Case studies Canvas Arthur House
Product: Pigmento | Petrology Marble | Narvik
Sector: PBSA
Canvas Arthur House
At Canvas Arthur House in Wembley, the finishes change with the rhythm of the building – from lively social spaces to quieter areas for study, dining and reflection. Designed by TiggColl for Greystar, the 770-room purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development reflects a broader shift in student living, with interiors and shared amenities approached with the level of consideration more commonly associated with hospitality. Colour, texture and carefully selected finishes help create spaces that support Greystar’s ambition for a connected, resilient student community. Domus worked closely with Lauren Gilling, Design Director at Greystar, and the TiggColl team throughout the design and product selection process, supplying more than 2,300m² of tile across the scheme.
A Showroom Discovery
One of the defining surfaces was discovered during a visit to the Domus showroom. Pigmento by La Pietra Compattata was selected for the lounge and co-working areas, with two tonal variations moving across the threshold between them. Separate in function but visually connected, the spaces are subtly distinguished through shifts in tone and texture rather than a hard divide. Made from natural mineral ingredients, Pigmento is cold-pressed rather than fired, creating a dense, tactile surface with subtle tonal variation.
“Pigmento was one of those materials that made sense as soon as the design team saw it in the showroom. It had the texture and tonal variation they were looking for, while giving them the flexibility to use it across quite different spaces.” Charles Elliott, Associate Director, Domus
A Changing Palette
The material journey begins at the entrance, where Narvik creates a restrained backdrop underfoot. Its warm grey, terrazzo-like character sets the tone on arrival, allowing the stronger colours and textures beyond to gradually come forward.
In the private dining room, Petrology marble was fabricated to form the counter and backsplash, its pronounced natural veining creating a focal point against the warmer surrounding finishes.
Across the individual apartment kitchens, more than 600m² of triangular Lusa terracotta tiles introduce a more crafted quality. Subtle variations in tone and surface mean the repeated format retains a sense of individuality across hundreds of rooms.
The specification continues outdoors, where 20mm Terra Crea porcelain was selected for the pavilion, extending the finishes into the landscaped setting and one of the development’s quieter spaces for reflection.
Across Arthur House, ceramic, porcelain, terracotta, natural stone and compacted mineral surfaces shift in colour, texture and scale according to their setting. The result is a series of distinct environments, social, private, active and restorative, brought together as part of a wider approach to PBSA that centres on community and wellbeing.
Photography by James Retief & Ellie Ingham
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