Its double trouble this month, as we not only bring you updates from May, but also April. The past two months have been filled with project updates, public arts, festivals, and student competitions.
April saw some progress with our Brighton scheme, Falmer Cottages. The new scheme will be a part of Brighton Film’s School community and is also in fantastic proximity to the train station for environmentally friendly travel.
Our contractor GMI, sent images of the Church Inn pub before demolition. Some of the pub features and brickwork will be used in an artwork to celebrate the history of the site. This will be overseen by our arts consultant Matthew Jarratt. Our ambition is to salvage and re-imagine the façade of Church Inn as a series of seats in the public realm.
We also got updates from our new scheme in Edinburgh, Jocks Lodge. Our new proposed 8 storey development will contain 170 beds including a rooftop breakout space, yoga studio, gym, cinema, bike storage with workshop, lounge, study booths and study spaces. The site is located at the corner of London Road and Restalrig Road South within the Jocks Lodge area of Edinburgh, to the east of the city centre on the way towards Portobello. Arts consultant Matthew Jarratt is looking to bring in a local artist Kenny Hunter, work with local studios and to re-use the existing Police Box that is currently onsite.
We are thrilled that our friends at the Norfolk & Norwich festival will be back this year! The festival will run from 17-30 May and there are some fantastic events and art exhibits, some of which are free. Alumno is proud to support the Membership Scheme for those age 18-25 who have been hard hit by the pandemic with opportunities curtailed and the university experience sadly reduced for many to on-line.
The end of April saw us get the green light to develop purpose-built managed student accommodation on Dogpool Lane in Birmingham. Planning permission has been granted by the local council for the £24 million project, which will redevelop a currently underused former BT brownfield site within the established Stirchley community. The new 24-hour managed residence will accommodate the growing number of students attending the local universities and dental hospital, taking pressure off private housing in the area. It will comprise a mix of cluster beds and single occupancy studio rooms for 167 residents, together with a reception and communal areas.
In collaboration with the Screen and Film School Brighton to create artworks to add relevance and character to the completed building. Organised by art curator Matthew Jarratt, who has commissioned community-focused artworks for several Alumno developments, a competition was recently launched inviting film school students to present ideas for lightbox displays and photography that will adorn the residence’s communal areas. The winners are Akira-Kai Kitazono, Maya Dodwell and Daniel Booroff.
And in celebration of summer and London finally re-opening. Along with Whittam Cox, we are pleased to announce that Beton House, Park Hill has been shortlisted for two awards at this year’s Insider Sheffield City Region Property event. The scheme, which was completed last year, is up for the Design Excellence Award and Outstanding Development of the Year.
Keep your eyes open next month’s blog!
