Recreating Domestic Comfort

By Editorial Staff - 20 April 2026
HAY has participated in the project

A student residence that serves as a gateway to the wider Wembley masterplan, Canvas Arthur House centers on connecting to nature, social life, physical activity, and mindfulness. The project aims to establish a new benchmark for next generation student housing – a place where residents feel at home in welcoming, livable spaces defined by rich textures and materials. Designed by HTA Design with interiors by TiggColl, the project prioritizes daylighting and colors, which were carefully selected to give each corridor and room a distinct identity while still recalling those of the common areas.

The complex provides 770 beds and combines social spaces with areas dedicated to personal well-being. At the intersection of Rutherford Way and Fulton Road, the site has an angular footprint. Within it, the design places a 20 story tower on the north side for student accommodation and a south facing podium with a roof garden for shared facilities.

Canvas Arthur House student residence © James Retief, courtesy TiggColl

The ground floor houses the reception, a student lounge, coworking areas, study rooms, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, a gym, and a yoga studio. Combining cherry wood panels, honey toned oak floors, and white wall finishes, the material palette creates elegant interiors. Artwork, built-in and freestanding furniture, and carefully selected accessories introduce color and character while strengthening the building’s relationship with its urban setting. Beginning with brighter hues in the reception and main lounge, the palette softens toward the inner section of this floor to create a quieter atmosphere suited to concentration and study. Custom-furniture shapes and details follow this chromatic and perceptual transition, guiding users intuitively deeper into the building.

The lounge is anchored by a sculptural spiral staircase that invites students to climb to the upper level and creates continuity and flow between the two floors. Conceived as a place for reflection and connection with nature, the second level includes an events space and a dining room that both open onto a terrace. The building’s oblique façades and offset interior walls create a large open-plan space in which separate zones seamlessly unfold one after the other. Exposed ceilings reveal the London sky, brightening the interiors and emphasizing the building’s verticality.

Canvas Arthur House student residence © James Retief, courtesy TiggColl

The taller building hosts student accommodation. Ranging from standard to premium types, and available in different sizes and configurations, each room conveys a sense of welcome. Designed more as self contained studio apartments than bedrooms, each unit includes a kitchenette and a private bathroom. Wood details, soft textiles, built-in shelving, and headboards encourage students to personalize their rooms.

By combining high quality design, a broad range of shared amenities, and a clear focus on sustainability, Canvas Arthur House establishes the foundations for a future-oriented student community. David Tigg, director and founder of TiggColl with Rachel Coll, explains that the spaces were designed to stimulate new individual and collective experiences and to create memorable moments for students: “Our ambition was not only to create a series of interconnected and best-in-class amenities for Canvas Arthur House, but to provide an authentic and sustainable
home-from-home experience for residents studying in London”.

Canvas Arthur House student residence | © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | A welcoming lounge area with honey-colored oak floors and a warm color palette invites students to take a break and chat. At the center of the space, a sculptural spiral staircase leads to the second level. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | Large tables and comfortable, rose toned seating define the coworking areas and study rooms on the first floor, which offer an intimate, quiet atmosphere for concentration and learning. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification, the complex provides residential units and shared amenities that support a sustainable, community centered student lifestyle. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | Skylights span the ceilings of the common areas, admitting natural light and linking the interior and exterior spaces. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | Hay’s Soft Edge 60 chair was selected for the student rooms. Its sculpted wooden seat and back provide comfort, while its robust, stackable design suits both private rooms and public or contract settings. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Canvas Arthur House student residence | A dark wood wall finish contrasting with chairs in lighter tones characterizes the dining room interiors on the second floor, where soft, even lighting creates an atmosphere ideal for socializing. © James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

Location: London, United Kingdom
Client: Greystar
Completion: 2025
Architect: HTA Design
Interior Designer: TiggColl
Main Contractor: McAleer & Rushe

Consultants
Structural: Walsh
M&E: Caldwell
Landscape: Gross.Max.

Photography: James Retief, courtesy of TiggColl

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