Frederick House, York

22The scheme presented a series of challenges to provide our client with a student residential accommodation solution, situated within a former military barrack’s site which is long and linear, bounded by existing barrack’s walls and private dwellings, a part conservation area, woodland and an existing police headquarters.

Following the selection of the preferred massing typology, proposals for the site were explored and developed. The size and location of accommodation buildings related in part to the clients needs in terms of providing a range of accommodation types offering students choice and flexibility.

The site layout, alongside initial input from the landscape architects established three distinct realms that were carried forward throughout the development of the design: Guard House, The ‘Mews’ and The ‘Village’ – each offering contrasting architectural from, scale and external landscaping – linked together by a ‘Mews’ style linear walkway which passes through a central courtyard and transitions into a relaxed pathway through the ‘Village’

The architectural proposals vary from the linearity of The ‘Mews’, with a contemporary mews-style scale at lower levels contrasting with the faceted facades and offset roofs of the townhouse accommodation in The ‘Village’, inspired partly by the irregular rooflines and plan forms of notable buildings along York’s Shambles.

With a total of 368 bedrooms in newly purpose built accommodation which will replace the existing redundant Frederick House office building, the proposals include excellent social/study provision within the existing repurposed Guard House which forms the primary pedestrian entrance from Fulford Road.