Tina Richardson discusses the rise of privately owned halls of residences in university towns and cities. By providing examples from Huddersfield and Leeds, and revealing her own model of studentification, Tina will demonstrate how private student housing conforms to the new wave of capitalism: aesthetic capitalism. This lecture was presented at the Fourth World Congress of Psychogeography in September 2016.

1. TOWN AND GOWN
The Studentification of
Urban Space
Tina Richardson

2. 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

3. The Young Ones
…sex, drugs and rock and roll

4. Huddersfield…
…or a university town near you

5. Castings House
Owner: Prodigy Living | Architect: Watkin Jones

6. 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

7. The Aesthetics of Student Living

8. 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

9. Aesthetics is a Mode of Production
When 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

10. The Priory - Leeds
The Priory – Unite Students

11. 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

12. The Priory of St Wilfred
Architect: Temple Moore 1904 | Gothic Revival

13. 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

14. The Studentification of Urban Space
‘Aesthetic Capitalism Model for Student Living’ by Tina Richardson
capital
(economics)
urban
space
aesthetics

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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
£

19. 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

20. CONTACT
www.schizocartography.org