Set just off City Road in the Old Street area of London, our design for Thoresby Street proposes a striking 12-storey, brick-clad building providing high-quality student accommodation for Arcadia University. Well-proportioned rooms are supported by communal lounges, teaching facilities, shared amenity space and a roof terrace. At ground level, an active frontage engages the street, contributing to a more open, sociable public realm. Inspired by historic drawings, the stepped brick façade adds depth and texture, establishing a confident urban presence.
- Location
- Old Street, London
- Size
- 35,000 sqft
- Client
- Arcadia University
The site is currently occupied by Thoresby House, an unlisted remnant of the former Royal Chest Hospital. Much of the hospital was destroyed during the Second World War and later replaced by the Buxton Court housing scheme. While Thoresby House retained some curiosity value, it proved difficult to adapt for student use. The poorly insulated building is inaccessible, has no capacity for a lift and provides only 32 bed spaces. As a result, it was not considered fit for purpose when assessed against the public benefits of redevelopment.
Working closely with the London Borough of Hackney, the ambition was to deliver high-quality, accessible student accommodation that provides meaningful benefits to the local community. The scheme increases provision to 140 bed spaces and introduces flexible teaching and community space at mezzanine level, secured for local use in perpetuity. Communal kitchens, dining rooms, living areas and study spaces support day-to-day student life, while the overall ambition is to set a benchmark for future growth and development in the area.
The consented proposal replaces the existing heavy masonry structure with a new, highly efficient building that significantly improves capacity, accessibility and quality. Student rooms are designed to be light and well proportioned, supported by a range of shared spaces that encourage learning, social interaction and wellbeing. Communal facilities are distributed throughout the building to support everyday use and foster a sense of community.
Architecturally, the stepped brick façade draws on historic drawings of the former Royal Chest Hospital, acknowledging the site’s layered history without pastiche. Key heritage elements, including the original foundation stone and gates, are retained and re-used within the scheme. Together, these moves balance continuity and change, delivering clear public benefit through design quality, sustainability and social value.
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