Knightsbridge News

THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE ESTATE

Restoring soul to the heart of Knightsbridge

The Knightsbridge Estate

Many years ago, while on holiday in Bermuda, believe it or not, I almost got lost in the Bermuda Triangle while in a jet ski convoy and became separated from the others due to unexpected fog. Of course, some of the group claimed that I was not actually in the infamous triangle, however, surrounded by piranhas it was still quite daunting. The point is that no-one really knows where the infamous ‘Triangle’ begins or ends and thus it is, for me, with London’s most desirable and affluent area – Knightsbridge!

However, none could dispute that Knightsbridge is home to two of the world’s most famous department stores – Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Sandwiched snugly between these two glossy icons of international shopping sits The Knightsbridge Estate, a magnificent island site bounded by Brompton Road to the north and Basil Street to the south. Occupying 3.5 acres of some of the most desired real estate in London, this rare collection of properties, many of which date back to the 1800’s, today presents an elegant array of world class shops, inviting spaces to relax and eat, offices, and private residences.

Things looked very different however in 2010 when The Estate was first acquired by The Olayan Group. With an ambitious vision to transform The Knightsbridge Estate into a destination fit for the 21st Century, this multinational enterprise whose real estate holdings include other well-known historic properties in Europe and the US, notably the Paris portfolio, the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, and 550 Madison in New York, set about undertaking the extensive – and often complex – redevelopment and modernisation work.

The intention of the owner from the offset was not just to restore the beauty of these architecturally important buildings, but to create a thriving community for both the area and its residents to shop, live, work, and eat. Assisted by asset and development manager Chelsfield, the result is a stunning mixed-use complex with a new offering and experience. Significant improvements to its public realm and transport infrastructure also formed a vital part of the grand plan. Since acquisition, buildings across The Estate have been modernised, creating light, modern spaces for retailers, shop fronts remodelled for a more architecturally sympathetic look, pavements widened for greater pedestrian safety and comfort and the retail mix upgraded to ensure its appeal to global premium and luxury retailers. This approach has succeeded in attracting a swathe of global luxury retail brands to The Estate’s shops along Brompton Road, as well as creating a new vibrant ‘food quarter’ in Hans Crescent.

The most important enhancement to The Estate has been taking place at the junction of Brompton Road and Sloane Street. Here architects Fletcher Priest were commissioned to create a mixed-use development that sits behind retained heritage façades, a distinctive characteristic of the area. The development includes seven landmark flagship stores, a brand new 6-storey Grade A office building and pocket square garden, a new roof-top restaurant and ground-level café and 33 luxury rental apartments.

“In addition to creating an iconic destination on The Knightsbridge Estate worthy of its illustrious heritage, we are also delivering a project that benefits the communities that surround it, as well as significantly improving the local transport and public realm.” Jonathan Shelton, MD – Real Estate Europe, The Olayan Group

“Our ambition is to ensure The Knightsbridge Estate is a welcoming and enjoyable destination for visitors and residents alike. Our new F&B additions to Hans Crescent perfectly complement The Estate and the neighbourhood.” Sarah Waller – Chelsfield’s Senior Asset Manager for The Knightsbridge Estate

Seven Flagship Stores

At the gateway to Knightsbridge, where Brompton Road meets Sloane Street, huge consideration has gone into the development of seven flagship stores behind restored facades, now providing worldclass retail space for global luxury and premium brands. A shared subterranean service yard and dedicated loading bay provides secure access and deliveries for tenants. Rationalising deliveries to a single point will have a beneficial effect on the local area, reducing traffic congestion and pollution.

In July 2021, luxury British brand Burberry became the first tenant to open its doors to its new flagship concept store at No.1 Sloane Street. This summer, Apple opened Apple Brompton Road. Its most sustainable store to date, the entrance to the new store sits on the site of the Brompton Arcade built in 1903. Over time, as more brands arrive and the roof-top restaurant opens, the vision for the northern end of The Estate will be complete.

