A new chapter in student living with Forbo

The purpose-built Enso student accommodation scheme in Colchester was designed to encourage social interaction and offer a sense of balance through the creation of bright and airy interior spaces. Balancing this design brief with sustainability, Forbo’s Marmoleum flooring acted as the grounding material that tied all the spaces together.  

Delivered by Melberry Development Management and Moorfield Group, Colchester’s Enso is a purpose-built scheme, with a blend of flexible ‘together’ spaces and generous rooms allowing students to meet, study, relax and enjoy views over the city.  

Ekho Studio was appointed to design and deliver the interior finishes across the central areas, with an emphasis on creating spaces that encourage social interaction and promote relaxation and well-being. The design consultancy was also tasked with creating the look and feel for the scheme’s 282 student rooms, devising a colour palette that would tie in harmoniously.  

Rachel Withey, Founding Partner at Ekho Studio, said: “This was an incredibly special project for us, being the first student accommodation scheme we had worked on. It was fantastic to be a part of, especially considering we were given relatively free rein by the client – they were very open to doing something different and bringing a unique, contemporary and attractive identity to the space.” 

For the project concept, the team took inspiration from a sense of place, with a particular focus on Colchester’s rich and historic Roman past. Nature formed the second thread, with the surrounding countryside full of strong textures and dramatic forms and colours.  

Marmoleum is Forbo’s own brand of linoleum, manufactured from up to 98% natural raw materials and independently certified as climate positive (carbon negative), from cradle to gate, without offsetting. Available in sheet and modular tile formats, Marmoleum is available in over 300 colours and more than 12 different structures.  

Ekho Studio specified a range of colourways across the scheme, including Agate, Granada and Oyster Mountain from Forbo’s Marmoleum Vivace collection, the manufacturer’s liveliest and most outspoken blend.  

www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/marmoleum