DAW N A striking, seductive encounter A touch is all it takes to transform Dawn’s seductive shape, as the sleek hood folds away in silence. A true four-seater, crafted in anticipation of unexpected last-minute escapes. Enjoy the luxury of choice with a bespoke funding solution from Rolls-Royce Financial Services.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London 15 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EG +44 (0) 20 3699 6608 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-london.co.uk Official fuel economy figures for the Rolls-Royce Dawn: Urban 13.2mpg (21.4l/100km). Extra Urban 28.5mpg (9.9l/100km). Combined 20.0mpg (14.1l/100km). CO2 emissions 330g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Š Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2016. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.
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211 Regent Street, London Westfield Shepherds Bush, London • London City Airport Also available at Case, Harrods and Selfridge
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issue no.
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contents on the cover 26
Architecture special:
28
Eric Parry The 1 Undershaft architect on the danger of tall buildings
32
Peter Rees The man who shaped the Square Mile
32 Square Mile High The next generation of City skyscrapers 36
annie hampson & Gwyn Richards The latest faces of City planning
39 Is Architecture Art? And should there even be an argument? 44 London’s future skyline The changing face of the capital
44 Dame Zaha Hadid
A reflection on the legacy of an inimitable architect
32
p38
REGULARS CITY LIFE: 16 The Edit The commodities and consumables raising our interest rates this month 18 The Social Treat your father to a tipple or two COLLECTION: 50 Time is money The most value-for-money launches from Baselworld 2016 53 Right as rain Tessa Packard’s latest flash of inspiration – the British weather
92
STYLE: 54 Lead the pack Look chic on your holidays – you deserve it 70 Summer in the city Make sure you stay cool in and out of the office OUT OF OFFICE: 84 Designing a superyacht Expert opinion on the next step for the superyacht world 90 Arts & Interiors: James Ostrer An introduction to another artist that should appear on your agenda 98 Travel: Shanghai Stroll beneath the skyscrapers in stunning Shanghai
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
HOMES AND PROPERTY: 152 Investment portfolio The latest investment properties, including penthouses at 250 City Road
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M ANUFACTUR E DE H AU TE H OR LOGER IE
TONDA METROGR APHE
Steel case Chronograph automatic movement Date in an aperture Integrated titanium / steel bracelet Made in Switzerland www.parmigiani.ch
ATELIER PARMIGIANI 97 MOUNT STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 2TD, TEL. 020 7495 5172 LONDON SELFRIDGES, THE WONDER ROOM | ARIJE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND | FROST OF LONDON | BEAU GEMS BIRMINGHAM RUDELLS | HARROGATE & YORK ODGEN | LEICESTER LUMBERS SCOTLAND AND NEWCASTLE ROX DIAMONDS AND THRILLS | TUNBRIDGE WELLS G COLLINS AND SON
issue no.
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J UNE 2 0 1 6
Contributors
E d i t o r - in-Chi ef Lesley Ellwood
E d i tor Richard Brown
D EP U T Y Editor tiffany eastland
S ta f f Writer MELISSA EMERSON
E d i t o r i a l a ss is tant david taylor
Se n i o r Des ign er LISA WADE
B RAND C ON S ISTEN CY
Chris Allsop
Chris Hall
Jennifer Mason
Chri s i s a B ath -b a sed fre el an c e
Chris is deputy editor for QP
Jenni fer, an av i d car fan and
jour n ali st an d ph otog raph er
Magazine, and has also written
amat eur ra cin g driv er, w h o
w h o m o stly w rit e s ab out
about technology and cars for
w rit e s ab out m otorin g f or
trav el , f i lm and ch e e se. Thi s
the likes of Wired and Esquire.
lu xur y london .c o.uk. O n p a ge
m onth , h e w rit e s an o d e to
Turn to page 50 for a run-
76, Jenni fer t ake s a clo ser
Br ut ali sm , el ab orat e v in e yard
down of the most value-for-
lo o k at Briti sh sup ercar
archit e cture and th e stunnin g
money releases to come out of
manufa cturer No bl e’s l at e st
S h an g h ai ( pp. 40, 94, 98).
Baselworld 2016.
rel ea se, th e M600.
Laddawan Juhong
Ge ne r a l Manag er Fiona Fenwick
P r o duct ion Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele Danny Lesar
P r opert y D ir ec tor Samantha Ratcliffe
E x ecu ti v e D ir ect or Sophie Roberts
M a n a g i n g D ir ec tor Eren Ellwood
City Bar red wine glass & walnut coasters, £45, LSA International, lsa-international.com
Grande Seconde off-centered silver, from £7,000, Jaquet Droz, jaquet-droz.com
Leather driving gloves, £95, Aspinal of London, aspinaloflondon.com
Published by
RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP
One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AX T: 020 7987 4320 rwmg.co.uk
Jeremy Taylor
Jack Watkins
Mark Westall
Je re my a re g u l a r c o n t r i b u t o r t o
Jack has been publi sh ed in The
Mark i s editor -in-chi ef
t h e Fi n a n c i a l Ti m e s a n d S u n d a y
Independent, The Guardian and
of onlin e ar t and culture
Ti m e s Ma g a z i n e . O n t h e b a c k
The D aily Telegraph. O n th e
ma gazin e FAD , creativ e
r o a d s a n d b e a u t i f u l w i l d e r n e ss
100th anniversar y of th e Battle
dire ctor of FAD Agen c y and our
Members of the Professional Publishers Association
o f O m a n , Je re my t e st s o u t t h e
of th e Somm e, Jack ref lects on
regul ar s ourc e of inf or mation
b o u n d a r i e s of a
on e of th e w orst days in Briti sh
ab out int ere stin g ar ti st s. Tur n
responsibility for unsolicited
H a rl e y - D av i d s o n ( p . 7 8 ) .
militar y hi stor y at th e Imperial
to p a ge 90 f or a lo o k into th e
submissions, manuscripts and
War Museum ( p.23).
w ork of Jam e s O strer.
Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept
photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscriptions A free online subscription service is available for The City Magazine.
Quilted cotton-denim biker jacket, £1,330, Balmain, balmain.com
The Somme: the epic battle in the soldiers’ own words and photographs, £20, Richard van Emden, pen-and-sword.co.uk
Visit the subscriptions page EF 122.25, James Ostrer, 2014, jamesostrer.com
on our website: rwmg.co.uk/subscribe
issue no.
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f r o m t h e E D I TOR
A
s s o on a s a n e w bui l din g i s set to chan ge th e capit al ’s sky lin e, su d d enly w e al l b e c om e ar m chair archit e ct s. Ne v er mind that w e’re n o t train ed in h ow to d e si g n a bui l din g – w e’re c onf i d ent w e c oul d do a mu ch b ett er jo b than th e p e opl e w h o are. I ’m
am on g th e w orse on e s f or it. In th e C ity, w e’re lu cky to w ork in on e of th e m o st archit e ctural ly div erse
p ar t s of th e w orl d . W h ere el se do R oman w al l s and hi stori c ca stl e s sit in th e sh a dow s of 1 7 th -c entur y cath edral s and 21st -c entur y sky scrap ers? It ’s n o w on d er w e b e c om e prot e ctiv e w h en e v er a n e w tow er i s prop o sed – an d , a s y ou w i l l se e , th ere are a g reat many pl ann ed f or th e City in th e n e xt fe w years . In thi s , our archit e cture i ssu e, w e sp eak to th e man w h o gui d ed th e S qu are Mi l e’s pl annin g p o li c y f or alm o st 30 years, Mr Pet er Re e s. We al s o sit dow n w ith th e p e opl e w h o hav e re pl a c ed him , chat to th e archit e ct b ehin d w h at w i l l b e th e S quare Mi l e’s t al l e st bui l din g, and pre sent th e n e w m ega - of f i c e s in w hi ch y ou may on e d ay w ork. Elsewhere, we ponder whether architecture is art, document the rise and fall of Brutalism and consider the legacy of the late Zaha Hadid, the first Arab woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Last month, Sadiq Khan rode into City Hall on a raft of promises to tackle London’s housing crisis. Under his two predecessors, more than 400 towers of 20 storeys or greater were given the green light. As foreign investment continues to pump air into the property balloon, we question if a new wave of high-rise is really the best way of def lating the bubble. Armchair architects, get ready to be riled.
Richard brown, editor
Other titles within the RWMG portfolio
A website. A mindset. A lifest yle. On the cover Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House, China ©Hufton+Crow
w w w.luxurylo nd on . c o . uk
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A PI LOT ’S WATCH SH O U L D EN DU R E E VERY T H I N G T H E PI LOT DO E S . The Bremont MB range is built in collaboration with British firm Martin-Baker, the pioneers of the ejection seat. At their test centre, the watches are strapped to the wrist of a crash-test dummy and shot out of the cockpit. Enduring forces of between 12G and 30G in the process. But this doesn’t mean the MB is built for endurance at the expense of performance. It’s a beautifully-engineered mechanical chronometer certified 99.998% accurate by COSC.
