Arts student Eloise Moore has recently completed her Interior Design and Styling degree at Arts University Plymouth, and her final project majored on the global challenge of affordable housing, with an emphasis on comfort and safety at home for everyone.
The first part of her final project was to develop an initial idea and project which would be communicated to her ‘client’ through a presentation board, and Eloise designed a community café and foodbank.
The design for her Final Major was an extension of this project, which incorporated design factors for the community as well as residential. Eloise selected Plymouth Community Homes to be her client for her project, which was named ‘Dock’, an affordable, accessible and sustainable community and residential space in Devonport.
The ground floor of Dock incorporated a range of different activities and areas for individuals to use throughout the day, including the sustainable café and foodbank, as well as an outside area for them to use free of charge. The residential levels incorporated a range of different size apartments which are fully furnished and ready for inhabitants to move into.
Eloise's presentation board - final major university project
Eloise designed 22 apartments which were ready for individuals to move into, and the apartment types included studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. She designed each property with comfort in mind, to create a space where people will want to return to feel safe no matter their circumstances.
She told us more about why she wanted to focus on affordable housing for her Final Major and her experience living in Plymouth for the last three years.
Eloise said: “I was lucky to be given full creative control of my final major project at university, and I wanted to develop my initial idea of the foodbank and community café to include other social issues, including housing. When I first started looking at affordable housing in the city, Plymouth Community Homes was mentioned as the largest social housing landlord here in Plymouth, and I started to look into what they do. As I had to design my project as if it was for a ‘client’, the ethos and vision of Plymouth Community Homes matched what I had in mind perfectly, both commercially and residentially.
“Following this idea, I contacted Plymouth Community Homes, and the team were really helpful in answering questions on how they work to give more of a background and insight to inspire my project.
Dock, Eloise's final major university project, inspired by Plymouth Community Homes.
“Following months of hard work, my project ‘Dock’ was brought to life, and in June I presented my project at our Arts University Plymouth Interior Design and Styling Graduates Show 2024, which was attended by colleagues in the Communications and Marketing team at Plymouth Community Homes. I am delighted to have graduated from university with a 2:1 and I got a First on this project, also winning an award from my lecturers for most innovative design.
Eloise is originally from Warwick and chose to attend Arts University Plymouth as she has a passion for Interior Design.
Eloise explained: “The course I selected wasn’t just an Interior Design and Architecture course, it was so much more than that and included styling. I have really enjoyed living in Plymouth and have lived in three different locations across the city during my time here, including Plymouth Hoe, the City Centre and opposite the university. I felt safe living in Plymouth, and I will be sure to be back to visit the city.”
Find out more about Eloise here.
