Before any design decisions were made, we were engaged to carry out an experience feasibility study for Keel Houses testing how the building should be understood, used and lived in by students and how shared spaces could genuinely support wellbeing, community and day-to-day operation.

Located along the Union Canal at Lower Gilmore Place, the ambition was to create a student residence that felt calm, human and sociable without over-promising or relying on superficial amenities. Our early work focused on understanding student behaviour, patterns of use, privacy thresholds and shared-space pressure points, ensuring the experience would work in practice as well as on plan. That experience logic became the foundation for the project.

From there, we developed the full brand identity, interior design and wayfinding strategy, ensuring every touchpoint felt connected, purposeful and easy to navigate. The brand’s clean, approachable aesthetic is reflected in a signage system that uses natural materials and a restrained colour palette, with subtle red accents providing moments of energy and clarity without visual noise.

Across the 69 student apartments, space was carefully optimised through bespoke joinery and smart storage, balancing efficiency with comfort. Integrated robe-headboard joinery with lighting, compact kitchens and well-considered bathrooms demonstrate how practical constraints were resolved without compromising quality or atmosphere.

Shared amenity spaces including cinema and games rooms, private dining and flexible lounges were designed to support different social rhythms, encouraging interaction while respecting the need for retreat. These spaces were shaped directly by the early experience testing, ensuring they felt genuinely usable rather than performative.

The result is a student co-living development where brand, space and operation align delivering a residence that feels welcoming, legible and lived-in from day one.