26 minute read
Recent projects
LONDON & UK RESIDENTIAL
London’s residential market seems to get busier and busier! Here are some of our recent projects, from North to South and East to West of the capital, (and even further afield). Every project is unique with architects and interior designers striving to create exciting new homes that exemplify city living.
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Chelsea Barracks, London
Client: Qatari Diar Architecture: Squire and Partners / Eric Parry Architects Interior Design: HBA Chelsea Barracks is one of the world's most renowned residential addresses. It includes a collection of apartments, penthouses and townhouses, set around seven garden squares and was one of only 16 developments in the world to achieve LEED platinum certification for green building in 2021.
1 Audley Square, Mayfair, London
Client: By Caudwell Architecture: Robert A.M. Stern Architects Interior Design: Molyneux, Caudwell, Bill Bensley Audley Square is the latest Mayfair development from By Caudwell, it will comprise townhouses, penthouses and apartments. Designed to be a lasting legacy for many generations to come.
Park Modern, London
Client: Fenton Whelan Architecture: PLP Architecture Interior Design: Fenton Whelan Park Modern represents one of the most striking pieces of parkside architecture to date, comprising 57 one to six-bedroom residences with views over Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Riverscape, London
Client: Ballymore Architecture: Glenn Howells Architects Interior Design: Amos & Amos Hot off the press! This is the latest development to launch from Ballymore. Riverscape will be home to 768 apartments surrounded by parks, gardens and panoramic views of Canary Wharf and the City.
Embassy Gardens, London
Client: Ballymore Architecture: PLP Architects Interior Design: Benningen Lloyd Embassy Gardens is a new neighbourhood built with distinctive architecture and interior design. Residents will have access to the world-famous 25-metre clear Sky Pool, one of the most notable and talked about developments in London.
8 Eaton Lane, London
Client: CIT Architecture: PDP London Interior Design: Millier London In a prominent, high profile, Grade ll listed building adjacent from Buckingham Palace, will be CIT’s latest development 8 Eaton Lane. This super prime residential scheme will be home to a collection of bespoke apartments that will embrace the historic buildings heritage features and architecture whilst delivering design excellence.
Shoreline, Folkestone
Client: Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Co Architecture: ACME Creative Agency: Four Communications On the shoreline of Folkestone, 84 new homes will be developed with a unique architectural design inspired by the sea, encompassing coastal living with seafront views and balconies.
Recent Projects
INTERNATIONAL RESORTS AND RESIDENCES
Our projects span across the world, with many international resorts and residences designed uniquely to reflect the local culture. And it’s always a refreshing experience being part of the creative design process for an international development.
One Sydney Harbour, Sydney
Client: Lendlease Architecture: Renzo Piano Building Workshop Interior Design: State of Craft A stunning addition to Sydney’s shimmering skyline, notorious for recently achieving the highest ever sold price in Australian history for a property. One Sydney Harbour’s skyscraper will offer luxury residences at the award winning Barangaroo South water precinct.
Ellinikon, Athens
Client: Lamda Developments Architecture: K-Studio / Oppenheim Architecture / Saota Architects / Tombazis & Associates Architects Creative Agency: Sectorlight The Ellinikon is the largest regeneration development project in Europe, destined to become a vibrant lifestyle destination.
2505 Broadway, New York
Client: Adam America Architecture: ODA Interior Design: ODA 2505 Broadway takes all that was already great about the Upper West Side and perfects it with this collection of private residences, all with access to the rooftop terrace.
Porto Montenegro, Montenegro
Client: Adriatic Marinas Architecture: Holder Mathias Architects Interior Design: Atellior Located in the UNESCO protected Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro combines a luxury lifestyle destination with a full-service 450-berth marina and residential village.
Four Seasons, Puglia
Client: Four Seasons Architecture: HKS Architects Interior Design: ODA The upcoming Four Seasons Puglia will be designed to celebrate the best of the local Italian landscape with authentic Italian design being the inspiration behind this luxury development.
