Project Team
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Forbo, Interface, Textile Mania, Panaz, Tomrossau, Rebel Walls, Quintessenza Ceramiche, Formica, CRM Student, Watkins Jones, Moorfield, Melberry, FMS supply
Text provided by Ekho Studio
The project is a new-build scheme called Enso, located in the heart of Colchester and just minutes from the University of Essex campus. The brief for the interior was first to create a bright, airy and light-filled student amenity space on the building’s ground floor, incorporating thoughtfully-designed communal spaces aimed at encouraging social interaction. The amenities needed to promote relaxation and wellbeing and also offer a sense of balance to residents, with co-working spaces for individual study and team collaboration, lounge and seating areas and a gaming area and gym. The overall design was also to be environmentally low-impact, prioritising materials with strong recycled or recyclable credentials and low-energy manufacture and use.
For the project concept, the Ekho Studio team took primary inspiration from a sense of place, focusing particularly on Colchester’s rich Roman past. Simple forms from this visual design language, particularly the ‘arch’ motif, were used horizontally and vertically to create interest, whilst a series of layered vistas add a sense of depth, with repeat patterns. Within this, the studio emphasised the toasty burnt oranges and shades of pink from traditional earthenware terracotta and complemented this with the natural greens and blues of Colchester’s surrounding countryside.