“Everything about the design and build of the new flagship stores on The Knightsbridge Estate has been conceived for the world we live in today, ensuring this is a stand-out destination for the 21st Century. The Estate completely understands the needs of its demographic and the ways in which people want to shop, live and work, now and in the future. With its off-street services and magnificent setting and location, there is nothing to compare with The Knightsbridge Estate in prime central London.”

Jonathan Shelton, MD – Real Estate, Europe, The Olayan Group

A New Station Entrance to Knightsbridge Tube

The public benefits of the scheme are noteworthy. A great deal of effort was exerted to ensure that the redevelopment stayed true to the authentic 19th century facades that define the area. This included sourcing stones from the original quarries and matching brick clays and colours. A key factor in the success of the scheme was the relocation of the original entrance to the Knightsbridge underground station to create a new entrance on Brompton Road. Now located 100 yards to the west on Brompton Road, the new station, with its widened entrance and generous pavement frontage, allows both free-flow of pedestrian traffic and increased safety and access. Once opened, a second entrance located in Hooper’s Court will provide step-free access to Knightsbridge underground for the first time.

Knightsbridge Gardens

A new luxury residential scheme under development comprising 33 apartments for the rental market, forms part of the major redevelopment and restoration of The Knightsbridge Estate. Available from Spring 2023, Knightsbridge Gardens is set to be the most prominent offer to come to London’s luxury rental market and will echo the story of this prime postcode, its elegant architecture and rich history.

Occupying 45,000 sq ft, the new apartments wrap around a landscaped courtyard garden accessed via an orangery for the private use of the residents. With a discreet entrance on Basil Street, the apartments draw their design vernacular from the architectural heritage of The Estate, guided by the design movements of the late 19th and early 20th Century from Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism to Art Deco. Complemented by flawless interior schemes by Taylor Howes Designs, the apartments will evoke a timeless sense of luxury, comfort, and style. With 24-hour concierge, valet parking and a club room, residents of Knightsbridge Gardens are assured a next-level lifestyle.

Creating a sense of community and maintaining a vibrant feel to the area was a fundamental decision that resulted in the apartments only being available for rent and not for sale.

“Situated in the heart of Knightsbridge with every amenity, service and convenience at their finger-tips and Hyde Park a short walk away, Knightsbridge Gardens’ lifestyle will be hard to beat.”

Sarah Waller – Senior Asset Manager for The Knightsbridge Estate

One Hooper’s Court

Occupying 67,000 square feet this light and airy office building will accommodate over 700 staff. Taking its cues from The Estate’s rich history it delivers an elegant hi-spec state-of the-art workspace for modern day work life. Designed by Fletcher Priest it preserves and extends the distinctive oxblood red tiles which characterise the nowrevealed original Leslie Green underground station. Its most distinctive design feature is a new façade of white vitreous enamel bearing an exquisite honeysuckle design celebrating John Hooper – the late 18th century market gardener after whom the court is named – which also features on the pretty tiled passageway linking Brompton Road to Hooper’s Court.

“This project is enormously important for residents, businesses, Londoners and international visitors to the city. Benefits include a relocated main tube entrance with wider pavements on Brompton Road, and a new step-free entrance on Hooper’s Court making use of existing abandoned shafts and tunnels. Nigh on 800 people will work in new workspace off a reinvigorated Hooper’s Court, the buildings will be fully occupied for the first time in many years and the remarkable streetscape revitalised.”

Keith Priest – Co-Founder of architectural practice Fletcher Priest.

Whether Knightsbridge begins at Hyde Park Corner and ends somewhere beyond Harrods is still a mystery to me. But I do know that Knightsbridge has always been at the very heart of prime residential and luxury shopping in central London. Through the redevelopment of The Knightsbridge Estate the area has been given a new lease of life ensuring the area offers both businesses, visitors and, most importantly, residents a feeling of pride and community.

www.theknightsbridgeestate.co.uk

APPLE

DROPS INTO KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Officially known as Apple Brompton Road, Apple’s newest store has opened in our bustling neighbourhood. Apple Knightsbridge – as we like to call it – features design inspiration drawn from the local flora of Hyde Park.

The new store offers advancements in sustainable design, community events and resources, and boasts a team of more than 200 staff ready to provide service to customers.

