Uninest Dubai Land

Location
Dubai, UAE
Client
Global Student Accommodation
Completion
2015
Size
424 beds

Uninest: the first purpose built student accommodation scheme in the UAE.

The first project for Global Student Accommodation (GSA) in the UAE, although they have an extensive 7,000 bed portfolio in the UK and Australia, Uninest Dubailand is the first purpose built student accommodation in the UAE, located within the Dubai Land Residences Complex.

The ‘H’ shaped 424 bed building features a roof level pool and terrace, a gymnasium, food and beverage facilities, and communal spaces that take advantage of views towards the coast, the Dubai skyline and the Burj Khalifa. Vibrant colours have been used for the décor, with a combination of both quiet areas and collaboration areas for students to study.

It is 10 storeys high and includes two basement levels providing car parking facilities. The accommodation consists of single occupancy en-suite fully furnished, and twin occupancy en-suite fully furnished rooms in varying apartment sizes with open plan kitchen / living spaces.

A number of larger studios rooms with self-contained kitchenettes are also available. Generous communal facilities are provided in the building including a pool, quiet rooms, study areas complete with mac stations, a coffee shop and two roof terraces. Interior design and landscaping are also being provided by Stride Treglown in this multidisciplinary effort.

The façade, a staggered fenestrated window arrangement, points to the roadside and entry point. This main elevation is wrapped and cloaked by an architectural ‘frame’ which defines the key accommodation, folding up and over the building from the South-East to the North-West facade, with Uninest’s signature colour branding to the underside.

At roof level, the architectural frames provide shading opportunities to amenity space, including the prefabricated swimming pool which was lowered into place by crane, with the extruded lip creating a veil of shade at high sun level down the main building façade.

The end elevations of the ‘H’ arrangement are split to form twin vertical components. To the South-East, components of each wing are fully opaque, ensuring that low level eastern solar gain is minimised. To the North-West, glazing is introduced to the inner section only of both wings to provide an open framed elevation, capitalising on the potential for distant views of the city.

In addition to the roof-level amenities, outdoor space is offered at first floor level with provision of a North-West orientated terrace. At ground level, the main building entrance and reception is defined by a cantilevered concrete canopy, and the adjacent food and beverage facility is given main street visibility combined with side access through a landscaped garden.