Designing the university experience: student amenities and accommodation
Published
University enrolments across Australia continue to skyrocket. How are our architects and designers responding to this increased demand on student amenities?
For many, starting university can be a daunting experience. This is particularly the case for the many students who live on campus, often moving out of home and away from their families for the first time. When designing Walert House, the new 370-bed student accommodation complex for RMIT’s Bundoora West campus, Richard Middleton Architects bore this in mind and set out to design a project that provided a space for a comfortable, healthy transition away from the family home.
The architects sought to create a strong sense of belonging, taking a three-pronged focus on community, sustainability, and amenity. Every aspect of the project’s design was carefully considered for its effect on student wellbeing and its crucial role in shaping the overall campus experience. A marked departure from the staid, utilitarian student housing projects of yesteryear, Walert House incorporates many hallmarks of home into its design. Natural timber frames generous bays of full-height glazing, while community spaces are furnished with plush sofas and soft furnishings. Careful consideration was poured into all elements of Walert House’s 5 Star Green Star fit out, from the ceiling to the floor. Throughout the project, Tretford® carpet tile is used to convey the warmth and comfort of home. Surprisingly soft underfoot, Tretford® carpet tile has been a leading choice for homes and commercial spaces for over 40 years – and with good reason. The tiles combine the hypoallergenic benefit of Mongolian goat cashmere with Irish manufacturing to balance functionality, style, and durability, and actively contribute to improving the level of indoor air quality. The natural goat hair fibres are fully breathable and sequesters dust, allergens, and other particulate matter that may cause irritation or exacerbate asthma. Tretford® tiles also provide excellent acoustic and thermal insulation for the bustling student hub, helping create a calm, comfortable environment that is a refuge from the busy broader campus – a true home away from home.
. . .
For over 20 years, Gibbon Group has sourced innovative, on-trend carpet roll and carpet tile ranges from around the globe and operated a custom rug program featuring soft flooring produced from the unique goat hair carpet. The Gibbon Group name has become synonymous with high quality, innovation, and design flexibility. Gibbon Group is driven by a strong focus on sustainability and a genuine commitment to delivering products that enhance user wellbeing and help shape considered, balanced spaces. It is this critical understanding of the role of design in creating healthy, happy spaces that makes Gibbon Group the ideal carpet supplier for multi-residential and education projects.
Their modular carpet tiles from Tretford (Germany) and Modulyss (Belgium) allow for phased installation and produce significantly less waste than traditional broadloom carpet. In addition to outstanding appearance retention and a long life expectancy, carpet tiles allow for mixing and matching colours, patterns, and shapes, alongside easy repair and replacement in the case of damage. Tretrford Corded carpet roll is made with 80 per cent highest-grade natural cashmere and is free from toxic chemicals, making it the perfect fit for creating healthy, luxurious interiors. Its 2-metre width saves on waste and makes for easy installation in high-rise buildings. Where it stands apart from traditional broadloom is its non-ravel construction, which allows fray-free cuts in any direction. This unique corded carpet is highly durable and one of Gibbon Group’s oldest and most trusted products. For over 40 years, Gibbon Group’s Tretford corded carpet roll has been made in Waterford, Ireland. All Gibbon Group carpets can be sourced with specific backings that enhance comfort, durability, acoustic and thermal performance, while extending the lifespan of the carpet.
. . .
Project In Detail:
Project Size: 3935m2
Products Specified: Tretford Tile Eco
Custom Elements: Tretford Tile Eco
Builder: Built Vic South Melbourne VIC
Architect: Richard Middleton
. . .
In this whitepaper, we explore the positive impacts of carpet and take a closer look at how it can be used to create vibrant, healthy spaces in multi residential and education environments.
Related Articles
Articles
Creating synergies of form, hue and space
When considered from the perspective of the human experience, a chair is not merely an object. It is a human vantage point within a space, it is the focal point for energies and activities, and it is a visual anchor that guides activities and emotions.
Articles
Injecting identity into adaptable workplaces: the brand harnessing the visual treasure trove of cross-sector design culture
The magnetic pull of certain spaces comes down to how seamlessly they work and, more importantly, how they feel. Recognising this, Kettal Workplace draws on the uplifting codes of other sectors to deliver contemporary workplace design.
Articles
What Nikari reveals about Finnish design and its love of wood
KFive Furniture and Finnish design brand, Nikari, invite us into a world of Finnish folklore and exquisite woodworking traditions. As we step through this moody, magical forest of culture and contemporary design, we discover what makes Finnish design distinct from its Scandinavian counterparts.
Articles
The brand spotlighting furnishings crafted with purpose and the skilled design minds behind them
A wander around a BACHLI showroom reveals a tapestry of captivating furniture designs, curated precisely and craft-led. Thanks to its longstanding partnerships with iconic designers, BACHLI has become a go-to for discovering the most exciting established and emerging Australian and international brands. Initially based in Melbourne, BACHLI have recently expanded into Sydney with their Surry Hills showroom, increasing their presence and opening their invitation to the design-savvy and curious nationwide.