Show home transformed by Herts Interior Architecture and Design students

Three Interior Architecture and Design students at Herts have won a competition hosted by major housing developer Taylor Wimpey to create bespoke room designs for a show home.

Taylor Wimpey North Thames provided the show home on a new housing development in High Leigh Garden Village in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

The company invited Herts students to demonstrate an understanding of and passion for design by applying the skills learned during their degree. The students provided a design statement, mood board and one render for each room in their chosen concept, transforming the spaces into stunning, functional rooms to attract potential house buyers.

The final three winners of the competition - Chloe Hobbs, Phoenix Ang and Elen Shakhnazaryan, were chosen by judges for their “exceptional attention to detail, innovative ideas and creativity”. Chloe created a playful and inspiring children’s bedroom; Phoenix designed a relaxing and contemporary living room, and Elen developed a cosy and inviting main bedroom.

The three had the pleasure of seeing their ideas brought to life and revealed during a recent event to unveil their rooms.

Elen said: “It was a great experience to explore Taylor Wimpey’s previous design projects and find a pattern among them.

“The most interesting part was the challenge of keeping the essence of a cosy show home while adding a fresh point of view with a new design that made it more elegant and sophisticated. I really appreciated this opportunity, and it was a pleasure to connect with company members and designers to see my ideas come into life.”

Alongside Taylor Wimpey North Thames, the University also partnered with interior designers Clayton & Company.

Jason Turner, Sales Manager at Taylor Wimpey North Thames, said: "Supporting young, local talent is something we’re truly passionate about. This competition not only allowed us to showcase the creativity and vision of upcoming designers, but also brought fresh, modern ideas into our show homes. We are incredibly impressed with the quality of work and are excited to see what these talented individuals achieve in the future."

Victoria Wright, Design Project Manager at Clayton & Company, said: "It was such a pleasure to work with Taylor Wimpey and the students at The University of Hertfordshire on this competition. Chloe, Phoenix, and Elen's designs were so inspired, and it was great to turn them into a reality. We wish them all the very best for their interior design careers."

Dr Erica Liu, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design at The University of Hertfordshire, said: “The collaboration project with Taylor Wimpey and Clayton & Company was an invaluable experience for the students to learn how the industry works and see how their designs were being implemented on site”.

Explore the University of Hertfordshire’s BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design degree course