Norwich Crown Place Student Accommodation
Project Case Study: Norwich Crown Place Student Accommodation
Project Type: Education
Intro:
Rhubarb Seating was approached by the main contractor R G Carter under the instruction of the developers, Crown Student Living, to design and specify furniture for Crown Place, St Stephens Towers. The new student accommodation demanded stylish and robust furniture across the following areas of the development: reception space, communal areas, dining room, offices, gaming room, and cinema room.
Norwich Crown Place is a purpose built 702 bed student accommodation block conveniently located for students to access the University of East Anglia and Norwich University of the Arts. Providing modern and attractive facilities such as all-inclusive fully equipped private studios and shared apartments, a fitness suite, games room, cinema room and exceptional study spaces, it is a popular choice for students living and studying in Norwich.
The Challenge:
To deliver:
- A carefully zoned open plan space for students to socialise, relax and collaborate with dual functionality offering private break-out areas for study and quiet retreat zones.
- Seating for the private dining room that is robust and easy to clean, able to withstand a busy dining environment but that had a ‘home from home’ look and feel.
- Design-led seating to create an impression and an inviting feel for lounge and communal areas.
- Bespoke seating with additional seat depth for the cinema and gaming rooms.
- Bespoke upholstery services to create seat and back pads for banquette seating.
- Supply and installation of a range of appropriate tables across all areas.
Project Scope:
Working closely with the project designers, Studio Cwtch, we created a seating proposal for the client that took into consideration their exact requirements for both the use of the space and the functionality, comfort, and durability of the furniture. Our contemporary Marna sofas with fluted back detail were an ideal choice for reception and communal areas, adding a touch of style and comfort, complimented by our Arta lounge chairs with natural wood legs for a sleek finish. Zeta pods created quieter, more private areas to relax or study. Wooden two-piece dining chairs with Agua Fusion embossed leather look vinyl provided comfort, easy maintenance and a homely look and feel. The addition of counter height and low-level stools and our 5-Wave multipurpose chairs created the right environment for the private dining room and Zeta modular soft seating units formed a comfortable seating configuration for the shared kitchen space. We carefully thought through the requirements for tables throughout the areas to supply and install a range of dining, coffee, and study tables. The gaming and cinema rooms required bespoke seating designs, with an L-shape sofa made to fit the space and our luxury comfort Hoxton sofas with ottomans.
How we delivered:
Our in-house design team worked closely with the project design team to create a visual concept of the seating for the different zones. Using floor plans we designed photorealistic renders of the proposed furniture in situ enabling the client to see how the seating would look and function in their space. This supported the visualisation of the colour palette and fabric selection, allowing consonance between primary and accent colours used for the furniture, flooring, and soft furnishings throughout. Our upholstery expertise and in-house product design capabilities enabled us to create bespoke seating for specialist areas, including upholstered cushions for the communal pods, bench, and banquette seating. Working collaboratively with joinery teams we ensured a perfect fit. By advising on foam grades and materials we created the deep-sit luxury feel required for the seating in the leisure rooms. Working closely with the main contractor we flexed our production schedule to meet the changing demands of the project’s evolution, reworking bespoke product dimensions as tradesmen completed their phases of the project and provided temporary storage facilities when rooms were not yet complete and ready for install.