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City Life
JUNE 2016
mir’s mirages The chance to see how a building will look in its future habitat gives architects room to think big The City Magazine spends an unhealthy amount of time on the website of Norwegian creative design studio Mir, fixated by its 3D visualisations of unbuilt architecture. For architects across the world, the opportunity to see their designs in a hyper-realistic setting, among the buildings their construction will be joining, is invaluable for the next stage of architectural planning. In tight spaces such as the City, this tool becomes even more powerful, showing how new designs interact with the condense landscape of the Square Mile. Here are just three of Mir’s latest 3D imaginings, possibly coming to a major city near you. Mir creative studio, mir.no
above, from Left: Aedas and Mir, aedas.com and mir.no; SOM and Mir, som.com and mir.no Main Image: Snøhetta and Mir, snohetta.com and mir.no
This allAmerican Detroit manufacturer builds its goods to stand the test of time. This five-piece kit-bag has all you need for the maintenance of your leather accessories, including polish, small and long brushes and a cotton cloth. £170, Shinola, shinola.co.uk
Thi s Kingsman lin e has b een design ed exclusively for Mr. Port er, with a 21st-centur y approach to th e traditional image of a Briti sh gentleman . Th e collection i s b est defin ed by thi s double-breast ed jacket, with its traditional wide p eak lap el s and modern slim fit. Blu e Harr y slim-fit doublebreast ed wool suit jacket, £995, Kingsman , mrport er.com
the campaign Sales for Syria Anna Farina, head of Syria Relief in London, and art adviser, Julia Campbell Carter, have teamed up with renowned photographer Enzo Barracco to exhibit and sell his photo collection, The Noise of Ice, inspired by Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition. Fifty per cent of profits will go to Syria Relief, helping to rebuild the futures of vulnerable Syrians. The exhibition opens on 14 June at the home of Anja Langenbucher, European director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. syriarelief.co.uk
t i d e e th
ife] [City L
mab onsu c d n nth es a oditi es this mo m m o The c erest rat nt our i
les ra
ising
the HOTEL Hoxton in Holland The Hoxton Amsterdam opened to the public in July 2015 on the outskirts of the city centre. The hotel’s décor is archetypal Dutch mixed with modern influences – the complex is made up of five canal houses, with 111 rooms across five floors. Chances are, you’ll have a canal view, as canals run down both sides of the hotel for an extra dash of ‘Dam. The restaurant, Lotti’s, is run in partnership with Soho House & Co, and features seasonal Italian dishes with a hint of Holland thrown in – apparently the Bitterballen are a roaring success. thehoxton.com/holland/amsterdam
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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| news |
the BOOTS With the weather as unpredictable as the Premier League, you need a shoe that will keep out the sudden inevitable downpours, like the stow country boot from Trickers. £390, Trickers, trickers.com
the FAIR
future focus
Somerset House is the venue for ArDe, a new annual fair looking at the ways in which the city of tomorrow must adapt to swelling populations, climate change and global markets. Bringing together for the first time experts from the worlds of architecture, landscape, design, public art, property development and technology, the eight day exhibition will offer a sneak peek into how we’ll be living in the future, with the re-evaluation of everyday life at the front of the queue. From 8 June, ardelondon.com
the competition
Photo and caption by Angiolo Manetti / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest, Winding roads Location: Boumalne, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco
,
Nature’s Canvas
Photo and caption by Andy Yeung / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest, Urban Jungles Location: Hong Kong, China
,
Photo and caption by Christoph Schaarschmidt / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest, Trollstigen, Location: Norway
image Botond Horvath
The National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year competition always brings together the best photographers from across the world, and this year’s offering is as good as ever. The winner will be treated to a seven day polar bear safari for two in Manitoba, Canada, along with the prestige that comes with the crown of Nat Geo’s travel photographer of the year. Entries have come in from the four corners of the globe, providing a stunning insight into the planet we all call home. Divided into three categories – Nature, People and Cities – entrants are encouraged to submit photos that tell the story of a place, or reveal insight about what inspires them to travel. To view this year’s submissions, visit travel.nationalgeographic.com/ photographer-of-the-year-2016
the RUCKSACKS
1
2
3
4
1. Leather-Trimmed Canvas Backpack, £195, Club Monaco, mrporter.com; 2. Colour-block grained-leather backpack, £850, Coach, mrporter.com; 3. Wilderness rucksack, £293, Tanner Goods, tannergoods.com; 4. Rivington Rucksack, £228, Brooks England, brooksengland.com
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
17
can-do attitude Exactly what it says on the tin – literally. With research suggesting that plastic bottles are not only harmful to the environment but also to our health, CanO provides canned water sourced directly from the foothills of the Austrian Alps. The cans themselves are stylish and 100 per cent recyclable, and the brand was recently the head supplier for London Collections Men. Unique technology enables the drinker to reseal the can for later use. Full of all you’d expect from natural mineral water, CanO comes in still and sparkling, and is the next step in finding a solution for one of the biggest environmental threats. Water tastes good from a can. CanO Water, £24.99 for a pack of 24, CanO Water, canowater.com
l a i c o s The
Drinking den Treat your old man to a tipple or two this Father’s Day
ife] [City L
the ZES Y CRA ed WITH AR h IN is r CUL ou s and ure n nche e epic u h a t l G t tes KEEPIN e’s La re mil a u q s
Yauatcha Patisserie Yauatcha City, the modern Chinese dining experience within Broadgate Circle, celebrates its first birthday this month. Perfect timing for summer, too: the terraces overlooking Broadgate will be home to a DJ, and the outside bar will serve white, rosé and red wines on tap by the glass or carafe. What’s more, customers can now order Yauatcha City’s beautiful patisseries to their door via phone or email; macarons, chocolates and cakes will make their way to anywhere within a half-mile radius. Broadgate Circle, EC2, yauatcha.com/city
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
Windspiel premium dry gin, £42.95, Windspiel, masterofmalt.com
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Pure milk vodka, £26, Black Cow, marksandspencer.com Leffe blonde/brune, £3, Leffe, leffe.com
Haig Club, £49.99, House of Haig, selfridges.com
XO Excellence cognac, £120, Rémy Martin, 31dover.com
5
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| news |
British bistro
155 Bar & Kitchen, the gastronomic arm of Clerkenwell London, is open to serve modern British bistro food. The eatery is supporting British producers such as HG Walter and Flying Fish, alongside international flavours, from Cornish sea bass carpaccio with avocado and yuzu to confit pork belly with salsa verde. The chefs are supported by the award-winning Damian Wawrzyniak of Noma, and Master of Wine Sarah Abbott. There are also smaller rooms to hire, such as The Vinyl Lounge, a 1970s-inspired lair with custom-built decks, and The Piano Lounge, complete with a baby grand. 155 Farringdon Road, EC1, 155barandkitchen.com
the gentleman’s menu Lo n d o n l i b at i o n Th e Am erican Bar at th e Sav oy i s a London institution , and it has decided to pay homage to its hom e with a n ew cocktail m enu inspired by th e six boroughs surrounding it. From th e City to Westminst er, Hackn ey, Tower Hamlets, Islington and Camden , each borough i s represent ed by four cocktail s creat ed by bar manager Declan McGurk and h ead bart ender Erik Lorincz. O n e of th e signature ser ves i s a duo of cocktail s accompanied by a silent film creat ed by th e Sav oy that takes its inspiration from Pickering Place, th e last known sit e of a du el in London . Strand , W C2, fairmont.com
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Johnnie Walker Blue Label has partnered with M Victoria Street to create the elegant four-course Gentleman’s Tasting Menu in celebration of Father’s Day. Guests start in Victoria Street’s Secret Den – usually only open to private members – for The Blue Rose, a Blue Label, orange and rose water cocktail. The menu itself, inspired by the Johnnie Walker short film The Gentleman’s Wager II starring Jude Law, infuses special dishes with Blue Label, such as beef short rib braised for 72 hours in a fine scotch marinade with sugar and spices. Rich flavours from the Italian Riviera pervade the meal, which is rounded off with M Victoria Street’s signature blue cheese ice cream and a Johnnie Walker cocktail. Bottles of the good stuff are also available to finish the meal, with the option of an engraved message. Available 17-19 June, M Victoria Street, SW1
THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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| LIFESTYLE |
BON VIVEUR
Our man-about-town, Innerplace’s Nick Savage, gives you the insider lowdown on LONDON’S most hedonistic haunts
O
TECH CITY’S CULINARY HOTSPOTS
ver the past few years, technology it joined forces with Searcys and Anthony has had a disruptive effect on the Demetre (the man behind Michelin-starred way we approach restaurants in Arbutus and Wild Honey) to open a fineLondon. In 2015, Deliveroo bagged a cool dining restaurant and private members’ Innerplace $195 million (£134 million) in fundraising. club on the 16th and 17th floors of the is London’s personal Its bikes are now as ubiquitous as black Gherkin. The view from the top is onelifestyle concierge. Membership cabs on the city’s streets. Other start-ups of-a-kind. While you’re offered amazing provides complimentary access to the finest nightclubs, the best like SUPPER are trying to get in on the vistas of St Paul’s and the City, the restaurants and top private members’ action by allowing Londoners to dine most captivating sight is looking down clubs. Innerplace also offers priority from more than 50 Michelin-starred on to the hive of activity around the bookings, VIP invitations and restaurants in the comfort of their own roundabout. insider updates on the latest openings. home. Henchman does much the same A thicket of restaurants have been innerplace.co.uk as Deliveroo without just stopping at food, cropping up around it. One of the first to offering drinks, gifts and shopping as well. lead the way is Martin Morales’ excellent At Innerplace, the concierge service where I Ceviche. It’s arguably the finest of his serve as editor, we’re receiving an increasing London restaurants, with a wooden bar number of straightforward requests online, fashioned from Peruvian hardwood that rather than over the phone. looks like it has come straight from Lima’s However, the start-up industry has had Plaza de Armas. It also doubles as an art an effect on London restaurants in a more gallery with its own app, which uses the material way. In short, it has helped to guest’s location within the dining room to create new ones. A quick visit to Old Street offer details on the closest artwork. Roundabout corroborates this. The once Around the corner, The Bower dilapidated and vaguely menacing descent development has been poaching some into the underbelly of Shoreditch has been of the more successful London-based given a bright and cheery new paint job. franchises, including Honest Burgers and It’s also replete with food stalls and popBone Daddies, which is due to open this up shops that switch in and out at whiplash summer. Barbecue restaurant Bodean’s pace. They have included Supernatural has opened a spot on City Road, which has ( fruit juice and smoothies), Fifteen (Jamie been popular with Americans who want to Oliver’s restaurant-cum-social enterprise), catch an NFL or NBA game. Spoon (cereals), Mallow and Marsh Hill & Szrok, the butcher-cum(marshmallows) and Nincomsoup (soups steakhouse, that took Broadway Market by and salads). These shops have obviously storm, has opened up another restaurant risen up in response to a more affluent, in the pub that formerly housed The ‘artisanal’ and ‘craft’-oriented clientele than Three Crowns. And that’s perhaps the previous Shoreditch denizens. If you’re most effective barometer on whether a bringing in $195 million investments, you neighbourhood has become fully adapted might need somewhere a bit more formal for a corporate presence – the arrival of its than The Old Blue Last to seal the deal. very own, bona fide steakhouse. However, One such place that is optimally staying true to its East End ethos, this one FROM TOP TO BOTTOM located for doing so is Urban Coterie. M specialises in organically reared British Urban Coterie interior (left); Ceviche Old Street interior by Montcalm opened its doors in 2015 and livestock with an emphasis on using the (right); Urban Coterie interior; Urban Coterie dish; has been flooded with guests from the tech entire animal, not just the choice cuts. Tiradito Chifa at Ceviche Old Street industry ever since. It wasn’t long after that Ethically arriviste, so to speak.