A close collaboration between Apple and Foster + Partners – the new Knightsbridge store is situated between luxury department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols. The store is flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling arched windows.

Apple Brompton Road consists of a single floor, square footprint. The sevenmeter-tall volume features an undulating, timber ceiling and has four-meter-wide floor-to-ceiling arched windows that frame 12 towering Sicilian ficus trees which reference Hyde Park.

The tree-lined seating at the base of each planter becomes a visual feature as well as a social gathering space or resting area for visitors, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside while bringing nature directly into the building. The natural light becomes dappled in appearance as it is filtered through the leaves and dances on the store’s interior surfaces.

The store’s curved timber ceiling reflects the existing geometry of the building’s historic façade.

The ceiling’s integrated fixtures merge seamlessly with the timber panels, having been designed to match their colour and finish. A warm palette of materials has been carefully selected to create a calming and coherent environment for visitors and staff. Stone, wood, and terrazzo complement the building’s exterior façade of bath stone and red brick.

Customers enter the store through the central arcade, mirroring the dimensions of the original Brompton Arcade, which was built in this precise location in 1903.

This central spine is defined by Castagna stone columns and four Ficus trees that also have seating at their bases.

At the end of the tree lined arcade sits the Forum – another focal point of the design which acts as a separate learning and event space – with a large video wall. The screen appears to float effortlessly on the surface with the audio equipment discreetly integrated into the stone walls. The Forum’s volumes are amplified by a mirrored ceiling which is made from a specialised stretched fabric, generating an uninterrupted reflective plane.

The stores terrazzo flooring is comprised of plant-based bio polymers, the first of its kind in Apple’s worldwide retail fleet.

Collectively speaking more than 45 languages, the Apple team is ready to welcome customers from around the world. And in another first for the UK, a dedicated Apple Pickup area makes it even more convenient for customers to pick up products ordered online.

Like all Apple facilities, Apple Brompton Road is powered by 100% renewable energy.

“We are thrilled to open Apple Brompton Road in London, a city teeming with energy, history, and cultural diversity,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s SVP of Retail and People. “The store’s focus on creativity gives our incredible team members the perfect space to share their passion and expertise with Londoners and visitors from around the world.”

KNIGHTSBRIDGE GATE

Following a meticulous restoration spanning six years, Knightsbridge Gate (55-93 Knightsbridge) has been unveiled.

Built in 1902, the Grade II listed building, which was originally designed by architects WD Caroe for the Church Commissioners, retains its original Edwardian-style façade. Acquired by the APML Estate in 1996, the building had multiple uses until its redevelopment began in 2017. The building has been painstakingly restored to preserve the heritage and glamour of the property, which is often associated with this part of London. At 120m in length, the Queen Anne frontage is one of the longest façade retentions in the capital.

The scheme is located at the gateway to Knightsbridge, near Hyde Park’s southern border, as well as Harvey Nichols and Harrods.

“One of the great things about the development’s location is that it has two distinct sides. On one side you have the bustling international centre of Knightsbridge, but on the other you have quiet Belgravia.”

Mike Sadler, Director of APML

The mixed-use development offers 15 beautifully designed apartments, which have been fully fitted out to the highest specification and offer best-in-class residential accommodation along with c18,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation and 24,000 sq ft of retail. The scheme has 24-hour concierge and security, and secure underground parking for its residences. Many of the apartments benefit from south facing aspect towards Belgravia and the corner homes have views into Hyde Park.

Behind its original, imposing façade, is a completely modern construction. While the north elevation has been restored, the south façade is entirely new, featuring stepped pergolas and terraces. The development has been designed to allow each of the apartments’ principal rooms to overlook the remarkable landscape of Belgravia. Dixon Jones Architects was responsible for this hugely technical element of the project. The quality of finish and attention to detail enhances the scale and grandeur of the building.

MSMR Architects has led the transformation of the interiors, drawing on the Edwardian heritage of the building with contemporary

elements. A rich pallet of materials, colours, and textures combined with intricate detailing and bespoke joinery have created elegant interiors of the highest calibre.

“Knightsbridge Gate is arguably the best new address in town.”

