Marble Works

Student accommodation that's good for Derby, for students, and our clients bottom line.

2020

Commercial

Leisure

Marble Works mixed-use development with brick facade, green living wall, ground floor retail, and pink cladding tower

From eyesore to asset: there's romance in restoring old buildings, but there's profit in knowing when to start over.

Our clients site was screaming potential—though admittedly through boarded-up windows and a rather impressive collection of weeds. It had been quietly hemorrhaging value for twenty years with three derelict 18th-century buildings that had seen better centuries, creating more problems than profit and giving "period character" a thoroughly bad name.

Sitting on the secondary gateway into the city center and just two minutes from the University of Derby, this was a prime piece of real estate.

Location

Derby City Centre

Status

Planning Approved

Services

Architectural Design

3D Visualisation

Planning

Area

22,000 sqft

Modern lobby lounge with colorful abstract graffiti mural, modular seating, and people working and walking with luggage

Modern mixed-use development featuring brick Marble Works building alongside living green wall facade and copper-clad tower

Understanding

Urban Context

Sixty-two purpose-built studios with ground-floor commercial space. Our design maximizes every square meter without making anybody feel like they're living in a shipping container. Five floors delivering 2,048 sqm of rentable space from a 503 sqm footprint—that's the kind of smart density that makes planning officers suspicious but ultimately impressed.

Compact but clever studio layouts optimize space efficiency while the rooftop garden and ground-floor cafe create lifestyle differentiators that justify premium rents.

We've respected the local heritage character through traditional brick facades with contemporary detailing. Soldier course features between windows nod to local vernacular while chameleon rain screen cladding and green living walls add modern contrast.

Modern mixed-use buildings featuring brick facades with living green walls and copper-toned metal cladding panels

Upward view of modern building with purple metallic panel facade and narrow vertical window, airplane crossing blue sky

Modern building facade featuring extensive living green wall with lush vegetation framed by brown brick columns and windows

Smart Construction

Hybrid concrete and steel frame construction with Metsec metal infill systems delivers speed and cost efficiency. Because time really is money, especially when you're paying interest on development loans.

Brick slip cladding on carrier boards gives authentic masonry appearance without the weight penalties or extended build programs of traditional construction. All the charm in half the time.

This approach cuts construction time while maintaining quality and durability. Faster build means earlier rental income. Lighter cladding systems reduce foundation requirements and overall frame costs.

The cafe creates daytime footfall and community integration—crucial for planning approval in urban locations. Ground-floor commercial space diversifies income potential and provides exit flexibility for when your investment strategy inevitably evolves.

Why This Works

It's student accommodation that's expansion-proof. University growth means guaranteed demand for quality housing.

Location drives demand: walking distance to campus eliminates transport costs students can't afford. City center proximity means entertainment, shopping, and nightlife on the doorstep. No parking provision keeps development costs down while appealing to car-free student demographics who think insurance is just a theoretical concept anyway.

This isn't just student housing—it's proof that thoughtful regeneration delivers returns while creating places people really want to live. It's revolutionary stuff, really.

Modern coffee shop interior with industrial ceiling, neon signage, exposed brick, greenery accents, and patrons at tables

Modern mixed-use brick building with layered facade, large storefront windows, and vertical brick columns against blue sky

Upward view of modern brick apartment building with rectangular windows against blue sky with airplane flying overhead

Modern brick building facade with tall vertical windows featuring dark metal frames arranged in a rhythmic pattern

Modern brick building with Marble Works signage alongside white residential buildings, street view with parked vehicles

Want to see more?

Explore more of our innovative and sustainable architectural projects.

Ready To Talk?

How it works (Because "get in touch" shouldn't feel like a leap of faith)

01. Talk One conversation to understand your project, your budget, and whether we're the right fit. No obligation. No sales pitch.

02. Design Everything built around your brief. We sketch, develop, and refine — with check-ins before anything is fixed. You stay in control without getting buried in the detail.

03. Deliver Through planning, building regs, and into construction. We handle the process. You make the decisions that matter.

Get in touch today