly placed greater emphasis on acquisition, repurposing and extension rather than wholesale redevelopment.
Hotels by Another Name
International students and young professionals, in particular, are increasingly seeking accommodation that is convenient, premium and design-driven, often with a boutique or luxury sensibility, as they study or begin their careers in the UK.
This emerging typology might best be described as “hotels by another name”.
Such buildings provide everything this expanding demographic demands, from high-quality bespoke guestroom-style studios or mezzanine apartments, through to well-considered communal spaces designed to foster interaction, connection and community.
Fifty One Kensington
At its core, this approach is about bringing the quality, service and experience of luxury hospitality into the alternative living sector. For student and co-living operators, it also presents an opportunity to differentiate their offer in an increasingly competitive market.
Studio Moren was appointed as architect and interior designer for the recently completed Fifty-One in Kensington. This highly collaborative project, located opposite the Natural History Museum, is among the first of its kind to redefine student living through a hospitality-led lens.
Fifty One, Kensington
Another key consideration is making full use of space, not simply floor area. Volume, proportion and height can transform relatively constrained footprints into something more generous and engaging, elevating both perception and usability.
Even the most functional elements are being reconsidered. Spaces such as laundries, traditionally hidden away, can become social and active when carefully designed and integrated with adjacent amenities such as wellness or fitness spaces. These smaller moves, which re-evaluate everyday routines, can create a richer living experience.
Fifty One, Kensington
Flexibility is also fundamental. As operational models evolve, particularly in student accommodation with out-of-term use, buildings must be capable of adapting with ease. This requires foresight, embedding flexibility into planning, servicing and layout from the outset rather than retrofitting it later.
With over 30 years of experience in hotel and hospitality design, we at Studio Moren have, perhaps unsurprisingly, seen a growing number of enquiries and commissions for what can be described as a new living typology.
As demand continues to grow, we are seeing increasing appetite to integrate hospitality design principles across a wide range of projects and uses. For Studio Moren, this convergence presents an exciting opportunity to apply our passion for hospitality to new, established and evolving sectors.