Summit House, City Centre, Cardiff

Conversion of an Office Tower into Student Accommodation

Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation
Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation

Contrasting and Complementing

Commissioned by a large London-based provider, this project involved remodelling a disused office tower as student accommodation and adding an extension to increase the number of rooms.

The extension’s contemporary and almost minimalist character deliberately contrasts with – but complements – that of the original building. A fully glazed stair tower is used to link the two structures.

Our design also includes a rooftop pavilion, with penthouse rooms, and a Mondrian-inspired window pattern that helps to animate the elevations. At street level it provides for a gym and other shared facilities, creating a lively and defensible urban space.

Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation

Project Requirements

In addition to designing the new structures and internal layouts, we negotiated and obtained the necessary planning permissions. We collaborated closely with a large team of architects and engineers to overcome technical challenges, develop design details and meet planning conditions.

Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation
Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation
Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation

Three Dimensions

Our sophisticated 3D software helped us model ideas for each individual room. We then turned to an interior designer, based in Cornwall, to select furniture and finishes for a generous, high-quality effect.

Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation

Working with a multidisciplinary team in a different city proved to be an enjoyable challenge and together we produced a very satisfying result.

Cardiff Summit house: Conversion into student accommodation