The Hatch Rooms — Cork, Ireland

Multi-purposes spaces are all the rage these days, so we suppose it was only a matter of time before the savvy administrators at Hatch Student Living’s The Hatch Rooms in Cork decided to turn over their empty dorm rooms to the public during the June-August term holidays. Certainly, the idea of returning to school, much less spend the night in the dorm, may strike some as something of a retrograde life move, but we’ll make an exception here.

Set on the grounds of the former University College Cork school of architecture, the 265-room residence is the work of Kingston Lafferty Design. The Dublin-based studio worked hard to demarcate distinct living zones in a futuristic mix of acrylic and Perspex, modular furniture and oversized globe lamps. Meanwhile, the brightly lit, spacious and high-ceilinged rooms are a treat – here furnished in handsome grey tones, roomy sectional sofas, bright geometric patterned rugs, and modern prints on the walls; and each featuring an en-suite bathroom.

A bijou internal garden sprinkled with olive trees and plants is a nice touch, though there is little reason to linger long, with food stalls at the ancient English Market, the 17th century Triskel Arts Centre, and lively local music venues within easy reach.

ADDRESS

10 Copley Street

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS