AKNO GROUP ENTERS THE MICROLIVING AND STUDENT HOUSING MARKET IN ITALY.
A NEW CHAPTER IN REAL ESTATE: MICROLIVING ACCORDING TO AKNO GROUP.
AKNO Group expands its positioning in the real estate sector by entering the microliving and student housing market, a segment experiencing strong growth in Italy and across Europe, characterised by continuously evolving demand and new living models increasingly focused on flexibility and services.
This choice represents a natural evolution of the Group’s strategic vision, which looks towards a contemporary real estate approach capable of interpreting social changes and the needs of new generations. The project includes the development of modern, integrated and highly functional student residences, designed not only as living spaces, but as true dynamic and connected living environments.
The objective is to offer a complete living experience that combines comfort, design and premium services, meeting the expectations of Italian and international students who are increasingly oriented towards flexible, technology-driven and quality-focused solutions.
The new developments will be conceived as advanced urban ecosystems, where every element is designed to foster social interaction, wellbeing and productivity. Alongside the residential units, there will be fully equipped gyms, coworking areas, bike sharing services, multifunctional common spaces, relaxation areas and environments dedicated to study and collaboration.
In this microliving model, living becomes an experience: not just a room, but a community where spaces and services contribute to creating value, connections and opportunities.
Through its entry into the student housing sector, AKNO Group strengthens its role within the innovative real estate landscape, capturing one of the most relevant trends in contemporary living and contributing to the development of a more advanced, sustainable and internationally aligned housing offering.
STUDENT HOUSING IN ITALY: A FAST-GROWING MARKET.
The student housing market in Italy is currently characterised by growing demand and still limited supply, especially in major university cities. The increase in out-of-town students, combined with the internationalisation of universities, makes microliving one of the most attractive asset classes in the real estate sector.
In this context, the concept of evolved residences represents a concrete solution: not just accommodation, but a complete living experience aligned with international trends.
Student housing and microliving: the future of real estate.
THE STUDENT HOUSING MARKET IN ITALY IN NUMBERS.
The student housing sector in Italy today represents one of the most dynamic asset classes in the real estate landscape, characterised by strong demand and still insufficient supply. Some key data help to understand the development potential of microliving in our country:
• Over 2 million university students in Italy
• Approximately 700,000 out-of-town students, equal to over 40% of the total
• Only 80,000–85,000 beds available in dedicated residences
• Current coverage equal to just 4–5% of demand
• European average between 15% and 20%, with peaks of 30% in the United Kingdom
• Estimated need for over 130,000 new beds
• Development pipeline: approximately 28,000 new beds by 2029
• Over €500 million invested in the sector in 2025
• More than 50% of investments coming from international capital
• Constant growth of international students, with double-digit annual trends
These figures highlight how the Italian market is still at an early stage compared to other European countries, but with wide growth margins. In this scenario, the microliving model and student residences with integrated services represent a concrete and scalable response to new housing needs.
FROM BUSINESS PARK EXPERIENCE TO HOSPITALITY: THE AKNO GROUP VISION.
With over 50 years of experience in the real estate sector, AKNO Group has developed and managed assets in Italy, Switzerland, the United States and Canada, consolidating strong expertise in logistics and office business parks as well as in the hospitality sector.
In the business park segment, the Group has developed benchmark projects characterised by strategic locations, high construction standards and tailor-made solutions for international tenants. Among these, the AKNO Settala Business Park, a key logistics hub in the Milan area, represents a concrete example of integration between infrastructure, functionality and advanced services, with a particular focus on highly specialised sectors such as pharma logistics. Likewise, projects such as the AKNO Livraga Business Park, developed for leading operators such as DHL, highlight the Group’s ability to deliver efficient, tailor-made assets perfectly aligned with tenants’ operational needs.
At the same time, AKNO Group has developed a distinctive model in the hospitality sector through the AN Hotels brand, a collection of 4-star properties designed to offer a complete and contemporary experience. The AN Park Hotel Milano Settala, set within a large private park with a swimming pool, represents an example of integrated hospitality, capable of combining leisure, events and business services. The AN Hotel Milano San Donato and the AN Hotel Milano Melegnano further strengthen this positioning, offering modern spaces, in-house dining, meeting areas and services designed for both corporate and individual guests.
These experiences demonstrate AKNO Group’s ability to manage the entire real estate lifecycle, from design and development to operational management, creating assets capable of generating long-term value.
It is precisely this integrated vision, combined with a strong focus on the quality of spaces and services, that represents a distinctive element also in the new development of student housing and microliving, where the end-user experience becomes as central as investment efficiency.
A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF MICROLIVING.
Entering the microliving market confirms AKNO Group’s strategic vision, oriented towards innovative and sustainable assets capable of generating long-term value.
Follow AKNO Group to stay updated on upcoming developments in the student housing and microliving sector.
CONTACT AKNO GROUP.
If you would like to receive more information about AKNO projects or other Group initiatives, please do not hesitate to contact us. Discover how AKNO Group can support your business with cutting-edge solutions.
Email: servizio.clienti@aknogroup.com
Website: www.aknogroup.com
