STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL
Client: University of London
Project location: London W1
Accommodation: 140 bedrooms across five floors, common room, corridors and stairwells
Project duration: 16 weeks from order confirmation
Project completion: 2016
Nutford House is a 100-year-old student accommodation building owned by the University of London. In 2016, David Phillips was initially appointed to furnish 140 bedrooms, using standard available items. The project subsequently expanded to include replacement of the central heating system (including all radiators), painting and decorating throughout, replacement of all carpets, signage, and refurbishment of a common room.
Our brief expanded accordingly. We were additionally asked to supply bespoke vanity units for each room, design a comprehensive interior finishing specification for the building, furnish the common room and outdoor space, install wayfinding and signage, and fit carpets and vinyl throughout.
The building’s idiosyncrasies presented many challenges during this project, all of which we were able to overcome. With tight deadlines, we designed, developed and prototyped a new contract bedroom furniture collection – including vanity units – exclusively for this project in less than four weeks. And although almost every bedroom was unique in shape, size and M&E layout, we installed furniture within a time window that had been reduced from two months to three weeks. Finally, to add to the building’s unique character, we commissioned original Nutford House-themed artworks from renowned illustrators, and installed custom signage throughout.