The UK’s best student accommodation

It is once more that time of year when starry-eyed youngsters leave the parental home en masse. We are of course talking about moving to university, something that millions of homes across the globe are currently going through.

While much has been written on the trials and tribulations of moving out and meeting new people, little coverage is given to the environment in which this takes place. The majority of new students take up residence in student halls, and here we take a look at three of the UK’s most architecturally stunning.

We start with the Cripps Building at Cambridge University. Deigned by Powell & Moya, and opened in 1967, the building’s stone-wall façade houses huge picture windows, offering a glimpse into the inhabitants’ studious lives. The open-plan ground floors and roof terraces allow for a spacious retreat, ensuring relaxation is never far away.

Secondly, we have Oxford University’s Florey building – a beacon of architectural ingenuity. Its odd, almost spaceship-like shape came about as a result of Lord Florey’s request of a building that would be “admired by architects”. This was certainly achieved by architect James Stirley, and it remains a favourite residence to this day.

Finally, we move away from Oxbridge and head East to Norfolk, and the University of East Anglia’s Norfolk Terrace. Sitting proud on a hill overlooking the campus’ expansive lake, these residences take the form of miniature Mayan pyramids – or “architectural hills and valleys” as designer Denys Lasdun coined them.

These innovative designs no doubt reflect their creativity onto their inhabitants, and create an inspiring setting for one of the most important moments of a young person’s life.

Wordsearch is the world’s leading creative agency for architectural and real estate marketing.