TOWN AND GOWNThe Studentification of

Urban Space

Tina Richardson

Studentification“Student housing is defined as any housing that is solely intended

to provide accommodation for students attending college or

university, and it creates an environment where social

connections, independency and learning to live with people take

place.”

Studentification appears when “entrepreneurial landlords and

property investors accelerate the supply of private rented student

housing to exploit the accommodation needs of students in

specific locales.”

Kola Ijasan and Vian Ahmed

The Young Ones

…sex, drugs and rock and roll

Huddersfield…

…or a university town near you

Castings House

Owner: Prodigy Living | Architect: Watkin Jones

Selling a Lifestyle“We want all of our residents to have the best time of their lives living in our

communities. For many of you it could be the first time you’ve left home and for

some it will even mean starting a life in a whole new country. We will always do

everything we can to make your experience as positive, exciting, fun and rewarding

as possible.

That’s why we organise socials to help you find your friends for life, why we have

helpful, friendly staff who will support you in every way they can and why we always

do our best to anticipate your needs and make sure you feel safe and looked after in

your new home.

We pride ourselves on exceptional service, our team are right there when you need

them, and our prices are highly competitive. We want you to have the life-changing

experience you deserve whilst at University, which is why we offer world-class

exceptional living to students from all over the world.”

Prodigy Living Website

The Aesthetics of Student Living

Aesthetic Capitalism“Aesthetic Capitalism explores the aestheticization of economic

life under contemporary capitalism and the use of aesthetic

thinking in understanding commerce, organization, work and

marketing. It explores art and the new spirit of capitalism; visual

culture and the experience economy; aesthetics and

organisations; the art of fiscal management; capitalism without

myth; and architecture in the age of aesthetic capitalism.”

Peter Murphy and Eduardo de la Fuente

Aesthetics is a Mode of ProductionWhen student housing is sold, it is not just the accommodation itself that is sold, but

also the lifestyle. This lifestyle includes a number of factors, such as: the fully

serviced property, the collective involvement of living with other students, and the

aesthetics of the overall experience of living within the space itself.

This means that as well as the tangible ‘goods and services’ something in addition is

being sold. This intangible ‘experience’ or ‘lifestyle’ is a concept that cannot be

measured until one lives in the accommodation. In a sense it is the new surplus that

exists as aesthetic capitalism.

We already understand this through the concept of branding, especially with

designer brands. The thing itself is as much what it represents as it is an object

(probably more so). In the case of the student living experience this is explicitly,

rather than implicitly suggested. Hence aesthetics is a mode of production.

Tina Richardson

The Priory - Leeds

The Priory – Unite Students

Unite Group“Set in a stunning Grade ll-listed building which blends historical architecture

with modern, stylish décor The Priory offers a mixture of luxurious studios

and one bedroom apartments.

The Priory boasts a huge communal area with beautiful original features

including stained glass windows. The space has just been redesigned to

include a games area, screening lounge with Sky TV and study areas.

The property has 24-hour security cover and our on-site customer service

and maintenance teams are on hand if you need them.

All bills and Wi-Fi are included in your rent in one simple bill, making

budgeting easier.”

Unite Students Website

The Priory of St Wilfred

Architect: Temple Moore 1904 | Gothic Revival

Unite Group – Strapline“We’re committed to providing you with a ‘Home for Success’ - enabling you to

achieve more from your time at university, whether this means academic

achievement, personal growth or being ready for life after university.

To make sure you get the most from your time at Unite Students we’re constantly

working to ensure things like maintenance, noise levels and being open when you

need us are our top priorities.

We all have a responsibility to be considerate of our neighbours, the property, and

the local area - we want you to enjoy your time with Unite Students as much as

possible and we need your help to make sure that everyone else enjoys theirs too.

Making ‘Home for Success’ a reality relies on everyone working together to build a

community of respect for one another…”

Unite Students Website

The Studentification of Urban Space

‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson

capital

(economics)

urban

space

aesthetics

The Studentification of Urban Space

‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson

capital

(economics)

urban

space

aesthetics

capital accumulation

space as commodity

contributes to the spatial economy

homogenisation of urban space

The Studentification of Urban Space

‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson

capital

(economics)

urban

space

aesthetics

capital accumulation

space as commodity

contributes to the spatial economy

homogenisation of urban space

ambiguous ownership

selling a lifestyle

branding

aesthetic capitalism

The Studentification of Urban Space

‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson

capital

(economics)

urban

space

aesthetics

capital accumulation

space as commodity

contributes to the spatial economy

homogenisation of urban space

ambiguous ownership

selling a lifestyle

branding

aesthetic capitalism

manufacturing a sense of place

conflate the city and living space (brand)

an ideological intervention

The Studentification of Urban Space

‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson

capital

(economics)

urban

space

aesthetics

capital accumulation

space as commodity

contributes to the spatial economy

homogenisation of urban space

ambiguous ownership

selling a lifestyle

branding

aesthetic capitalism

manufacturing a sense of place

conflate the city and living space (brand)

an ideological intervention

£

What do the experts say?Space is “neither a ‘subject’ nor an ‘object’ but rather a social reality – that is

to say, a set of relations and forms.”Henri Lefebvre

Marxist Philosopher and Situationist

“The selling and branding of place, and the burnishing of the image of

place…becomes integral to how capitalist competition works.”David Harvey

Marxist Geographer

Postmodern architecture is “the point at which what is culture and what is

capital cannot be distinguished in any useful way.”Reinhold Martin

Professor of Architecture

CONTACTwww.schizocartography.org