MAA has submitted plans for Urban Livings new 48 units scheme developed in close collaboration with Ealing Council and looking to set a new standard for Co-Living within the borough. Located close to Hanger Lane, the site’s potential is realised through a double basement to further enhance communal spaces. A dedicated cycle lift at the main entrance gives direct access to the second basement store, also housing a gym studio and games room alongside the laundry facilities at this level.
Setting this scheme by Urban Livings apart from other projects is a double-height communal area on the top floors. The residents find themselves in a space offering a reading snug suitable for home working, seating overlooking terrace planting, coffee station with bar style seating and a sheltered roof terrace directly adjacent. A further larger roof terrace at the mezzanine level provides them with additional space for social gatherings. These multifunctional spaces hold the key to delivering meaningful communal facilities in a manageable scale development
Shared living is nothing new so what makes Co-living so desirable for young professionals in the current market? Unlike the typical house or flatshare, Co-living is a new emerging build-to-rent accommodation that provides compact self-contained units with the added benefit of communal spaces.
Co-Living is focussed around the concept of sharing spaces that encourage residents to socialise and work together. Gyms, cafes, Cinema rooms and roof terraces are all included at no extra cost for the use of residents with each individual having their own compact self-contained apartment. Co-living as a result will always be cheaper than traditional rent, offering flexible short-term tenancy’s inclusive of all costs for a single price.
Planning policy is yet to catch up with this emerging typology, with little precedent to draw upon current schemes are informing the future for this type of accommodation through collaboration with Councils. Ealing is one such borough pioneering the establishment of Co-living within the city with a handful of schemes in operation and more in the pipeline.
Responding to an important demographic and adding to the large variety of housing options within the city, Co-Living is an emerging trend for the rental market, and this is just the beginning!
Matthew Allchurch Architects (MAA) were commissioned by Urban Living to develop this innovative co-living scheme in Ealing.
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