"We wanted to create an interior that was edgy and fresh but wholly functional. The talented designers have tuned into the small details too, incorporating features that represent Leicesters heritage"
Sowgol Zarinchang
The first glimpse inside Leicester’s new £43 million apartment block has now been revealed.
Stunning images of The Wullcomb, Leicester’s first purpose-built Build to Rent scheme (‘BTR’) opposite Highcross in Vaughan Way, reveal stylish interiors and spacious living areas with luxurious touches.
The scheme is owned by Long Harbour, delivered in partnership with local developer Sowden, Winvic Construction and Franklin Ellis as lead architect.
The look of the apartments and interior’s is that of CRTKL, which has created refined furnishings, state-of-the-art technology along with a welcoming colour palette throughout.
Much of the inspiration behind the stylish design has come from Leicester’s rich industrial history. For example, a stylised knitted pattern can be found throughout the building, reflecting the heritage of the city’s hosiery and clothing manufacturing industry.
Tenants moving into one of the 297 one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as the thoughtfully designed studios on offer, will also benefit from spacious modern kitchen and living areas and a luxurious bathroom suite.
Open to customers later this summer, the homes come with furnished or unfurnished options, with those choosing the furnished option able to take full advantage of the designer’s vision.
CRTKL are a multi-discipline design practice with offices in London and Manchester as well as other cities across the globe including Dubai, Shanghai and New York.
They have extensive experience in the residential sector in both master planning and interior design, delivering everything from luxury condominiums and ground-breaking rental properties to senior housing.
Always designing with the end user in mind, these high-performing residential buildings support communities and build critical connections to surrounding uses and offer vibrant and inviting places to live.
The scheme will be managed by Long Harbour’s in-house management company Way of Life.
“The team at CRTKL have more than delivered on our vision,” said Way of Life Managing Director Sowgol Zarinchang.
“We wanted to create an interior that was edgy and fresh but wholly functional. The talented designers have tuned into the small details too, incorporating features that represent Leicester’s heritage.”
The company’s Residential Director, John Badman, worked very closely with Long Harbour and Way of Life on a joint vision for The Wullcomb.
“When we arrive at a new location, it’s extremely important to contribute to a community and understand what makes a place unique. We apply a humanist-driven design process to better understand how people live and their values, to create places and amenities that will connect with them, their neighbourhood and their lifestyles.
“A lot of the materials, colours and textures used throughout The Wullcomb were inspired by the hosiery and clothing manufacturing industry that the city is known for.
“We have taken a playful and colourful approach to the apartments. They are calming, stylish and understated, which come together to reinforce the ideals of home.”
Other features of the development include a cinema room, a shared living area called The Perch and a rooftop terrace with a wood-fired pizza oven, reflecting Way of Life’s drive to create a sense of community among its residents.
After exploring the buy-to-let market currently available in Leicester, the company is thrilled to have a presence in such a vibrant city.
“Among the sea of student accommodation, there was a noticeable need for an apartment complex that raised the benchmark for quality but was accessible and which embraced Leicester’s thriving city culture, something The Wullcomb offers,” Sowgol added.
Artistically designed on the outside too, thanks to Nottingham-based Franklin Ellis Architects, The Wullcomb is spread across five, seven, ten and twelve storey buildings.
Jon Crabb, the associate partner at Franklin Ellis Architects, said: “We are very proud to be part of The Wullcomb development, which represents a significant investment in Leicester and sets a new benchmark for high quality city living accommodation.
“It has been fantastic to work with Long Harbour and its team, whose wide experience in the private rental sector has been key in shaping the design of the building.
“Creating a new focal point on the approach into the city along Vaughan Way, the scheme was welcomed by the city with the hope that it would inspire further development towards the waterside, and it is pleasing to see other developments rising around it.”