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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| FEATURE |
THE
SOMME Next month will mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme. Jack Watkins reflects on one of the worst days in British military history
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ven in the context of the horrors of the First World War, the casualty figures at the Battle of the Somme, launched on 1 July 1916, retain a capacity to curdle the blood. What has been described as the battle that marked the beginning of all-arms warfare – the conflict witnessing the first deployment of the tank and the use of air power, as well infantry offensives – resulted in more than 600,000 Allied (including 200,000 French) and an estimated 500,000 German casualties. The official British figure was 419,654 dead, wounded and missing. On the first day alone, 19,240 British soldiers died, more than 35,493 were wounded and 2,737 missing or taken prisoner. The first day of the Somme still ranks as the worst day in British military history. And in just six weeks of participating in it, Australia suffered 7,000 dead, nearly as many as in eight months at Gallipoli.
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The official British figure was 419,654 dead, wounded and missing
Yet the battle raged on for another fourand-a-half attritional months, embracing non-firing shells, communications failures and shocking weather conditions. The inconclusive outcome left the British commander-in-chief Sir Douglas Haig with the unwanted nickname of the “Butcher of the Somme”, while a German officer described the battlefield as “the muddy grave of the German field army”. On 30 June the Imperial War Museum (IWM) is holding a free late-night opening, with specially staged events reflecting upon the centenary of the Somme. This ‘vigil’ will also feature a screening of the historic documentary The Battle of the below Troops of the French 201st Infantry Regiment coming back from the front line in a photograph taken near Bronfay Farm, Bray, on 23 September 1916 © IWM
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Somme. When first released in 1916, this 74-minute film was the first feature-length documentary about war. It was seen by an audience of around 20 million people within six weeks – almost half the British population of the time – many watching in the nervous hope of catching a glimpse of a family member or friend on screen. I was recently fortunate enough to attend a press viewing of the film, appropriately enough staged at the historic and recently re-opened Regent Street Cinema, which in 1896 was the first venue in this country to show moving pictures, showcasing the ground-breaking cinematography of the Lumière brothers. There’s no doubt the film has gained much renewed vigour by the addition of a score by British composer Laura Rossi, specially commissioned by the IWM ten years ago to mark the 90th anniversary. In the course of her research in preparation for the score, Rossi discovered her uncle was a stretcher bearer during the War and, using his diaries, visited the Somme battlefields to locate the areas where he had served. The combination of her music and the imagery of the photography is at times almost overwhelmingly poignant and powerful, lending some of the build-up scenes a feeling of awful foreboding.
above Still from the film The Battle of the Somme showing a British soldier carrying a wounded comrade back from the front line. The scene is generally accepted as having been filmed on the first day of the battle, 1 July 1916, © IWM below A horse-drawn limber takes ammunition to the forward guns along the Lesboeufs Road, outside Flers, in November 1916 during the final stages of the Somme offensive, © IWM
waging bloody war while the sun was out, the birds were singing and the hedgerows were in blossom. Lord Kitchener, the British secretary of state for war, had banned all photography and film from taking place at the Front until late 1915. With the British public ill-informed about fighting conditions, the War Office finally agreed to the presence of cameras in the hope that footage would have a morale-boosting propaganda value. Prime Minster David Lloyd George heralded the Battle of the Somme as an “epic of self-sacrifice and gallantry” and argued that it was everyone’s duty to see it. There was a strong emphasis on depicting the care and medical assistance that the soldiers received, and also included were scenes of the chivalry shown to enemy prisoners. But it’s hard to imagine that the grim realities as shown, including dead combatants’ bodies slumped in trenches and the pockmarked landscape, wouldn’t have alarmed many. While some praised the documentary for its realism, the Dean of Durham decried “an entertainment which wounds the heart and violates the very sanctity of bereavement”. It’s now believed that the famous, “over
The quality of the digitally restored print is remarkable The quality of the digitally restored print is remarkable, and we see up close these ordinary-looking soldiers, gamely doffing their helmets, puffing on cigarettes and offering up big grins for the camera, as lifelike as if it were yesterday. Then there is the barbed wire and the mud, the ransacked countryside of the Western Front. You can watch the leaves and grass stirring in the wind, and you might even recall war artist Paul Nash’s recollection of the jarring incongruity of
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| FEATURE |
the top” sequence was actually recreated at a training camp behind the lines after the start of the battle, but what an achievement the film was. All the footage was shot by just two cameramen, Geoffrey Malins and JB McDowell, using large, hand-cranked cameras. The equipment was heavy and would only permit a few hundred feet of film to be loaded at a time. The film was also unsuited to poor lighting conditions or long-distance subjects. Even so, the pair returned to London with 8,000 feet of footage. Malins received an OBE for his work and later wrote about it in a somewhat immodestly titled autobiography, How I Filmed the War. In addition to events marking the anniversary of the Somme, the IWM has launched a permanent digital memorial, Lives of the First World War (livesofthefirstworldwar.org), allowing members of the public to discover and share stories of those who lived, died, fought and survived the Somme. And from 1 July-8 January 2017 it is running a temporary exhibition Real to Reel: A Century of War Movies, examining the differing approaches that directors of classic films, from Casablanca and The Dam Busters to Lawrence of Arabia and
ABOVE Still from the film The Battle of the Somme allegedly showing British troops advancing at the start of the battle on 1 July 1916. It is now accepted that this scene was staged for the camera at a training school behind the lines, © IWM
Saving Private Ryan, have brought to delivering war’s inherent drama to the big screen. By comparison, the methods of the makers of The Battle of the Somme might seem simple, but the truth of their on-theground footage can still make the heart beat faster after all these years. For details of the IWM’s ‘The Night Before The Somme’ (30 June, 8pm) visit iwm.org.uk/somme. A special performance of ‘The Battle of the Somme’ to mark the end of the battle will take place at the Royal Festival Hall on 18 November, with Laura Rossi’s acclaimed score performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. ‘The Somme: A Visual History’, by Anthony Richards, £15.99, Unicorn Press, unicornpress.org
CIRCLES, FROM TOP Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, was a British senior officer during WWI. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War in 1918, © Everett Historical; WWI aerial photo of French troops on the Somme Front, launching an attack on the Germans, © Everett Historical right 2nd Indian Cavalry WW1 in the Battle of the Somme, © Everett Historical below, right Battle of Bazentin Ridge, 14-17 July 1916. Soldiers digging a communication trench through Delville Wood. An officer observing from the ruins of Longueval Church, © IWM
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More than 430 towers, of 20 storeys or greater, are planned for the capital – but does anyone actually want them? Words: Richard Brown
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ondon. She’s hardly a looker. She’d win no crowns at an international beauty pageant. Miss Lisbon, Miss Madrid, Miss Paris, Miss Vienna, Miss Rome, even little Miss Ljubljana – almost all of her European sisters are prettier than she. That’s not to say that great swathes of the city aren’t utterly beautiful; that she’s lacking in breathtaking buildings; that the villages, heaths, commons and mews that make up her good side aren’t the envy of urbanites all over the world. It’s just that taken as whole, London is a bit of a minger. She has, of course, been scarred by a unique set of pressures – physically disfigured by great fires, world wars, huge population surges, economic booms, modernism, post-modernism and some truly horrific examples of self-mutilation in the 1960s. She’s had to cope with a lot. So, in a way, it’s funny that following the threat of the German air force, the biggest menace to London’s skyline should come in the form of Chinese businessmen. As Prince Charles once famously quipped: “You have to give this much to the Luftwaffe, when it knocked down our buildings, it didn’t replace them with anything more offensive than rubble.” In March, a report by New London Architecture and property consultant GL Hearn, revealed that there are 436 buildings of more than 20 storeys planned for the capital. That number has almost doubled in two years. In 2015, only three
London has been at the mercy of building booms before, but this one is different. Previous bubbles were fuelled by borrowing. This one is energised not by mortgages but by cash. And it’s not just the Chinese for whom London has become a safe investment. The Panama Papers leaked earlier this year revealed that the prime ministers of Pakistan and Azerbaijan, Iraq’s former interim prime minister, the president of the Nigerian senate, as well as close pals of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, had all invested heavily in London property. The biggest single investor was UEA’s Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who owns a portfolio worth more than £1.2 billion. The companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, the firm whose data was breached, are connected to British properties worth in excess of £7 billion, the Evening Standard reported. Mossack Fonseca is only the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm. We can only guess to which tune the thousands of companies set up by the three larger companies have invested. Like New York, London is a victim of its own success. Skyscrapers aren’t a new phenomenon, but at a time of soaring property prices and a chronic lack of affordable housing, an increasing number of high-profile figures are questioning whether constructing more bubbleinflating buildings is the best approach to the issue that secured Sadiq Khan his seat in City Hall. “London’s population is rising fast – but our response, a second generation of multi-storey tower blocks, many for social housing, is not the right one,” said Nicholas Boys Smith, a former adviser to Chancellor George Osborne, in The Guardian last year. Boys Smith set up a lobby group against the march of the high-rise under the banner ‘Create Streets.’ “Most people, most of the
Too many of the planned towers ‘are of mediocre architectural quality and badly sited’ proposals were rejected: Hounslow House, the ‘Central Phase 4 Site’ in Woolwich and Southwark’s Gagarin Tower. The proposed towers, of which almost a quarter are already under way, stretch from Greenwich to Paddington and from Croydon to Camden. They include both Europe’s tallest commercial building (1 Undershaft, in the City) and its highest residential tower block (Hertsmere House, in Canary Wharf).
