A contemporary student accommodation scheme for Brighton’s Screen and Film School, situated at the junction of Brighton’s Lewes Road and Caledonian Road, replaces an outdated commercial unit with a striking four-story corner building. This development accommodates a mix of 42 studios, 18 ensuite rooms, in a variety of types and sizes, and a street-fronting café/gallery space in the heart of the city. The scheme was built by HG Construction for Alumno Group and Places For People.

The sophisticated design focuses on enhancing the student experience, promoting community living, and fostering social interaction. A variety of communal indoor and outdoor spaces are available at all levels, including a rooftop winter garden with city views, a café, communal lounges, and basement common rooms with a cinema.

The building’s form draws inspiration from the 1936 sculpture of British modernist artist Ben Nicholson, whose abstract compositions are characterised by interplaying rectilinear forms. The warm grey hue of the handmade brick, combined with black detailing, takes inspiration from the work of British artist Eric Ravilious, notably his 1935 piece, ‘Brighton Queen at Night’. The concise and harmonious material palette creates a distinct contemporary development that is visually striking and robust enough to withstand the urban and coastal environment.

The building’s roofs feature chalk grassland biosolar green roofs that enhance biodiversity, thermal efficiency, and rainwater runoff reduction while capturing renewable energy. Well-proportioned windows flood the interiors with natural daylight, creating an environment conducive to study and overall well-being.

Greenaway Architecture has created a bold visual statement that celebrates, motivates, and complements the bright and creative individuals who will reside within. The design has been praised by Brighton and Hove Council for its visual enhancement of the streetscape and its contribution to much-needed student housing in this bustling city, despite the tight site constraints.

The Principal of Brighton Screen and Film School remarks, ‘We are particularly pleased to offer our students such exceptional accommodation in a unique and bespoke building. Our students are certainly inspired by their surroundings and can be assured of experiencing top-quality facilities in a central Brighton location.’

This project was a finalist for Building Design ‘Higher Eduction Architect of the Year’, has been published in BeNews: ‘Purpose built student accommodation isn’t just good for students, it’s good for communities’ and Architecture Vogue.