Rupert des Forges

For APML Estate, Knightsbridge Gate represents the pinnacle of a 40 year history of investing in Knightsbridge and follows on from the hugely-successful office developments at 106 & 116 Brompton Road. “In terms of the quality of the materials and the finishes throughout the development we are in a league of our own” states Sadler. The difference here is in its boutique size. With fewer than 20 apartments in the development and more than one entrance, Knightsbridge Gate’s future residents won’t find themselves queuing for a lift or making unwelcome small talk. “Smaller developments offer more privacy,” continues Sadler. “You aren’t going to walk in and find loads of other people in the lobby. If you’re somebody who’s been living in a single residence and not used to sharing accommodation, it’s quite appealing.”

Rupert des Forges, Head of Prime Central London Developments at Knight Frank, commented: “Since APML Estate acquired the site, there has been a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the market, and an eagerness to see the finished product after so many years of meticulous restoration and development. Residents will enjoy an immaculate, highlytrained, front of house and concierge team, providing impeccable levels of service and security, whilst the building provides generous underground parking. There is no doubt this is a standout launch of the year, with buyers expected to come from the four corners of the globe.”

The boutique development has been delivered by the very best in design and construction, consisting of architecture by Dixon Jones, and construction by McAlpine.

Apartments at Knightsbridge Gate start at £9,995,000 and are now available via Knight Frank’s Prime Central London Developments team.

www.apmlestate.com www.knightfrank.co.uk

ALL THE KING’S HORSES...

Words: Alexander Jacobs Knightsbridge is a bustling area within which a cacophony of sounds breaks the solitude of peace associated with magnificent Hyde Park. From expected sounds like those of scurrying shoppers, traffic, and the sometimes annoying sound of roaring supercars - there is one sound that is quintessentially Knightsbridge - that is the sound of the King’s Horses trotting back and forth from the barracks to numerous royal engagements.

The Hyde Park Barracks, the 33-storey building on Knightsbridge, is home to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Monarch’s Mounted Bodyguard. It is from here the Mounted Regiment carry out their Sovereign’s Escort duties, most commonly seen at the reigning Monarch’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour).

The Household Cavalry is a union of the two most senior regiments in the British Army, The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals. It is divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The Life Guards is the most senior regiment of the British Army and were formed by Prince Charles, later King Charles II, when he was exiled at the end of the civil war from loyal followers who travelled with him to Holland. This was between 1658 and 1659. Since their first action in the Battle of Maastricht in 1672, the Life Guards have won numerous battle honours, including Waterloo, Marne, Brussels and El Alamein The Blues and Royals were formed in 1969 when The Royal Horse Guards, and The Royal Dragoons merged.

The Household Cavalry Regiment is the operational unit, providing an armoured reconnaissance capability with state-of-the-art armoured fighting vehicles. Their soldiers are first and foremost armoured reconnaissance experts but also specialise in other battle-winning capabilities, including: snipers, anti-tanks, remotely piloted air systems, and information activity.

The regiment that most of us are familiar with is the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. They are the ceremonial face of the regiment, conducting mounted state and public duties in London. Their prestige and horsemanship take them across the UK and the rest of the world on key international events, all whilst representing the Monarch and the Nation. Other occasions include important ceremonies that take place during State Visits by Heads of State, or whenever required by the British monarch.

Interesting Facts about the Hyde Park Barracks: • 1795: Original Hyde Park Barracks constructed for the Horse Guards • Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, is Colonel of The Blues and Royals. • Prince William and Prince Harry have both served as ‘cornets’ in The Blues and Royals. • The cleaning and maintenance of the uniform and horses black kit can take up to 10 hours, more than 4 hours for what the soldier or officer would wear, and 5 hours for items worn by the horse. • There are around 235 cavalry black horses, 14 greys and four drum horses which make up the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. • The regiment gets through 200 tins of black polish every month. • The horses carry 44 kilograms of kit and ceremonial uniform, as well as the soldier riding them. • The regiment is fully self-sufficient. Within the walls of the Hyde Park Barracks, there’s everything a ceremonial soldier, and horse, might need is available to them. This includes the regimental Tailor Shop and a Saddler’s and of course Farriers.