November 5 2009 LIVING 21
Make the Most of your house, outside and in
HOME&GARDEN
F
ancy a wedding inYHA?The budget
accommodation is more traditionally
associated with cash-strapped
students trekking round the world or
mud-encrusted hikers returning from bracing
walks across hill and dale than it is with elegant
soirees.
But thanks to the gradual transformation of the
hostels there are now rooms that look good
enough to impress any bride on her big day, and
then be returned to use as a games room
afterwards.
Responsible for this upgrade in aesthetics at the
hostels is Birmingham based Hi Design.
Work onYHAs had previously been handled by a
London based agency prior to the switch to Hi
Design, which is headquartered in St Pauls Square.
"They were very good,"said Hi Design director
SusanWhittle."But what they did best were bars
and restaurants, things that were fashion-led and
constantly refreshed. It was all about impact and
first impressions, not necessarily about longevity.
"Products were failing because they were
wearing out."
Hi Design approached things differently, vetting
every product that is used.
"It is not enough that it looks pretty, it has to
earn its keep,"said Susan."The criteria we used for
the youth hostel was the items had to have a
minimum 10 year warranty, ideally be sourced
from the UK and they had to be cost effective.We
look at how it looks, the design and ambience,
after those other criteria have been fulfilled.
"It is almost like building a skeleton, making sure
the bones are all there before putting on the flesh
in terms of colour and lighting."
Susan attributes this practical approach to
having a background in construction, as well as
being passionate about sustainability and
wanting to get away from"this throw away
culture".
She and her fellow company directors Martin
Archer and AngelaTemperton met when they
worked for another design firm.
The company consists of three businesses � Hi
Design, Hi Interiors, a commercial interior fit-out
contracting company, and Hi Furniture, which
specialises in the supply and installation of
furniture to offices and the hospitality and
healthcare sectors.
They have worked on projects as varied as
creating aVIP restaurant atWolverhampton
University to designing a trading academy for
Morrison's, developing a concept for a new hotel
in the Jewellery Quarter to refurbishing a Grade II
listed hall inTelford.
The work that is likely to have the most impact
nationally is theYHA project.They transformed a
number of the hostels (Birmingham is due to be
tackled next year), setting the benchmark with the
St Pancras hostel, which is now a vibrant space
that compares well with the modern hotels in the
capital but with rooms that cost a fraction of the
price.
"Youth Hostels were known for their bunks and
multi tenant rooms,"said Susan."But now there
has been a shift towards smaller rooms, family
rooms and doubles with en suites."
Hostels have something called standards � the
Hostelmakeover
bathrooms, bedrooms and corridors.These had to
be clean and presentable, natural finishes, nothing
fancy. But it was with their experience base � the
social areas like the bars, games rooms, lounges
and reception areas � whereYHA wanted to
attract young people .
"They wanted them to feel part of something, to
meet and mix with people from other cultures."
Hi Designs also produced a design manual
which could be used by hostel managers
whenever they needed to carry out minor
refurbishments.
It was a way of creating a more united approach
to decorating within the hostels.
"Every hostel could go to it and chose from
different options, from a natural palette, a red
palette and a green palette,"said Susan."All of the
hostels will end up buying from this manual,
whereas up to now everything has been a bit
disjointed and random."
When putting this style bible together, Hi had to
take into account the fact that the furnishings had
to remain in keeping with the buildings they
occupied, which can range from historic mansions
to quaint country houses to more modern
properties, as well as being appropriate for the
types of activities offered.
"The manual is split into three sections: City,
which is bold but comfortable; Coastal, which is
almost New England like with soft blues,
turquoises and sand colours; Country, which is
honey, peach, terracotta � relaxing colours.
FormoreinformationonHiDesigngotowww.
hi-design.biz
PROPERTY
ZEITGEIST
autumn colour in the
Jewellery Quarter
Writing this, as I look out of our large
windows across Newhall Street towards
Chord's big banners on St Pauls Place in St
Pauls Square, I am quietly encouraged by
the underlying market activity in the
residential sales plus lettings markets and
wonder if the dark days of a year ago now
really are behind us for good.
The economists have mixed views going
forward and a leading London-based
researcher for a well-known city centre
name has forecast that an increase in supply
next year may lead to prices pausing and
slipping back.
My experience of the localised
Birmingham inner city market suggests that
a slight increase in stock will not have a
detrimental effect on prices as there is
currently such a shortage of choice that
potential buyers presently in the market are
surprised by the shortage.
With the continuing strength of the local
lettings market and there being no ideal
alternative investment, I can foresee only a
limited number of reluctant landlords
conceding their buy to lets into the sale
market... a ripple rather than the wave
suggested by some.
One of the features of this autumn is there
are several completed new build schemes
finally coming to the market.
Costains have delivered Chord's 148
apartment St Pauls Place scheme which
is launching this month, New Manor
Developments will shortly be
completing their 80 apartment Kenyon
Forge development in the Jewellery
Quarter, and the receivers for Whitefires'
Ansty Court, also in the Jewellery Quarter
will start offering the remaining 41
apartments before Christmas.
Nearby Morris Homes in Lodge Road,
having Jewellery Quarter views, has just
started marketing their 69 house and
apartment scheme, with most of the
properties being built and delivered in
2010/2011.
A lot of stock in one location maybe but
when one looks at the city centre as a
whole, where there is very limited supply
elsewhere, it might be that the Jewellery
Quarter is now just starting to mature as a
residential location.
Finally, as I note from the Estates Gazette
� where we have just been listed among
the top 10 most active commercial agents
in Birmingham � I think there are now real
opportunities for both tenants and
landlords out there if they can make
decisions.
Rents and prices throughout the city have
fallen sharply over the past 18 months and
there are now great incentives available
from landlords to take space and terrific
long leasehold/freehold accommodation
available to buy if you look.
Properties with income in prime locations
are currently very sought after; if you can
find someone prepared to sell. If you have
access to cash/low gearing it might even be
time for those buildings without income.
City properties are starting to shimmer with
autumn colour.
PhilipJacksonisco-founderofestateagents
MaguireJackson.
Tel:01216341520
SusanWhittle, director at Hi Design, a Birmingham based agency responsible for
theYHA's more rugged approach to interior decor, speaks to Alison Jones
It is not enough that it looks
pretty, it has to earn its keep,
the criteria we used for the
youth hostel was the items
had to have a minimum 10
year warranty, ideally be
sourced from the UK and they
had to be cost effective

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