Fabric, Melbourne
Architecture: Cera Stribley Interior Design: Cera Stribley Creative Agency: Earl St Fabric is set to establish a new architectural benchmark in Caulfield, Melbourne. This residential development, launched in February 2022 draws on maritime engineering principles to present a building that marries modern architecture with nature.
Qetaifan Island, Doha
Client: Qatari Diar Architecture: Alonso Hernandez & Asociados Arquitectos LLC Creative Agency: Grey Known as the crown of Lusail, the exclusive island residences will be home to unique panoramic sea views designed with green living in mind. This private haven will also feature a multitude of docks to host over 400 boats and yachts.
Recent Projects
WORK PLACES
Commercial schemes are spaces built for business purposes. Projects often embody new ways of thinking using new technology, creating multi-functional spaces. Commercial schemes are becoming more inspiring than ever.
Kensington Building, London
Client: Ashby Capital and Janson Urban Architecture: Pilbrow & Partners The Kensington Building offers a new workplace destination with 94,629 sq ft of office space, with light and spacious interiors and three roof terraces that will provide exceptional views of Kensington.
The Forge, London
Client: Landsec Architecture: Piercy & Company Interior Design: Piercy & Company Once a historic metalworks site, The Forge Bankside comprises two boutique office buildings totalling 139,000 sq ft and will be the first Net Zero Carbon development by Landsec.
One Embassy Gardens, London
Client: Ballymore Architect: PLP Architecture As part of the exciting and hugely successful Embassy Gardens, One Embassy Gardens offers over 21,000 sq ft of Grade A workspace complete with a roof terrace.
Bloom Clerkenwell, London
Client: HB Reavis Architecture: John Robertson Architects Interior Design: Bowler James Brindley In the heart of Clerkenwell, Bloom comprises 145,000 sq ft of work, retail, outside and amenity space, offering an environment designed around wellbeing, sustainability and digital connectivity.
The Arc, London
Client: Ghelamco Architecture: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Interior Design: Massive Design Ghelamco’s first UK project, The Arc has won three International Property Awards. This mixed-use scheme echoes the industrial spirit of its location with its unique design.
56 North Moore, New York
Client: Metroloft Architecture: ODA Interior Design: ODA Creative Agency: Watson & Company 56 North Moore Street is located in the desirable Tribeca West District. This historic 1900s building will be refurbished to include 75,429 sq ft of workspace with a vision of creative collaboration.
15 Water Street, Canary Wharf
Interior Design: Soda Creative Agency: Esse Agency Located in Wood Wharf with over 45,000 sq ft of stylish workspace across four floors, 15 Water Street has been thoughtfully designed to offer offices spaces that optimise socialising and collaboration. This mixed-use building will also combine a boutique hotel, health club, restaurant and bar.
Recent Projects
MASTERPLANS AND PLACEMAKING
Masterplans not only create buildings, but create communities. From regeneration schemes to new developments, masterplans construct a whole new world connecting homes, amenities, shops, restaurants and spaces.
The Brentford Project, London
Client: Ballymore Architecture: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Glenn Howells Architects and Maccreanor Lavington A new development that will enhance the lives of residents and visitors, The Brentford Project combines a residential quarter with dining, entertainment and retail spaces creating a new community that will re-connect the high street with the waterfront.
MiSK City, Saudi Arabia
Client: MiSK Architecture: AS+P The first non-profit city in the world, the MiSK City masterplan embodies an advanced human-centred digital metropolis, designed to be sustainable and pedestrianfriendly. The project will become an incubator for youth and voluntary groups as well as local and international non-profit organisations.
Poplar Riverside, London
Client: St William (Berkeley Group) Architecture: EPR Architects Interior Design: Make and Bergman Interiors Poplar Riverside will be a new community neighbourhood destination that will provide 2,800 new homes surrounded by a range of facilities designed by award winning interior specialists for residents to enjoy.
