This duo of mixed-use residential apartment buildings at Ebb & Flow, Station Hill, Reading represent Vawdrey House’s most ambitious Build-to-Rent project to date.
The fifth project working alongside property manager Native Residential, Ebb & Flow lies within the flagship Station Hill development delivered by our client Lincoln MGT, a JV between Lincoln PropertyCompany and MGT Investment Management in the centre of Reading, located adjacent to Reading Elizabeth Line/CrossRail and Mainline Railway Station. The scheme design was created utilising Lincoln Property Company’s extensive global track record of investing in, developing and operating schemes in the Build toRent (BTR)/ multi-family sector. The buildings comprise 598 studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments alongside an impressive collection of communal spaces and resident amenities.
The Vawdrey House was brought in to inject Native’s signature values to the interiors of both the apartments and the communal areas following their appointment as operator of the scheme.
Concierge & reception
Co-working areas
Kitchen & dining areas
Lounge & function spaces
Show apartments
598 studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments
Communal spaces and resident amenities
Interior Design
Furniture & Accessories
‘...In my many years of operating BTR projects, I've never had as much positive feedback on the design of the spaces and the quality of the furnishings.’
While the development was still under construction, we worked with the incumbent architect, project team and main contractor to weave the Ebb & Flow brand into the buildings, through the joinery, furniture, lighting, paint schemes,branding and accessories.
The Ebb building (415 apartments) is the largest and was completed in 4 phases over Q3 & Q4 of 2023, with the first phase of 88 apartments being fully let before it was launched to market. This success was due in no small part to the design and quality of the show apartments, which we delivered ahead of the first phase launch.
The Flow building (183 apartments) contains the latest and most exclusive of the apartments. Launched in Q3 of 2024 this building has a differentiated exclusive design feel with the apartments and communal areas a step up from the Ebb apartment building, and with the amenities within Flow being exclusive to residents of Flow only.
With these two distinct building briefs and targeting a mix of tenants ranging from young professionals to international students as well as young families, the overall design scheme for both Ebb (415 apartments) & Flow (183 apartments) had to suit a wide variety of needs.
Innovative design combined with our ability to draw on an established network of supplier relationships and strong purchasing power enabled us to deliver high-quality, sustainable furniture packages for the apartments that offered our client, Lincoln Property Company and MGT Investment Management, attractive margins and enhanced returns.
Hard wearing and functional while feeling exclusive and stylish, the schemes deliver highly liveable homes with an enticing touch of aspirational lifestyle offered by the communal areas.
Small details that make a home infinitely more functional are considered from the start, such as entrance hall and coat hanging solutions within even the smallest studio apartment, comfortable and spacious L-shaped sofas, and bespoke headboards with integrated lighting, sockets and bedside tables (made to our design by Roger Lewis). Even window treatments considered to offer sheer curtains (by Regal Blinds) in the living areas for a softer feel. These small but key details transform 598 units into homes where every square metre of space is considered and optimised for the ultimate easy living experience.
With this level of success in leasing, before the development was even fully complete, we are confident that when Flow opens to residents later in 2024, Ebb & Flow will find itself the proud recipient of even more industry accolades.
Station Hill is one of the largest development projects in the South East, creating a vibrant district that brings a connected live-work-play experience and establishes a new gateway to Reading. It includes 625,000 sq ft (58,064 sq m) of best-in-class office space and up to 1,300 homes to accommodate over 8,000 employees and residents.
Within less than 10 months, Ebb (415 apartments) has reached 87% occupancy 365 of 415 as at 7th July. It has achieved an impressive rating of 4.75 on HomeViews, as well as being recognised by Homeviews as the most popular residential rental community in Reading, and tipped shortly be the most popular within the Southeast. All before the second building, Flow (183 apartments), was launched to market.
It will deliver a substantial two acres of public realm through a c.£50 million investment in social infrastructure, landscaping, improved pedestrian accessibility, and a central piazza for the public to enjoy. The community will further benefit from 95,000 sq ft (8,825 sq m) of lifestyle-led retail and leisure space.
Leveraging our experience from our domestic home designs has been a key factor in ensuring the sell-out success of Ebb & Flow.
