Space innovation studio Jasper Sanders + Partners has reinvented the narrative for premium post-graduate student living, with the completion of a new scheme located at 16-18 Potterrow in Edinburgh for client Curlew Capital.

Sited opposite the University of Edinburgh Campus and a mere 10-minute stroll from Waverley Station, 16-18 Potterrow has already been shortlisted for four major UK design and property awards.

‘We believe this project sets a new bar for this sector’ Jasper Sanders, practice Founder/Director, commented. ‘Comprised of 151 meticulously-crafted studio apartments spread across six floors, the new residence exudes sophistication and offers a premium living experience, which has been especially tailored for older - and often international - post- graduate students. The scheme clearly responds to the wonderful city around it, as well as to Scotland itself, through subtle cues that evoke the surrounding landscape and architectural fabric and the city’s great cultural history.’

Brief:

Curlew Capital commissioned ADP Architecture and Jasper Sanders + Partners to undertake this project jointly, with a brief to reconfigure a former cluster-flat layout in the 8-storey building, where the flats had previously featured shared facilities, including kitchens and bathrooms. The transformation sought to create instead 151 boutique studio apartments, each boasting its own bathroom and kitchen, along with expanded communal facilities, with the overall intention to re-position 16-18 Potterrow to appeal to the city’s premium post-grad market.

The building, dating from 2017, when it was purchased by the client as a new-build, underwent a comprehensive cladding replacement treatment as part of the remodelling, under the aegis of ADP Architecture, who also space-planned the new internal layout, whilst Jasper Sanders + Partners developed the interiors concept for all communal areas – including a gym, media room, yoga room, games room and a communal lounge and dining area – as well as designing the interior layout of each individual apartment, most of which necessitated a slightly different and individual configuration.

‘This project really is a testament to thoughtful redevelopment’ Jasper Sanders commented, ‘with the results emerging victoriously from all previous challenges, including being marred by both cladding issues and poorly planned rooms. In a sense, the whole project began because of these issues, with the need to replace the building’s insulation leading to the idea of a total transformation whilst the building was out of use. That led in due course to the superior accommodation now on offer to inhabitants – as well as to increased revenue for the developer, ensuring the scheme’s upgrade was for the benefit of all parties.’

Design Approach:

Rebecca Finney, Creative Director at Jasper Sanders + Partners, led the team’s development of a new design narrative for the interiors. ‘At its core,’ Rebecca explained, ‘the new narrative draws inspiration from the vibrant tapestry of Scotland's cultural heritage - from the rugged terrain of the highlands to the storied elegance of Edinburgh itself. Every aspect of the residence now pays homage to the nation and city's rich history.’

Eight strands of inspiration were brought together by the design team in order to create the scheme’s elegant outcome. These include ideas that were:
Experimental – reflecting the city’s long allegiance with pushing boundaries in the creative arts
Layered – relating to the layers of history in the Scottish landscape and particularly to the long usage of the nation’s peatlands
Distilled – referencing the heritage of one of the nation’s most famous exports – ‘Scotch’ whisky
Atmospheric – from the drama of Edinburgh’s streets to its celebrated theatre scene
Dark – A city’s architecture built not only on history, but on top of a mass of underground tunnels and vaults

Energetic – Edinburgh has enormous energy!
Tactile – the thistle; the nation’s national emblem, which is both tactile and sharp and whose colour tones and graceful silhouette were a particular inspiration
Dramatic – from the highlands to Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat, Scotland’s landscape offers pure drama.

The individual layouts of the new studios meant a lot of challenging work was needed at the planning stage in order to create a reduced number of fitted furniture systems, bed and kitchen typologies, whilst at the same time respecting the intent to avoid repetition.

Lighting is a particularly strong feature in the finished scheme, with drama added through narrow, semi-hidden strips of LED light throughout, set into ceilings and floors, as well as backlit, large-scale, feature wall-art circles in a battered metal finish. These have proved to be particularly beloved by the scheme’s new Chinese residents, interpreted as a representation of the rising sun – a serendipitous-if-accidental result! 

The colour purple features in select areas of the lighting for added ultra-violet drama, including the sculptural use of vertical rods on the ground and sixth floor walls, whilst the colour has also been used for specific details, from room numbers to bespoke purple pool balls. The use of the colour means that the scheme delivers a clear sense of place whilst dialling down any overly-literal use of logos or brand collateral.

‘Textures are also a huge part of the materiality of the scheme’ Rebecca added, ‘and play a significant role in its elevation towards a more hotel ambience. Stand-out features include the battered-metal panels to the rear of the reception desk, for example, as well as the desk’s front panel, created by Smile Plastics and using 100% recycled and recyclable plastics, with the material featuring again along the edges of the bespoke sixth-floor dining table.’

In addition to its aesthetic allure, 16-18 Potterrow boasts a wealth of amenities designed to enrich the student experience. From tranquil study lounges to vibrant social spaces, each area has been expressly designed to foster a sense of community and belonging. The sixth-floor communal dining and lounge area also offers panoramic views of the city and serves as a testament to the project's commitment to excellence