This striking student residence in the middle of Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter contains 277 Bedrooms in 106 apartments. The apartments include single-person Studios, 2 Bedroom, 3 Bedroom, and 4 Bedroom with a few 5 Bedroom Apartments.
Ideally situated for students, it lies very close to the heart of both Liverpool University and Liverpool John Moore's University. It is immediately adjacent to other student accommodation, including Plato House and the grade II listed St Andrews Gardens.
This historical site is of particular interest due to its associations with its direct surrounding contexts that was used for residential and industrial sectors within. It played a significant part of Liverpool's city evolution as a residual. It is a physical reminder of the division between some of the city's neighbourhoods.
The area is also a significant part of Liverpool's regeneration story following decades of decline. The area has since seen substantial investment over the past two decades; in particular the re-branding of the Knowledge Quarter. The introduction of extensive student accommodation within this neighbourhood reflects the importance of this sector to the economy of the wider city. St Andrew's Gardens is a prime example of this process and has been re-purposed as student accommodation.
The project lies on an irregular site formerly occupied by a Police Station, housing the professional standards service. The plan form exploits the irregular geometry of the site creates opportunities for architectural expression, providing a variety of elevational treatments around each side of the perimeters.
The scheme comprises an 8-storey building with its main elevations on to Copperas Hill, Moor Place and Marquis Street, with the top two floors recessed. Largely constructed of red brick, with a lighter brick for the top two floors, the proposal responds to the tones and textures in the area. The older, historic core buildings generally of brick construction, and more contemporary buildings displaying a variety of materials, include metal cladding. The deeply recessed fenestration placed within a subtly patterned brickwork façade provides an image of strength and dynamism through its depth and constantly changing shadowing.
All apartments are light and spacious and offer many spectacular views across the city and the River Mersey. An attractive courtyard offers a precious quiet, amenity space amongst delightful planting for sitting and relaxation. Secure internal cycle storage is also provided for cycle users.
The deeply recessed fenestration provides an image of strength and dynamism through its depth and constantly changing shadowing.
The site is within the London Road area of the city, opposite the grade II listed St Andrew's Gardens former municipal housing development, known locally as the Bullring. The site was formerly a Police Station, housing the professional standards service. Prior to the Police Station the site was originally residential until the area became heavily involved with artisanal trades, service industries, retail and commercial. Former uses included a factory for J Schweppe & Co mineral water.
The site is of historical interest for its associations with other housing and industrial uses in this area of Liverpool at a particular stage in the evolution of the city, and as a residual, physical reminder of the division of the city into particular neighbourhoods. It contrasts with other areas such as the historic commercial area and Canning which were grander and more salubrious in character and appearance. Its value is also provided by the way in which it was developed, in previous green-field sites that were on the edge of the township of, and which evolved as the city expanded and become a entrepot of global significance.
The area is also a significant part of Liverpool's regeneration story, following decades of decline, the area has seen substantial investment in the past two decades, and in particular the re-branding of the area as part of a Knowledge Quarter, and with extensive student accommodation, reflects the importance of this sector to the economy of the wider city. St Andrew's Gardens is a prime example of this process, and has been re-purposed as student accommodation.
There is an attractive ground floor amenity area offering quiet, amenity space for sitting and relaxation.
The scheme comprises an 8-storey building with its main elevations on to Copperas Hill, Moor Place and Marquis Street, with the top two floors recessed. Largely in red brick, but with a different, and lighter brick, for the top two floors, the proposal responds to the tones and textures in the area, with the older, historic core buildings generally of brick construction, and more contemporary buildings displaying a variety of materials, include metal cladding.
The design acknowledges the geometries of the nearby St Andrew's Gardens, with a strong horizontal banding for the fenestration, and a contrapuntal rhythm established by the patterning of the windows, in a similar manner to the listed building. This intrinsic weaving of the horizontal and the vertical allows for a distinctive expression of the frame, and the simplicity of the elevational treatment resonates with that of St Andrew's Gardens.
The variety of scale is one of the characteristics of the area, and it is the tone and texture of the materials palette which provides continuity in the area, helping to retain a cohesive townscape.