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time, don’t want to live in big blocks,” he said. “We are concerned that in the long term the flaws in these large multi-storey buildings will make themselves very apparent.” Quinlan Terry, a classically inspired architect who designed the Richmond Riverside scheme, shares Boys Smith’s concerns. “Steel and glass don’t produce useful buildings that last more than 25 years,” he said, in the same Guardian
this image © Marco Rubino right © Rubinowa Dama
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article. Terry, and his architect-son Francis, believes there are better ways of achieving compact housing than building high. “We are trying to create density in a grain rather than with a tower of 20 storeys and space all around it. If you look at Rome, Paris and Milan you have that dense urban grain.” Terry believes that classical terraces, eight-storeys high, around an open circus, provide a more attractive solution than towering high-rises. Other architects had already voiced similar views. In 2014, a statement published in The Observer called for a review of London’s local planning processes. The 80 signatories who put their name to the petition read like a who’s who of British architecture. It included Sir David Chipperfield, Sir Anish Kapoor, Ted Cullinan and Eric Parry, among many significant others. ‘The skyline of London is out of control,’ the statement read. Too many of the planned towers ‘are of mediocre architectural quality and badly sited,’ it continued. ‘Many show little consideration for scale and setting, make minimal contribution to public realm or street-level experience, and are designed without concern for their cumulative effect and impact. Their generic designs threaten London’s unique character and identity.’ All of this, the statement observed, was taking place despite an almost complete lack of public awareness, consultation or debate. Last year, YouGov polled 1,011 adults on their opinion of the proposed towers; 48 per cent said they thought they would have a negative effect on the city’s skyline, while 60 per cent believed the public should be consulted when a tall building was planned for a historically important area. We already know that people don’t like to live in tall buildings. Since 1983, pre-1919 homes have increased in value at double the rate of modern buildings, according to data from the Halifax. In Oval, 92 per cent of residents polled by Boys Smith’s Create Streets, preferred ‘Kennington’-style Victorian architecture over Vauxhall-style tower blocks. Similar figures were recorded in Kingston and Southwark. We also know that high-rise doesn’t necessarily mean high density. One of the densest boroughs of London is Kensington & Chelsea; neat houses packed into pretty
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streets where people want to live. Sometimes, as in the City, the only choice is to build up. Love them or loathe them, it’s hard to argue against the architectural quality of the towers that define the Square Mile. The Gherkin, the Cheesegrater, Heron Tower, Broadgate Tower, even the Walkie Talkie – these boundary-pushing buildings have benefitted from a non-political planning committee that relies on the consensus of up to 30 members. Canary Wharf, too, is a success. A wellexecuted masterplan means high quality buildings concentrated in a cluster that feel like they belong together. Large open spaces, avenues of trees, pretty gardens and an abundance of restaurants and shops make the docklands development a nice place to be, even at the weekend. Peter Rees [interviewed on page 32] spent 29 years as the chief planning officer at the City of London Corporation. Having signed-off the Gherkin, the Heron Tower, the Walkie-Talkie and the Cheesgrater, he’s not an individual inherently opposed to skyscrapers. Yet even he questions the long term effect of London’s short term approach to planning. “It’s not the number of towers that bothers me,” says Rees. “What worries me is what they are being used for. We don’t make land. Supply is running out. We’ve got to use it wisely. If you were building homes that people were actually living in I’d say ‘OK, it’s a price worth paying’. But we are not.” The proposed towers, Rees believes, are the upshot of councils eager to accept any sort of contribution to affordable housing, and politicians blindsided by the financial clout of huge development companies. “I’m not blaming developers,” he says. “It’s in their DNA; it’s what they should be doing. I’m not blaming the investors; they are good investments. I’m blaming the politicians; the people who’ve weakened the planning system to the point where the system can no longer balance land use for the good of the community.” Excesses of ’60s and ’70s planning exist like carbuncles on the face of the capital. Instead of learning from the damage already done, the city is set to be blighted by another explosion of high-rise. You can’t polish a turd. Yet London continues to add to the crap heap.
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the ivory tower
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While planners mull over the proposed design of what could become the City’s tallest tower, we talk context, irony and public opinion, in an exclusive interview with architect Mr Eric Parry Words: tiffany eastland
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n Context: Architecture and the Genius of Place, Eric Parry warns: “An orgy of tall buildings will transform and arguably overwhelm London.” From the architect responsible for designing, if all goes to plan, the City’s tallest tower, I can’t help but see the irony. When I met Parry at his Clerkenwell office, I asked him if he was conscious of this quirk of fate and why he agreed to be involved in the 1 Undershaft project. His response: the typography. The proposed 73-storey building that’s awaiting planning approval would sit at 1 Undershaft, a site that planners had earmarked as the perfect location for the apex of the clusters of towers that have already been approved in the City. Height constraints in the area, imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority to protect flight paths in and out of London City Airport, say no building should top 305 metres. Parry’s is set to stand at 295. If signed off, Parry’s proposed design will accommodate some 10,000 people, within what he says is a very well-honed group of buildings. Even still, the architect was keen to break monotony in what is a cluster of very
large glass buildings. “I’ve put a shroud of white vitreous enamel on every floor,” he says. “So it will appear as a white building.” In his book, published last year, Parry also highlights concern for the dotted white stone buildings that are quickly becoming enveloped by green glass. “I do feel a sense of nausea when I see green,” he says. “I mean bottle green buildings are just not that appealing.” I guess Parry feels he can speak candidly, as others do of his work. “On the whole, it [his design] was remarkably well received I think. There are obvious anxieties from neighbours, you know, not least with overshadowing, but at the same time, there’s a gain… a wonderful new public realm.” In fact, Parry said that when this project came up, it was obvious looking at the site that he’d need to maximise the public realm, which given the scale, would require thinking outside the box. “There are two ways of making a tall building, well several, but if you take a stiff centre and lock it into the ground, the obvious thing is to have all your lifts in the centre and to have peripheral space,” he explains. Parry had something else in mind for
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1 Undershaft; he had the idea of moving the core out to the side of the building, to free up the whole underneath, lifting the lobby 12 metres above the ground to create “a wonderful new space for the City, at a point where it really, really requires it”. Effectively, he’s unplugging something that would have otherwise created a bottleneck for pedestrians. The City, first and foremost, is a financial centre. However, it’s taken enormous strides to improve its retail
“I mean bottle green buildings are just not that appealing” offering. Parry believes 1 Undershaft has the capacity to further address this aspect of life, and play a part in the magnetism of the City after hours. Some have said that Parry’s design is perhaps better suited to a city like New York. To this, Parry says: “Yes, tall buildings have certain characteristics, so obviously New York is the mother of those tall buildings, apart from Chicago. It’s no wonder there’s that reference.” In defence, Parry said that his design is really rooted in an understanding of the City and how it lives and breathes. Parry is a resident of the City: “I walk
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through the City for various reasons; not least school runs to Aldgate, so I know the beat very well.” He says the proposed building is completely different to a New York grid building and believes it’s so particular to London that it couldn’t exist anywhere else. “The space at the top makes it absolutely London,” he assures me. He goes on to explain that he and his team are working on a potential collaboration with the Museum of London, which would see a 360 degree viewing gallery at the top.
