I’ve written here before about high specification student accommodation which seems to be getting more and more luxurious. As is often the case US higher education offers some extreme examples of provision and perhaps some pointers to future UK developments.
For example there is this rather over the top decoration in the dormitories at the University of Mississippi:
At some University of Mississippi residence halls, there is a tradition of making dormitory rooms worthy of interior design magazines. That tradition went public Wednesday when photos of one room went viral — and quite a debate followed.
The room in question belongs to two new students at the university: Abby Bozeman and Lindy Goodson. They posted a photo of their new home on campus on Twitter, and the photo spread there (with many admiring it, and others suggesting it was a bit too much)
“Color-coordinated patterns repeat on curtains, dressers and lampshades. Headboards and bed skirts, all custom made, compete for the honor of Least Necessary Thing in Any Room, Never Mind a College Dorm Room,” wrote Slate columnist Christina Cauterucci. “And the monograms! Oh, the monograms. Everyone’s got at least one enormous monogram, making what could have been the most distinct part of a room the least personal of all. Spend an hour or three going down this black hole, and you will either end up with a portfolio full of dorm goals or a throbbing sensation of all-encompassing nihilism.”
A completely different angle is offered by the College of Wooster (which sounds like a P G Wodehouse creation but is real) which offers really rather tiny rooms or ‘micro-dorms’:
Thomas Carlson-Reddig, global practice leader at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, explains that the concept of tiny living is based on using small spaces simply and deliberately. That goal is easy to accomplish when your living space is smaller than a parking spot—Carlson Redding’s firm helped design the pods at one residence hall at the College of Wooster (Wooster), which measure about 72 square feet for singles and 108 square feet for doubles.
While the pods aren’t exactly roomy, Laditka says they offer enough space for furniture and amenities. Each pod features a built-in bed, built-in desk, closet area, and space to store unused items.
“The pods just provide everything students need in a small space,” he says. “To me, that’s kind of what this modern living movement is all about. You have everything you need right there, and you don’t waste any space. But it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.”
Amanda Anyim is excited to be a micro-dorm resident.
“When I walked in, I thought it looked European-style, kind of like Ikea … I feel like I’m living the dream. It’s like living in a hotel,” she says. “I’m definitely getting my exercise climbing up on the [loft] bed, but it’s not a problem.”
Meanwhile in the UK I recently received a press release promoting luxury student accommodation by means of a link to the ever popular Great British Bake Off:
This ultimate baking battle leaves the nation drooling our way through autumn with passionate amateurs attempting to prove their baking prowess.
But you don’t have to be as dab handed with doughnuts as Chetna or creative with cakes as Nadiya to get your bake on; you can cook up a storm from your very own kitchen – even if you’re a student!
Forget small, grubby shared uni kitchens with a two ring gas hob and a mini fridge with only enough room for beer, cooking and dining facilities in today’s purpose built student accommodation such as that provided by Collegiate AC, have entered the 21st century.
The state-of-the-art kitchens are divine. The high-spec apartments come with contemporary high-gloss private kitchens that are perfect for living and studying. Alternatively, you can opt for a shared kitchen area that are fitted with large flat screen TV’s, breakfast bars, microwave and fridge freezer that are stylishly designed.
An amazing feature on offer at one of the sites in Newcastle, Plummer House, is the unique on-site cold room. Collegiate students are able to order their online shopping (with the free wi-fi of course) and have it delivered with no need to return home. Your food is kept as fresh as possible and it is the perfect tool to make your food truly delicious.
Now to serve your delightful creations in style. Collegiate Ac’s on-site private dinner party rooms are another astonishing feature to add to the list. Whether you want to impress visiting relatives or University friends, they provide the perfect ambiance to show off your baking skills.
A state-of-the-art kitchen, cinema room, private dining and a cold room, what more could today’s student ask for?
But there are challenges ahead for universities. Accommodation is a key part of the student experience and universities are rightly focusing effort on ensuring students have a decent living environment. However, students do sometimes take issue with the approaches taken by institutions as the new focus by NUS on rent levels shows:
Shelly Asquith, vice-president for welfare at the National Union of Students, said accommodation costs had increased by 18% between 2012-13 and 2015-16 and that rent strikes were now a key tactic for students. “Extortionate rents, coupled with course fees and other rising living costs, are now preventing lots of working-class students from attending university altogether, especially in cities such as London,” she said.
“According to our own figures at NUS, over 50% of students say they can’t afford their basic expenses of rent and other bills,” she told an event in south London, where students were learning how to hold a successful rent strike.
The Rent Strike Weekender event was designed to build on a success at UCL, where 1,000 students withheld payments as part of a five-month dispute. UCL’s management was eventually forced to back down, offering a range of concessions including rent freezes, and a £350,000 accommodation bursary for disadvantaged students.
It looks like rent strikes, last a major feature of the higher education landscape in the 1970s, might be making a comeback.
Student accommodation therefore looks like it will continue to be a central feature of both universities’ and students’concerns.
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