Brisbane Waterfront, Brisbane
Client: Dexus Architecture: Place Design Group Waterfront Brisbane is set to deliver a global-standard business and tourist destination with enhanced open spaces, many amenities and a waterfront dining hub, creating a vibrant precinct for locals and tourists to enjoy.
Brent Cross, London
Client: Argent Related Architecture: RMM / Allies and Morrison Interior Design: Woods Bagot / Conran + Partners Brent Cross is one of the largest regeneration sites in London with a vision of bringing to life a new town centre with exciting ways of living, including 6,700 new homes and workspaces for 25,000 people with 50 acres of park and world class sporting facilities.
Saadiyat Grove, Abu Dhabi
Client: Aldar Production Company: Goodstills Saadiyat Grove is a new community in the centre of Saadiyat Island. This all-inclusive development intends to promote a new culture of living and an immersive lifestyle, catering to modern needs of visitors and residents.
Bankside Yards, London
Client: Native Land Architecture: PLP Architecture Bankside Yards is a remarkable masterplan development combining a contemporary building with heritage architecture, situated in the South Bankside. Offering office space, amenities, bars, restaurants and cultural space, this development incorporates work life, home life and culture creating a hyper-mix of offerings.
Tech Talk
Our Head of Tech and R&D, Tom Tonia shares in-depth insights about developments in technology, what’s happening in the CGI world and all things tech.
Ever since the very first images were displayed on computer screens in the 1950s and the new medium of CGI was created, it’s been used for different purposes, from science to the entertainment industry. As soon as the first movies and computer games were created, the progress in the realms of R&D was very rapid and over the years computer graphics have made their way into almost every industry. Thanks to technological advances, the quality and speed at which digital marketing material can be generated has seen huge progress over the past two decades. The latest version of Unreal Engine and its new technologies has got everyone talking! It finally allows artists to create high-quality images and animations that can be modified almost instantly. This software was created for the computer games industry with the aim of giving artists a tool that allows them to create beautiful and realistic digital environments quickly. It allows users to position an item, from a tree to a chair, in a digital 3D space and receive instant feedback on the way it will affect the lighting and composition of the image an artist is working on. It also allows you to change and test
by Tom Tonia Head of Tech and R&D
different materials and finishes quickly. Compared to the traditional way of rendering images, the quality is not as high yet, but it’s getting very close. This method of generating images has significant advantages, for instance the speed of development or built-in interactivity of the content generated.
Of course, all of this requires significant computing power and often specialised equipment which not many people own. Luckily, we all have mobile phones or a tablet with internet access and those demanding tasks of millions of calculations per second can be done in the Cloud, with results streamed to the end-user over the internet. Streaming high quality content as well as providing options for user interaction requires high bandwidth and with the widespread rollout of 5G technology these speeds are now widely available on mobile devices.
The arrival of 5G is designed to unlock augmented and virtual reality. Technology that we already use in the real estate industry will advance beyond current recognition. Virtual Reality tours are becoming a favoured option within the real estate sector, however the projected quality and reliability
of Virtual Reality cannot currently be facilitated by 4G. The real estate industry needs 5G otherwise it will experience a stalemate in growth. With the addition of 5G, it’s almost unfathomable how much change will come in even the next five years.
We have seen the creative implementation of Virtual Reality change drastically over the past few years, from Virtual Tours rendered in real time vs immersive headset experiences. Big names like Facebook are investing heavily into new headsets and goggles and bringing them to the market. We should see continuous development of the technology and increasingly sophisticated content for them.
The last thing I would like to mention is Artificial Intelligence. For some, it can be scary and for some this is the future. AI already can do a lot of things that humans can, and I’m not talking about repetitive tasks. As well as that, it can also be creative. We have all seen deep fakes where one person’s face can be superimposed onto another – but there is much more to it. For instance, NVIDIA Canvas software allows users to create rough sketches which AI uses to generate photorealistic images based on that. AI can also take care of tedious, time-consuming tasks. It offers an artist more time to be creative and produce the best possible image.