The space at the top makes it absolutely London “You’d have this most privileged view, up to 60km on a clear day. And then with visual aids, you’ll be able to pan back in time through the glass, to what once was.” Parry says it would be a space which could cater to children in class sizes with two classrooms at the very top: “They’d have the most amazing opportunity to understand the typography of London, as it was, as it is, and as it might be.
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“The body to me seems to be born of certain pragmatics and subtleties that are probably reflected in some architecture that I really respect, like the Cenotaph, which inclines slightly, both into the ground and up to convergent points that you don’t see above. I’ve used the same device here.” He said that though it is a contemporary building, it’s just not a ‘goanywhere’ building. Of the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin, which will sandwich 1 Undershaft, Parry says: “These are buildings that were beautifully designed, and let’s say much better than most New York buildings, so I hope to continue that tradition.” And while Parry is very complementary of his peers, and the “well-honed” eastern cluster, he did express some concern when I highlighted the plethora of towers proposed for wider London. Parry said that the number planned is growing daily, and believes many of these towers are far too ad hoc, with many in the wrong place. “I would urge the new Mayor to take a very strong line on encouraging more proactive planning of what is going to make these centres good places to be in.” ericparryarchitects.co.uk
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The man who built the City
6-8 bishopsgate Nickname: Nothing yet Developer: Mitsubishi Estate London Architect: Wilkinson Eyre (Battersea Power Station redevelopment) Size: 71,501 sq m Expected Completion: 2020 (planning permission expected this year) About: Designed for Mitsubishi Estate London, the tower’s design is that of a series of stacked blocks, with retail spaces at the bottom of each ‘box’ and a viewing platform on the top floor, marking Mitsubishi’s ongoing faith in the City as a blue chip hotspot.
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How a solitary Welshman almost single-handedly shaped the Square Mile Words: Richard Brown
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f you are reading this at a desk in the Square Mile, Peter Rees probably signed-off the building in which you are sat. Having served as chief planning officer at the City of London Corporation for 29 years, it was under Rees’ watchful eye that almost 80 per cent of the City was redeveloped. “No two forces have had more effect on the London skyline than the Luftwaffe and Peter Rees,” says architect Ken Shuttleworth, who, along with Rees, gave us the Gherkin. Rees was the man developers had to charm. He was also the man to whom architecture critics turned if they wanted a salacious sound-bite. In an age on selfcensorship, where those in positions of power live in fear of a sensationalist media that’s always ready to pounce, Rees shot from the hip. He was always good for a quip. “I like tall buildings because you have more time to snog in the lift,” he once offered, tongue firmly in cheek. I first met Peter three years ago, when I was invited on a walking tour of the City. It was clear that Rees wasn’t your typical suit – he was wearing a denim jacket for a start. His passion for the City was infectious. He came across more historian, more comedian, than he did town planner. If he’d charged for the tour, I would have happily paid. The City was in safe hands. Then, 12 months later, I read that Peter would be leaving the Corporation, an institution that he’d helped steer for the previous three decades. The official line was that two departments were merging into one, and that Peter’s position had become superfluous. “I think they expected one of us to walk,” says Rees of the two department heads. “I decided that
Despite the financial crash putting the brakes on plans for the Pinnacle, it’s boom time once again for development in the City. These are the latest towers set to transform the skyline
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I needed a fresh challenge.” I next met Peter last month, at University College London, where he’d studied architecture as an undergraduate and where, since 2014, he’s been employed as Professor of Places and City Planning. He’d lost none of his knack for storytelling, insisting on showing me the preserved remains of UCL-founder Jeremy Bentham before we sat down in the university common room to thrash out the current swathe of developments earmarked for the capital. Peter often causes controversy. Judge for yourself whether his comments are melodramatic or plain common sense. It’s rare to hear an interviewee speak with so much clarity and so much conviction. Indeed, it’s hard to think of a person better equipped to advise on planning policy in London. Sadiq, if you’re listening, give this man a job.
1 52 lime street Nickname: The Scalpel Developer: WRBC Development UK Ltd Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox (Museum of Modern Art, NY) Size: 38,545 sq m Expected Completion: 2017 About: 52 Lime Street’s nickname proved so popular that the developers have officially named the building The Scalpel. The skyscraper is being built for insurance company W. R. Berkley as its European headquarters, with the company using one quarter of the total office space.
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What’s the secret behind good architecture? Getting architects and developers to discover the essence of a place, then making it work better without taking away what is most important. Some architects try to provide the outside world in one building. You don’t want people spending their whole day inside. That’s what Google tries to do – lock its staff in before 9am and not let them out before 7pm. The giant corporation trapped inside the perfect building is a very American concept. Are 22 Bishopsgate and 1 Undershaft [numbers 6 and 7 overleaf] goodlooking buildings? I don’t want to comment on things that have happened outside of my time in the City – not that I would necessarily have negative things to say about those developments. The most important thing is that we get the floor space. You can argue as long as you like about the impact on skyline but having agreed to build a cluster [of skyscrapers], the most important thing is to get on with it. What about the Walkie Talkie? That one you did sign-off. It’s divided opinion but I’m still proud of it. It’s a building that people know and a building you can visit as a member of the public without having to pay. It’s a building that’s distinctive on the skyline. Will the City not soon be flooded with an oversupply of office space? There is a building boom in the City, but that’s against a background of an incredibly low vacancy rate, around five per cent.
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We always reckoned the lowest healthy vacancy rate was around eight per cent, less than that and there isn’t the flexibility for people to expand and move offices. On the West of the City, around Fleet Street and Fetter Lane, it’s around two per cent. That’s dangerous. What if there is another banking crisis? The strength of the City isn’t in banks; it’s in business – especially insurance. Does London’s international clout nullify fears over an EU exit? London is bigger than Europe. The UK isn’t, but London is. I would struggle to name a third city in the same league as London and New York. For all the screams of ‘If Britain leaves Europe then we’ll leave the City’, well ok, you guys said that when it was about us not joining the euro. London is so powerful companies have no option but to be here, unless we’re stupid enough as to not provide the accommodation they need.
You’ve described Canary Wharf as the new Croydon... Croydon was the first satellite business district of central London. The two are the same animal at different stages of their development. I’m not saying Canary Wharf cannot find a way of evolving and staying alive, but there are dangers in satellites that they boom quickly and then they decline quickly.
© Make Architects
Did you see Canary Wharf as an aid or an irritant to the City? Both Canary Wharf and the [modern] City were products of the Big Bang. They were alternative solutions. Canary Wharf was effectively designed by Americans for Americans. It feels American. When the Americans do eventually pile into a war, they want to do it their way. Both ended up full, as did the West End. We needed all three options at the same time.
100 bISHOPSGATE
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Nickname: Not yet Developer: Brookfield Property Architect: Allies and Morrison (King’s Cross Tunnel) + Arney Fender Katsalidis Size: 83,600 sq m Expected Completion: 2018 About: 100 Bishopsgate will take the space currently occupied by six other City buildings, and will have a half-acre ‘public realm’ at the base, connecting St Mary Axe, Bishopsgate and Camomile Street. Owner, and the world’s biggest office developer, Brookfield, announced last November that the first seven floors had been let to the Royal Bank of Canada.
40 leadenhall street Nickname: Gotham City Developer: Henderson Global Investors Architect: Make Architects (5 Broadgate) Size: 84,500 sq m Expected Completion: 2019 About: Inspired by the neo-gothic architecture of New York and Chicago, and nicknamed Gotham City due to its resemblance to the buildings in the city Batman calls home, 40 Leadenhall has been designed with a cascading shape so as not to spoil views of St. Paul’s.
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Are you in favour of elected mayors? What do elected mayors do? They change the buses, build garden bridges, construct cable cars that go nowhere. It’s all bread and circuses... By the time a planning decision goes before a mayor, you have a planning committee of one – that’s dangerous. That’s too open to influence. At the City, I had a planning committee of more than 30 people to report to. To what extent should politicians be involved in the planning process? Once you’ve got policies, it’s a professional planner’s job to implement them. Introduce party politics into a local
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planning system and you can end up with the politicians doing the negotiating. Politicians are at a huge disadvantage. They are amateurs. They will, by and large, be a push over for the developers who can pay for the best consultants.
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60-70 st mary axe
Nickname: The Can of Ham Developer: TH Real Estate Architect: Foggo Associates (280 Bishopsgate) Size: 41,515 sq m Expected Completion: Construction underway About: After almost a decade of waiting, work has finally begun on 60-70 St Mary Axe: the tower was granted planning permission in 2008, but stalled, like many other projects, due to the financial crash. The nickname comes from the tinned meat popular during wartime rationing, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Foggo’s design.
