East Street

Designed and delivered by Gary and the architectural team at Stelling Properties while Head of Technical Architecture and Sustainability, working with and leading the in-house architectural team, High Street is a major student residential development within Southampton's historic city centre. The approved scheme was redesigned and developed technically and supported through construction by the internal team.

The scheme combines the refurbishment of an existing building with a new-build addition, creating 100 student studios together with a generous collection of communal spaces. Rather than treating the retained and new elements as separate projects, the design sought to create a coherent piece of city architecture that strengthens the High Street frontage and responds carefully to its sensitive historic setting.

Located within the Old Town North Conservation Area, close to the Grade I listed Bargate and Southampton's medieval town walls, the architecture was developed through a close reading of the surrounding streetscape. Strong vertical proportions, clearly defined bays and horizontal banding establish a façade hierarchy that reflects the rhythm of neighbouring historic plots without resorting to imitation.

Brick is central to the building's identity. A restrained buff palette is given depth through recessed panels, soldier courses and projecting brickwork, allowing shadow and texture to animate the elevations throughout the day. Dark-framed windows and carefully controlled metal elements provide a contemporary counterpoint, while the upper level is set back to reduce the perceived scale of the building within the street.

At street level, the building establishes a strong and legible entrance while introducing active communal uses behind the façade. Internally, the ground floor is organised around a sequence of social and study spaces including a lounge, games area, TV room, study room, kitchen, coffee station and internal courtyard, creating a varied shared environment alongside the private accommodation above.

The interiors continue this more residential approach. Changes in level, integrated seating, colour, timber finishes and carefully designed lighting create spaces with distinct identities rather than a single institutional aesthetic. The result is a series of environments intended to support socialising, studying and quieter occupation throughout the day.

The upper floors are organised around an efficient and disciplined residential layout, coordinating new accommodation with the retained building, circulation cores and existing structure. The architectural team carried the project through detailed technical development, coordinating architecture, structure, specialist systems and construction interfaces as the scheme moved from design into delivery.

High Street demonstrates how contemporary residential architecture can increase density within a constrained historic city centre while contributing positively to the character of the street combining contextual design, adaptive reuse and careful technical delivery within a single urban project.