With all these tech advances, you’d think it would lead to a reduction in human involvement, but many, including myself, still believe there is no replacement for the input of an experienced artist who can make computer generated images a work of art. At least not yet... “Computer generated images for property marketing purposes are just one example of how this technology, together with the help of artists, can help marketing teams convey qualities of their design or tell elaborate and immersive stories”
NFT and the Metaverse
by John Crighton
Web 3.0 and the Metaverse is at the forefront of people's thoughts at the moment, and there is a huge amount of noise surrounding the subject, driven by the emergence of NFT’s as a powerful way of curating and trading digital art. This has made many people start to think very differently about the future of digital assets on the whole, and how we as creative individuals or organisations can start to embrace it. Never before have artists or creative thinkers had such an opportunity to monetise their work, with certain pieces selling for millions and the appetite seemingly increasing, amidst the current NFT goldrush. Nobody really knows exactly what the future holds, but it’s certainly not impossible to believe that future generations will value a digital version of the latest Nike Trainer, or Rolex as much as the real thing. Our digital wallets will be a direct way to express our individuality to a much wider audience just like the clothes we wear or the art we have physically on the walls in our homes. Plots of digital land in the Metaverse are already being snapped up by leading brands, social media influencers and A-list stars, all banking on the huge potential of the space, and the importance of getting in at the start!
Branded Residences
Is it us or is everyone talking about Branded Residences?
The benefits of Branded Residences are more appealing to the HNWIs because they satisfy both the intellectual and the emotional rationales for buying. The desire for constant safety, space, guaranteed cleanliness and delivery of food and goods without even leaving the comfort of your home is suddenly becoming a necessity for many wanting to optimise the home lifestyle. Adelina Wong Ettelson, Global Head of Residences Marketing at Mandarin Oriental says, “Our homes have become our offices, gyms, schools, etc., and developers and brands alike are pausing to reimagine their programming to meet the changing demands. Now more than ever, buyers are looking to upgrade their homes and lifestyles with one key word in mind: flexibility.” With this new emphasis and focus on health and wellbeing, many buyers will be looking beyond standard luxury residences and looking for a brand experience they can trust. Riyan Itani, Head of Consultancy for Global Residential Development at Savills says "Buyers turn to brands they know and trust because of the assurance of quality of construction, services and amenities as well as the management of their properties when not in residence. The most significant trends we see in Branded Residences are geographical spread beyond prime cities and resorts, the importance of wellness facilities and a shift away from pure luxury to more accessibly priced Branded Residences". On the emotional side of things, the brand experience is where buyers feel belonging, meaning and the opportunity to be part of a brand lifestyle with a like-minded community. And of course, not to mention superior levels of interior design. “ A luxury brand isn’t a true luxury brand unless the consistency of quality is maintained at a superior standard throughout every single touch point. Within the luxury resort and residences sector, that has to include the CGIs. If the CGIs are not of a superior quality what does that say about the consistency of luxury, the quality of the development and ultimately the attention to detail within the residences?”
Adelina Wong Ettelson, Global Head of Residences, Mandarin Oriental
Sales for off-plan Branded Residences are entirely reliant on the quality of the images produced to capture the essence of the space, the ambience of the design and the detail of the craftsmanship. As for many purchasers this is a second, third or fourth home in a different country. The clients are often cash rich and time poor, so rely on the CGI assets produced to establish a trust in the development, a trust that a space will be produced with the same level of luxury that is expected from that brand. This is where the visualisation comes into its own.