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How does London solve its housing crisis? By building the right kind of properties – homes to rent. Rental doesn’t mean low end, it can mean every part of the sector. Look at Marylebone, one of the best kept parts of London [largely managed by the Howard de Walden Estate]. Politicians are still stigmatising rented housing and making you feel like if you don’t own your own home you are not a true stakeholder in society. It’s nonsense. The French don’t feel like that, the Germans don’t feel like that. In Paris, Vienna, Berlin, most of the residents rent rather than own. Will the ‘Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area’ be a success? You have a government that wants to redevelop derelict land with a showcase project without anyone asking what the land is being used for. You only have to look across the river at Chelsea Harbour or Imperial Wharf to see examples of ghost towns, places that have been mopped up by the international property investment market. I can’t understand why anyone would believe that wasn’t going to happen if you provided more of the same product on the opposite side of the river. What’s the alternative to high-rise? The idea that to increase density you have to build high is, frankly, bollocks. To achieve high density, you build around the edges of a site, put a nice garden with trees in the middle, five to seven storeys tall. Cities from Helsinki to Naples have developed like that over 100s of years. When you build a high-rise block in the
middle of a site, the open space is in the wrong place, it’s around the outside of the site where the traffic is. It doesn’t feel private. You don’t want to sit in your deck chair looking out on Vauxhall Cross. How do you deflate the investment property bubble? By building high density housing that will appeal to the domestic market. Not by building blocks of glass towers that are sold on the fit out of the kitchen and the view from the window off-plan to property investors in Hong Kong. Is the Garden Bridge a vanity project? It’s at a point where we don’t need a bridge – and there are plenty of places where we do – and if you wanted to build a park, you could build 20 for the same money where they would work better. The area is already overheated with tourists along the South Bank, why the hell are we trying to attract even more people to the area? It’s so that a prime-minister-in-waiting can claim it as one of his achievements. From what countries can London learn? If a German wants to invest money in property, they can put it into a property investment fund – money that can be used to build homes, schools, hospitals, infrastructure. They get the profit, they get the security, but the capital is active, it’s being used. It’s much more efficient for an urban economy to have people rent property. You can get more actual density into an area if it’s rented rather than privately owned, but it needs to be professionally managed, not owned by individual investors but run by companies. What does London need to succeed? People in their 20s from all over the world. It is because they are here, that London is strong. If they can’t afford to live in London, they won’t be able to come.
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custodians of the square mile To what extent is the Corporation’s primary purpose one of conservation? A: Ours is very much a dual role, because many of our buildings are listed, or in conservation areas, that imposes a statutory duty on us as a local planning authority to safeguard those areas. Equally, it’s very important that this historic environment meets what the City needs. We now see the eastern cluster as where the City is going to deliver 50-60 per cent of its new office floor space. How has the approach to planning in the City changed? A: The City is nothing without the rest of London. We are absolutely dependent on London’s success – the housing, the cultural facilities, the transport. There probably was a case for saying that the City regarded itself as a bit of an island in the past. That is now absolutely not the case. We are completely engaged with the whole London debate. There may have been a slight conflict between Canary Wharf and the City in the past; now I think everyone realises that London needs it all.
Following the exit of Peter Rees, his previous deputy, Annie Hampson, now serves as the City of London Corporation’s chief planning officer and development director. Annie is assisted by head of design, Gwyn Richards
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How do you ensure good architectural design? G: We don’t prescribe a design approach, that’s very much in the hands of the architects. Though there are instances where we might have said to them ‘too gimmicky, too provocative, it overly asserts itself on the skyline’. On the other hand, we’ve said ‘that was rather bland and mediocre, can we have something more dynamic’. With the Scalpel, for instance, some of the original proposals didn’t have the individuality to be able to stand on their own alongside Lloyds and other buildings. We thought that a crystalline building at that point would help to
contribute to the diversity of the cluster. We are spending a lot of time on how these towers engage with the public realm. We cantilevered the Cheesegrater because of the huge pressure on the public realm. These are defining elements of the design. What sort of pressure comes with green-lighting a skyscraper? G: The issue of tall buildings always polarises opinion. Some people are inherently opposed to the principle of it all, while others argue that we should be building more of an Manhattan-type skyline. You never keep both camps happy. The fact that we are getting those criticisms from both sides probably means we are getting the balance right. A: We’ve always taken the line that because these buildings are so dominant on the skyline, even in their context, they have to be of the highest architectural quality. I think that as much as the City is valued for its historic environment, it’s also valued for the quality of its modern architecture. Are 1 Undershaft and 22 Bishopsgate good looking buildings? G: I personally think 1 Undershaft is a very refined piece of architecture, an elegant profile on the skyline, and very well accomplished architecturally. With 22 Bishopsgate, there’s no denying it’s a very big building, as was the Pinancle, so it will have quite a powerful impact on the skyline. We worked very hard with the architect to develop a sleekness, an elegance, which I think we’ve achieved. But it is a big building and at some vantage points you will get to see its fat side. How about the Walkie-Talkie? G: The Walkie Talkie was the product of a unique set of circumstances. We are very
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conscious that it has had a lot of criticism. It was the secretary of state’s decision. We’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the cluster and how it’s going to develop, there is a live debate about whether we pull the Walkie Talkie into the cluster or whether we keep it out. There’s a lot of logic to say actually yes, instating it into the cluster would make it less assertive, but there are other issues we need to take into account – is Fenchurch Street appropriate for a row of tall buildings? Fenchurch Street curves and if this was a wall of tall buildings then what would be the quality of public realm? How much sunlight would be let in?
22 bishopsgate
Nickname: Nothing yet (although Peter Rees has offered ‘The Club Sandwich’ as “it’s too big to take in all at once”) Developer: Lipton Rogers and Axa IM Architect: PLP (100 Victoria Embankment (Unilever London HQ)) Size: Approx 130,000 sq m Expected Completion: 2019 About: Taking over the site of the ill-fated recession victim, the Pinnacle, 22 Bishopsgate is arguably the most controversial tower set for the City. It will stand at 278 metres, almost three times the height of Big Ben. The developers recently won the backing of City authorities in a ‘right to light’ dispute, after claims the tower will leave great swathes of the surrounding area in shadow.
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1 undershaft
Nickname: The Trellis Developer: Aroland Holdings Architect: Eric Parry (London Stock Exchange) Size: 90,000 sq m Expected Completion: Planning permission expected June 2016 About: One Undershaft will be by far the biggest tower in the City, 80 metres taller than the Cheesegrater, and the second biggest tower in London. Architects have designed the tower with seven-day use in mind: the building actually starts a few storeys up, with a public square at the base and a free public viewing gallery at the top.
Are you for or against the corporate naming of skyscrapers? A: It’s always controversial when it comes to a multiple-occupied buildings. It’s not something we would directly wish to be involved with. In certain cases, it can be appropriate, in certain cases it cannot. One of the things that is different between us and Canary Wharf is that we take a very tight line on advertising in the City from a planning perspective. We certainly don’t want buildings marked on the skyline by their occupiers. That’s something else that contributes to the unique skyline of the City – it’s marked by its buildings, not by high-level advertising. How do you get people to accept tall buildings? G: The free public viewing gallery is something we are very much focused on at the moment. It’s part of the ‘inclusive city’. It’s a way of helping communities from other areas of London to feel a sense of ownership of the City. It changes the psychology of how people look at tall buildings – rather than just being imposed on the skyline, where you have no sense of ownership, the ability to be able to go up there helps people accept these huge buildings. How should London address its housing crisis? A: It needs to be a multi-targeted approach in terms of delivering around transport modes, delivering different types of units – asking whether entirely owner-occupied properties can ever deliver what London needs. Whether the private rented sector needs to be encouraged more. We’ve had some quite interesting discussions with people like The Collective, who are looking at providing almost post-graduatestudent-type accommodation. Though the City itself does not see itself delivering a significant amount of housing.
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| FEATURE |
Zaha Hadid Guangzhou Opera House (Photo: Hufton+Crow)
The world of architecture was rocked by the sudden death in March of Dame Zaha Hadid. David Taylor looks back on the legacy of an inimitable starchitect
Maxxi (Photo: Helene Binet)
Guangzhou Opera House (Photo: Simon Bertrand); BELOW Qatar Al Wakrah Stadium
D
ame Zaha Hadid, two-time Pritzker Prize winner, and global architect, died in March this year aged 65 following a heart attack in a Miami hospital, where she was being treated for bronchitis. She won the Stirling Prize twice, along with France’s Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Japan’s Praemium Imperiale. As the first woman to win the Pritzker in 2004, and the first woman to be awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal outright earlier in 2016, her trailblazing, and often divisive architectural approach, reflected the character behind the concepts.
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She designed the London Aquatic Centre, MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome ( for which she won the 2010 Stirling Prize), Guangzhou Opera House, and Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, among dozens of other boundary-pushing constructions. Sir Peter Cook, himself a RIBA gold medal winner with architectural group Archigram, and an early critic of Hadid’s work, said in his citation for her gold medal: “For three decades now, she has ventured where few would dare: if Paul Klee took a line for a walk, then Zaha took the surfaces that were driven by that line
Vitra (Photo: Helene Binet)
out for a virtual dance and then deftly folded them over and took them out for a journey into space.” Cook’s initial criticism and subsequent effusive praise is indicative of the contentious nature of Hadid’s work. There has been controversy – designer Michael Murphy, for The Design Observer, called her work “famously extravagant”. When the discussion is complimentary, the word “iconic” is almost certain to pop up, but critics are more likely to describe her as “excessive”. She was also criticised for working with Muammar al-Qaddafi, and for the stadium she designed for the upcoming Qatar 2020 World Cup, a country with serious problems regarding the treatment of migrant workers. Her legacy is, however, indisputably enormous. The first project to capture the architectural world’s attention was the Vitra fire station in Weil am Rhein in Germany. With this, the signs were there for one of the world’s first ‘starchitects’ – those architectural household names commissioned specifically for their own style. Her fellow starchitects and friends have come out in force praising their colleague, including Frank Gehry who told TIME that she “created a language that’s unique to her… I suppose it’ll be copied, but never the way she did it”. Perhaps Hadid’s parting gift is to inspire supreme architectural freedom.
