West Port were the project architects for a new student accommodation scheme in Guildford, Surrey. Set within a triangular site bounded by railway lines to the south, the A3 bypass to the west and a 1980s business park to the east, we designed 79 self contained student rooms spread across three interconnected blocks ranging from 3-4 storeys. The three blocks are centered around a raised landscaped podium linking the rooms and the communal spaces. On the ground floor an existing watercourse acts as the focal point of a picnic and soft landscaping area.

The development is car-free with the main focus being the provision of a unique student experience. The proposal is one of openness, enhanced communal facilities and sustainable access to the university and town centre.

The buildings themselves are generously spaced and the architecture is one that is both contextual and considered.