Student living just got classy, as purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) provider – Future Generation – unveils the latest evolution of its des-res uni rooms at Guilden Village. White walls have been banished, chipboard furniture has been switched out for metal-framed elegance, and the addition of full height windows adds a touch of class to the glass. Smart design has left these student pads looking more like hotel rooms. The £115m development – Future Generation’s largest to date – will provide 533 beds, and all the accommodation and communal areas benefit from Samsung appliances.
Video of latest student rooms at Guilden Village PBSA scheme
This video captures the elegance of the latest rooms completed at Future Generation’s Guilden Village PBSA scheme in Guildford, Surrey – ahead of their launch in time for the 2021/22 academic year.
“The team have excelled themselves with this latest iteration of Future Generation’s interior look and feel. From day one, we’ve tried to put clear water between us and the competition and this is exactly the kind of product that students will fight over. It’s a quality of finish that is second to none nationwide.”
Hesham Al Gassab, Executive Director of Bahraini investment manager Tadhamon Capital
Among the innovations in this scheme is the deliberate widespread use of metal-framed furniture, which makes rooms feel more spacious. Clever storage makes the most of the spare space beneath the beds. The use of leatherette headboards and seat pads, as well as a muted colour palette, makes bedrooms feel cosier, while quality soft furnishings and materials takes the overall look and feel away from the sort of soulless, clinical design that students are used to.
Student accommodation in the UK rarely sets the world on fire and can rely heavily on bland colours. Rooms look and feel cheap and they’re not necessarily places where students want to spend a lot of time. Producing rooms like Future Generation’s doesn’t have to cost the Earth though — the improvements Future Generation has achieved to the construction and interior design were cost neutral to the business. This studio at Guilden Village is available for only £342 a week, while en-suites are available at £199 per week.
“We’ve gone out of our way to create rooms that look more like the type of city apartment you’d expect to find on holiday. We’ve made extensive use of floor-to-ceiling windows which add an extra layer of luxury.
“These are expenses that developers trying to save every penny will avoid at all costs, but much of this has been achieved through a passion for detail and not a blank cheque book. The interior design and construction of these rooms were actually cost neutral to us, which means we haven’t had to put prices up to pay for these improvements.
“We are raising the bar to put maximum pressure on those providers who are happy to do the bare minimum. Students are very discerning customers, and this is what it means to turn student accommodation into a destination brand. We’re delighted with the result.”
Andrew Southern, Chairman, Future Generation
Future Generation is a joint venture between London-based property developer Southern Grove and Bahrain-based Tadhamon Capital.