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left Alejandro Aravena’s Quinta Monroy Housing project, Chile right, from top Mother and Child (Divided), Damien Hirst; Assemble Group Photo 2014, © Assemble
Is Architecture Art? No, says David Taylor. And that’s a good thing.
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et me explain. When Assemble, a team of architects consisting mainly of Cambridge architecture graduates, won the 2015 Turner Prize, a substantial number of the artistic intelligentsia bemoaned a victory for a medium that is not and should not be regarded as ‘Art’ with an uppercase ‘A’. The winning installation was a full reproduction of a house from a regeneration project in Toxteth, Liverpool, that Assemble had been invited to join in a bid to revitalise an area that had been slowly decaying since riots in 1981. With the help of Assemble, the Granby Four Streets Community Land
same question is raised each time the nominees are announced – will the winner be worthy of the label ‘Art’? In the strictest, paint-on-canvas sense of the word, Assemble are not ‘Artists’. Indeed, one of its members described them in The New Statesman as “sort-of architects, sort-of not, sort-of maybe”. The term ‘Art’ is bandied about so often as to regularly lose its meaning – we attach it to so many different things that the term itself has become harder to define. A Constable pastoral scene? Art. Michelangelo’s David? Definitely Art. Michael Owen’s solo goal in the last-16
Art is perhaps the most subjective three letter word in the English language Trust makes everything from cereal bowls to doorknobs and to chairs, which are sold to fund the project. Judges praised Assemble for its “alternative models to how societies can work”. “The long-term collaboration between Granby Four Streets and Assemble,” they said, “shows the importance of artistic practice being able to drive and shape urgent issues.” Some critics didn’t see this as a good enough reason for the victory. As Daily Telegraph critic Mark Hudson told BBC Newsnight in 2015: “It is great if Art can be useful. But just because it’s useful doesn’t make it Art.” The Turner Prize is no stranger to controversy. In the 31 years that the Prize has run (there was no award in 1990 due to lack of funding), there have been plenty of left-field winners. 2010’s offering was a sound installation of Susan Philipsz singing three slightly different versions of the same Scottish lament, while in 2001, Damien Hirst took the gong for his in/famous Mother and Child (Divided), a bisected cow and calf suspended in formaldehyde. The
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clash against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup? Many would argue the same. Art is perhaps the most subjective three letter word in the English language. By restricting architecture to a medium so apparently ‘free’ that almost every University in the country has courses teaching its theory, we restrict its capabilities to create practical beauty. If the emphasis on Art is too much, we risk encouraging more young architects to look at fanciful, excessive designs for the sake of approval from an exclusive club of critics and ‘in the know’ figures, instead of creating buildings for the public to enjoy.
Housing project by Alejandro Aravena in Renca, Chile
All genres of art – painting, music, sculpture – at some point interweave. Academics and critics are paid to pigeonhole these concepts, to the extent where we argue over the minutiae of meaning – whether that painter meant to portray universal apathy, or actually just liked that shade of blue for the sky. This pedantry potentially damages the use architecture can have. In a social project very similar to Granby Four Streets, Pritzker Prize-winning Alejandro Aravena has built ‘social housing’ for families away from the slums of Santiago. Each house is built in collaboration with the future owners, on a budget of $10,000. The results are simple, beautiful pieces of architecture, and have transformed the fortunes of the families involved. The blueprints and concept designs are certainly artistic, but the transformative effect of the project should be the main news story. Although all publicity is apparently good publicity, just as with Granby Four Streets, the artistic debate risks softening the global social impact this sort of project can have. The Art discussion diverts attention away from the primary purpose of such projects, or indeed of any architectural pursuit, social or otherwise. Why become trapped in this argument at all. Sometimes it’s better to let others define you, and just get on with what you love doing.
An installation representing Assemble’s work in Toxteth.
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Force Brute
Bru ta is a list arc sd hi strik ivisive tecture as i ing. t fort Pet er C is hco h min Bru g od adwick ta ’s e to Wor lism, T his ld, c B a r ma u talo n’s gue tal pas s ma o sio n lign ed s n for a e tyle mu chWords : Chri s Alls op
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“H
eroic, bold, imposing...” Peter Chadwick, author of This Brutal World, is describing how he sees Brutalist architecture, the subject of his new book. “But,” he adds, “there are some Brutalist structures that are downright ugly and not appropriate for their surroundings.” Indeed, for a great many of the general public, Brutalism is never appropriate. In the ’80s, opposition to modern architectural styles coalesced around Prince Charles after his “monstrous carbuncle” speech to the Royal Institute of British Architects. And, for about 30 years afterwards, the civic megaliths of Brutalism were lightning rods for the ire of those opposed to the aesthetic challenge of modernity. But there are also many – and an apparently growing number – with a penchant for a looming grey edifice. Critic Jonathan Meades (who really puts his money where his mouth is, by residing in Le Corbusier’s Brutalist Unité d’Habitation in Marseilles) once said, “Brutalism: challenging, idealistic and serious – Brutalism is architecture for grown-ups.” Or architect David Adjaye: “I find lumps of concrete like this, sexy.” Is this passionate disagreement another example of ivory tower versus concrete reality, or is it the result of a misreading of what Brutalism stands for?
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Brutalism: challenging, idealistic and serious jonathan meades, critic
LEFT Grand Central Water Tower, Midrand, South Africa, 1996 by GAPP Architects & Urban Designers. Courtesy GAPP Architects right De Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2013 by OMA. © Matteo Rossi/ ARTUR IMAGES below Casar de Cáceres Bus Station, Cáceres, Spain, 2003 by Justo Garciá Rubio. Courtesy Justo Garciá Rubio
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centres (Chadwick’s earliest and most enduring Brutalist love was the – sadly now demolished – Trinity Square Car Park in Gateshead, as seen in Get Carter). But it wasn’t just about cost-saving – Brutalism was tied to a socially progressive vision that sought, as Chadwick has it, “to transform and modernise living and working conditions”. Architects such as Marcel Breuer, Louis Kahn and Paul Rudolph have their Brutalist masterpieces, but the shining example of this synthesis of progressive ideals with raw concrete is Meades’ address in Marseilles.
This Brutal House The story of how This Brutal World came into being demonstrates that a fondness for the style is more widespread than the unflinching pace of demolition might suggest. When Chadwick, a London-based creative director/graphic designer who’s worked with artists such as Groove Armada and Primal Scream, was approaching his forties, he renewed his neglected passion for photography. Soon after, he discovered that he’d quickly amassed some 30,000 images of Brutalist architecture on his hard drive and wondered what to do with his haul. Making a reluctant first foray on to social media, he set up a Twitter feed entitled This Brutal House (named after his first ever house 12inch single from Nitro Deluxe) and began launching the images into the ether. Soon he was acquiring a thousand followers every month. Nine such months on, the publisher Phaidon sent him an email, and a book deal ensued. Chadwick had, unwittingly, tapped into a resurgence of interest in Brutalist architecture that has flowered over the past few years. His own passion for the subject is tied to his upbringing: raised in the northeast of England in the ’70s and early ’80s, the backdrop to his childhood was heavy industry. The stark, functional landscape left its mark, as it did for many; in his book’s introduction, Chadwick points to Ridley Scott, another native of the north-east, and the film director’s appropriation of the ICI chemical plant’s flaring chimneys for his dystopian vision in Blade Runner. While teenage Chadwick was kicking a football against concrete walls, Brutalism had established itself worldwide as a low-cost solution for housing, university and government buildings and shopping
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Raw Emotion
above, from left Stone House / Interni Think Tank, Milan, Italy, 2010 by John Pawson. Courtesy John Pawson; Monument Ilinden (Makedonium), Krushevo, Macedonia, 1974 by Jordan and Iskra Grabuloski. Courtesy Jan Kempenaers
It’s with the French that we can also find the root of the term Brutalism – ‘Béton brut’ translates as ‘raw concrete’. The ‘brut’ was appropriated by architectural critic Reyner Banham for his 1966 essay, The New Brutalism: Ethic or Aesthetic?, and Brutalism began to gain currency. “Brutalism, in its purest form, is boardmarked concrete,” Chadwick explains. “That’s when concrete, set within a framework of wooden boards, retains the impression of those boards in its surface. The National Theatre is a good example: look closely at the walls and you can see the grain of the wood. There’s this wonderful, embedded natural texture. Repetitive, angular geometric lines and shapes are also a predominant Brutalist feature. And, Brutalist structures have uncompromising silhouettes that are very bold. Their interiors and exteriors are very honest and expressive.” It’s that capacity for such a powerful first impression that has helped to fiercely split opinion. Those perhaps hearing the term Brutalism after eyeing the hulking structure that had suddenly colonised the end of their Victorian terraces during
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the post-war period could be forgiven for thinking that the term referred to what life was like living and working within that era. Some commentators even accused the new style, with its superhuman proportions, as being of fascist dimensions. Of course, those Brutalist buildings that remain today are insignificant in size in comparison with what’s being erected on the London skyline. And it’s a significance that continues to dwindle. “Increasingly we are losing a lot of those post-war buildings – whether housing estates or office blocks – and they are being replaced by structures that are, quite honestly, substandard,” says Chadwick. “And
below Sunset Chapel, Acapulco, Mexico, 2011 by Bunker Arquitectura. Courtesy Bunker Arquitectura
that’s happening all over London.” If this lack of consideration continues, Chadwick posits, the future architectural heritage of London will have a whole swathe – from the late ’40s to the early ’90s – eradicated, with only landmark structures such as the Barbican and the National Theatre as signposts to a lost style. It’s unsurprising to hear such a passionate appeal from an author of a book that is as much a handsome coffee-table addition as it is a stamp collector’s private collection – a pictorial homage interspersed with poignant lyrics from favourite bands such as Underworld, or quotes from architects such as Thom Mayne: “I think all good architecture should challenge you, make you start asking questions. You don’t have to understand it. You may not like it. That’s OK.”
