This Project was done over an intensive 2 week timeframe, during the 3rd year of my degree, whilst studying abroad in Prato, Italy. The project explores student housing solutions in an exisiting location in Prato. Using my experiences in the accomodation in Prato aswell as observing Italian social culture became the influence for my design. The name 'Alcove' refers to the spaces I am creating within my design. When arriving in a new place and encountering a different culture, different attitudes, social engagements, spaces and built environments I found myself most drawn to how social issues and conjunctures are created by Italians. The occupation of space by Italians becomes a bottom-up approach to creating an urban environment. 
It became clear to me that we have very malleable lifestyles compared to how inflexible the housing was that I was living in. This effected the desgign of my student housing. I wanted it to be as malleable as our lives were. What resulted were a series of modular housing the could expand and contract as the occupant wishes, like a tent. This flexibility allows the occupants to live in an environment that is suitable for them.