Residential Block: Student Accommodation

Sector

Residential

Location

CBD, KZN

Year

2017

Design Lead

Client

Private Organization

The building expresses a contemporary, functional, and socially oriented architectural language rooted in visibility, movement, and collective life. Rather than a domestic or private character, the architecture openly communicates its role as shared student living, where circulation, social spaces, and activity are deliberately exposed and celebrated.

The building is composed as a compact, mid-rise volume with a gently curved primary façade, softening the overall mass and giving the building a recognizable identity.

The curvature introduces a sense of dynamism, reflecting the transitional and energetic nature of student life.

The massing is efficient and rational, prioritizing density and clarity while avoiding unnecessary articulation.

Circulation is treated not as a hidden service element, but as a social and visual spine:

Encouraging chance encounters
Enhancing orientation and legibility
Promoting informal social interaction

This approach reflects a “learning-through-living” ethos, where movement and occupation are part of the architectural experience.

The ground floor is highly transparent and open, establishing a strong connection between interior communal spaces and the public realm.

Active uses at this level (shared study areas, lounges, or social spaces) reinforce the building as a collective hub, not just accommodation.

Structural columns lift the mass above ground in places, creating shaded, semi-public areas that support informal gathering and social spillover.

The architectural language conveys:

Transparency – visually open circulation and communal spaces
Collectivity – shared terraces, decks, and social thresholds
Legibility – clear expression of structure and movement
Adaptability – simple forms capable of evolving with changing student needs