HNWIs expect world class standards synonymous with the brand, so why should the CGIs be any different? This is the one opportunity to bring spaces and interior design to life. The marketing customer journey should reflect the standards and quality of the brand and CGIs are part of that. This is not the place to cut corners! Adelina Wong Ettelson, Global Head of Residences, Mandarin Oriental states “A luxury brand isn’t a true luxury brand unless the consistency of quality is maintained at a superior standard throughout every single touch point. Within the luxury resort and residences sector, that has to include the CGIs. If the CGIs are not of a superior quality what does that say about the consistency of luxury, the quality of the development and ultimately the attention to detail within the residences?”. We believe visualisation is arguably the most important factor in property marketing communication especially when dealing with luxury residences, that same level of luxury must be consistent as Adelina states.
The changing face of marketing
Over recent years the property marketing industry has seen a shift in marketing trends brought on by the rising increase in digital life. A few years ago, marketing campaigns were clunky and static but those days are vanishing fast! Digital trends have changed the way we consume information and as a result, we now have very short attention spans so marketing needs to be succinct and to the point. Our new digital lifestyle, the way we communicate, and the gradual loss of formality have impacted trends in property marketing.
The key drivers:
DIGITAL LIFESTYLE We live our lives on digital – socially and professionally. Our digital consumption has changed our lifestyle and buying habits, and we expect to see immediate live information. Did you know that digital consumption is responsible for our attention spans dropping to the lowest they’ve ever been? (Apparently 15 seconds!). Luxury fashion brands have been leading the way on the digital path for years and now prime property markets are paying attention. Digital has now engulfed every single aspect of our lives.
THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE Different ways of communicating have taken over such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Zoom, Telegram, TikTok and Insta to name but a few. Email will always have its place but there is also now a place for faster, less formal marketing and exchange of comms. Marketing campaigns must carefully consider how to use each platform to communicate effectively to their relevant target markets. From WhatsApping a price list, a brochure or even a short animation to keep decision makers interested, the use of comms is more effective than ever.
THE GRADUAL LOSS OF FORMALITY Stiff and stuffy are fading into the past. Just look around – people no longer wear suits to the office, favouring jeans and trainers, and even Michelin starred restaurants are more casual and a lot more fun! This trend filters through all aspects of marketing, from how we communicate with purchasers or occupiers to the types of marketing campaigns that are created for them. Authenticity and meaningful interactions mean a lot more to decision makers.
The changing face of marketing
What does this mean moving forward?
CONTENT ASSET TOOL KITS Crafted assets that are responsive, fluid, agile and flexible are marketers’ essential tool kit. These flexible assets can be used on an ad hoc basis to create bespoke mini-marketing campaigns and incentives along the journey. The customer journey used to be a fixed campaign sequence, whereas it’s now more of a backbone, offering a structure with the ability to spin off and create agile responsive content marketing along the way.
BESPOKE MARKETING Marketing at the top end of the market means dealing with decision makers who are typically time poor and expect to see only the highest quality work. Being responsive and agile with marketing means that communications are tailored to the needs of the purchaser, directing them straight to the information that they need. DIGITAL FIRST Digital first is a term that gets thrown around a lot in marketing and we are really only starting to see digital first strategies implemented within property marketing. It means more than having a website. It’s having a full marketing and communications platform that enables marketing to be activated digitally across all touch points. But more importantly it’s a mindset. It’s about being agile, responsive, reactive and ahead of the curve on news, thought leadership and content creation.
Trends show property marketing catching up with consumer and luxury brands, where campaigns are living, breathing, activated things with a life of their own. They are alive with relevant news and information, offering different experiences at every single touch point, from a WhatsApp message to a cinematic production in a marketing suite.
Corporate doesn’t have to
While emotion and authenticity have long been traits that are used for residential marketing, now is the time that property developers can start to harness this level of inspiration within office space. Maybe commercial office space can ditch the commercial and become inspiring space instead!
Many people want to come back to the office but they also want interesting, motivating and collaborative spaces to spend time in. A sense of purpose and community are really the driving forces behind the office revolution, with many developers placing well-being and new ways of working at the top of their design agenda. Let’s show the ambience, the atmosphere and the softer and now more relevant aspects of an office space.
The “I want to be there” factor! Whether it’s a restaurant, a hotel or an office space, it’s the ambience and emotion that pulls you in and makes you want to be part of something or simply looks like a place that you want to spend time in. Having a variety of different spaces to work in can keep teams engaged and stimulated – encouraging different spaces for different types of work. Work isn’t always about focussing on computer screens – it’s equally about conversation, collaboration, creativity, problem solving, networking and socialising. Offices that offer a variety of inspiring spaces to reflect the task at hand, will find people are more motivated and more productive finding spaces to maximise their work and efficiency – whatever that may be at that time.
Meditation spaces were once seen as a novelty or box ticking exercise, whereas now developers see the value in ensuring their teams are happy, healthy, enjoy work and want to spend time in the office. Mindfulness and spaces that enhance motivation and positive mental health have become as important as gyms and bike racks!
From first-hand experience we know that office space interior design is fast changing and developers are putting a real focus on this. In the past, office design was often approached from a space planning perspective as opposed to an interior design perspective. Designing authentic, real spaces for people and understanding how people want to use the space, and how space makes people feel will now have a positive impact on people wanting to spend time in the space – ultimately creating inspiring happy places for people to enjoy work.
corpo
doesn’t have to be corporate
It's all about lifestyle
It’s not just about building great homes or office space anymore; amenities and open spaces have the ultimate purchase appeal!
In a marketplace full of outstanding developments, the pressure is on for developers to create a strong point of difference - both residential and commercial. A few years ago, having a world class architectural or design team and an excellent location were seen as key advantages, whereas they are now standard requirements, and developers are working hard to create additional points of difference to set them apart from the rest of the market.
This is where we’re seeing amenities come into their own and now get more design attention than ever. Developers are really studying their target markets and getting an understanding of how people want to use the space.
It’s no surprise that we’re seeing more club-style workspaces in residential developments and more residential lounge-style spaces in commercial spaces. Wellbeing and mental health are now key criteria in designing spaces. As city centre apartments tend to be “economic” in size there is a real need for residents to have places that they spend time in outside their four walls. Spas, pools, games rooms, workspaces, playrooms and entertainment spaces are all being up-levelled and providing residents with hotel-like amenities for entertaining guests, working or relaxing in. And the same goes for commercial space. Previous requirements of accommodating people sitting at computers have had their day and occupiers are looking for happy, healthy spaces that their staff can take time out in.
We’re in exciting times where good, wellconsidered design and innovation holds the key to creating the best experiences for living and working.
Lights Camera Action
We were delighted to invite Peter Corcoran to spend a couple of days with us capturing photography of the studio and the team in action. Peter is known for his natural, editorial photographic style utilising only natural light. He produced these brilliant images that truly reflect the space and light of our studio and the team working behind the scenes.
Lights Camera Action
“Working with natural light brings emotion and a certain soul and texture to the work. It brings a gentle honesty and imperfection, which I think is evident in most of the great photography of the past. I don’t feel the need to see everything lit perfectly like a light and airy stock image. We need to celebrate the shadows as much as the light. I love experiencing how light falls into spaces and onto people. It’s not always your friend but more often than not, if you are patient and work the scene, you will find your light. Black and white is my default, but not exclusively. I shoot in colour but it has to earn its place. I feel black and white engages the viewer a little more because what they are seeing is not reality, they have to fill in some of the blanks. It can remove distraction and bring a purity to an image. Combining black and white with natural light brings a quiet dignity and gravity to an image. I think the style suited the V1 studios and the team. Spending a few days in there, I found it a very calm but collaborative environment. The interior of the studio is very stylish and there's a very friendly, creative and collaborative buzz around the place. There certainly seemed to be a lot of consideration, conversation and creative problem solving going on!"
Peter Corcoran, Photographer