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ANGEL ANGEL city road 250 City Road
Developer: Berkeley Homes Architect: Foster and Partners New homes: 930 Estimated completion: 2019
Canaletto
Developer: Groveworld Architect: UNStudio New homes: 190 Estimated completion: Completed
Lexicon
Developer: Mount Anvil Architect: SOM New homes: 146 Estimated completion: Q2 2016
OLD STREET OLD STREET
LIVERPOOL STREET Tech City is attracting some of London’s biggest new home schemes, with walk-to-work flats launching on and around City Road. Up until 1990, this district was a lively commercial quarter, but as the trades and crafts were made redundant by new technologies, the area became somewhat of a ghost town. Today, City Road is rejoicing in a renaissance as many developers cash in on the rise of Silicon Roundabout and the design quarter that’s spreading from nearby Clerkenwell.
HYDE PARK HYDE PARK CHELSEA
ST JAMES’S PARK WESTMINSTER
VICTORIA CHELSEA
WATERLOO
ST JAMES’S PARK VICTORIA WESTMINSTER
WATERLOO
LIVERPOOL STREET
LONDON BRIDGE LONDON BRIDGE
VAUXHALL
BATTERSEA PARK VAUXHALL CLAPHAM JUNCTION BATTERSEA PARK
CLAPHAM JUNCTION
NINE ELMS Masterplanner: Allies and Morrison Building architects: Rafael Viñoly, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Sir Terry Farrell, Allies and Morrison and Kieran Timberlake, Foster + Partners, and Gehry Partners Site size: 561 acres Total investment: £15 billion + New jobs: 25,000 New homes: 20,000 (minimum) Affordable homes: 581 (Battersea Power Station) + 2,400 (on the Wandsworth side of the border) + 98 (shared ownership homes) Commercial office space: 3 million sq ft Retail space: 2.8 million sq ft Public space: 12-acre linear park linking Battersea Park and Battersea Power Station Estimated completion: Two-thirds to be delivered by 2020 Transformation is in progress on what was once a semi-derelict, light industrial zone. Thanks to a multi-billion pound private investment programme, Nine Elms on the South Bank will benefit from a £1 billion transport improvement package, not to mention three iconic attractions including a regenerated Battersea Power Station, the new United States Embassy and New Covent Garden Market.
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Over the past 18 months, the number of new homes under construction in inner London has risen by 40 per cent. Here are a few of the key developments shaping London’s future skyline
NEW PHASE, Canary wharf Masterplanner: Allies and Morrison Building architects: Allies and Morrison, Darling Associates, KPF, Herzog & de Meuron, Stanton Williams Architects, Grid Architects, and Patel Taylor Site size: 22 acres New jobs: 17,000 New homes: 3,300 Affordable homes: 607 Commercial office space: 2 million sq ft Retail space: 275,000 sq ft Public space: 3.6 hectares Community facilities: A new two-form entry primary school and NHS health facility Estimated completion: 2023 (first phase to be completed in 2019) Formerly known as Wood Wharf, this site has been designed with the vision of providing a new urban quarter for people to live, work, visit and enjoy. Representing one of London’s largest privately-owned development sites, this area is of great significance, not only on a local and national scale, but on an international one too. The first phase of this development will follow the arrival of Crossrail in 2018. Off the Canary Wharf estate, Galliard Homes, Ballymore and Berkeley Homes, are offering alternative housing with various projects well underway.
LONDON CITY AIRPORT LONDON CITY AIRPORT CANARY WHARF CANARY WHARF
GREENWICH GREENWICH
GREENWICH PENINSULA Masterplanner: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (original Masterplan), Allies and Morrison (revised Masterplan) Building architects: Pilbrow & Partners, SOM, careyjones chapmantolcher, dsdha Site size: 147 acre site Total investment: At least £8.4 billion (estimated) New jobs: 12,000 New homes: 13,000 (bringing the total new homes to 16,000) Affordable homes: Approximately 4,000 Commercial office space: 60,000 sq m Retail space: 24,000 sq m Public space: 48 acres of open green spaces Community facilities: Two new schools, a new North Greenwich transport hub, new community and health facilities and a new 40,000 sq m film studio Estimated completion: Winter 2018 Billed as the largest ever regeneration project ever taken on by a single developer, Greenwich Peninsula will completely transform this area into a major housing centre. Furthermore, at a time of critical housing shortage, this development will deliver affordable housing, with more than two-thirds up for social rent, at no more than 50 per cent of market rent.
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WATCHES & JEWELLERY Celebrating the delightful and the divine from the world of fine jewellery and haute horology
OUT OF THE BLUE To illustrate the exotic allure of Capri, there is no one more suited to the task than the sultry Salma Hayek. The actress has returned as the face of Pomellato’s S/S16 campaign, shot in London by renowned photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott (of Mert & Marcus). First launched in 2011, the bold pieces continue to live up to their namesake. Each one perfectly captures the Italian island’s colourful environment; precious earrings, necklaces and rings in turquoise and coral have been interspersed with ceramic beading and precious stones, including blue sapphires, rubies, amethysts, and tsavorites. This marks the first time Pomellato has incorporated ceramic into the Capri range and the innovative material has helped to reinvent this popular collection. Capri Ceramics collection, POA, pomellato.com
WAtches speed merchant
Words: Richard Brown
The London Marathon and Premier League now runs on TAG Heuer time
W
atch brand sponsorship may have seeped into every class of motorsport, but only TAG Heuer can claim to be the original horologic speedster. Before the company’s partnership with McLaren became the longest-standing watch-motorsport collaboration in history (1985 – present), the company had acted as official timekeeper for Ferrari. From 1971, during the decade that constituted Formula 1’s heyday, every Ferrari driver would wear a Heuer chronograph engraved with his name and blood group on the caseback. Speed, you see, is in TAG Heuer’s DNA. Fitting, then, that the brand was the
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official timekeeper to the Virgin Money London Marathon in the year that Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge set a new course record in 2hrs 3mins and 5secs. Not so fitting that I was offered a place as part of TAG’s media allocation. For the previous year, TAG Heuer had been uniting all of its over-achieving ambassadors under the social media slogan #DontCrackUnderPressure. It’s not the sort of jingle you need in the back of your head when three weeks before race day you realise the furthest you’ve run is eight miles and suddenly your calf explodes. Putting a brave face on a pulled popliteus, I managed a half-respectable 4hrs 38mins, staggering over the finishing
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| collection |
STEEL A LOOKER Vacheron Constantin won plaudits for the contemporary nature of its Quai de I’Ile when the collection launched in 2008. Eight years later, the cushion-cased timepiece, which features an exposed date indicator ring within its hour markers, is now available in stainless steel. The new material brings the entry level price of the Quai de I’Ile down from £45,000 to a less dizzying £10,500. Choose between a silver-toned or black dial. Quai de I’Ile in steel, Vacheron Constantin, vacheron-constantin.com
Relaunch of a sports star Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 225th anniversary with the relaunch of a sporty classic. Debuting in 1975, the original Laureato arrived in the decade of the steel sports watch, landing three years after Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and one year before Patek Philippe’s Nautilus. The latest Laureato comprises a 41mm case and is 1cm thick. While the original housed an industryleading quartz movement, the 2016 version is equipped with an in-house mechanical calibre, visible through a sapphire crystal caseback. Only 225 pieces of two variants will be made – one with a blue dial, the other with a silver. Interestingly, the watch takes its name from the Italian translation of The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman’s 1967 pivotal movie. Laureato, from £8,750, Girard Perregaux, girard-perregaux.net
A first for Chopard
line not so much cracked as utterly broken. Two days later, the Swiss manufacturer became the official partner to the Premier League. The most followed football league in the world will be running on TAG Heuer time – the company will be supplying referees with tailored versions of its Connected smart-watch, and fourth officials with timing boards shaped like Carrera timepieces. Attending the announcement was Claudio Ranieri – now, there’s a man who knows a thing or two about not cracking under pressure. The Leicester City manager has subsequently become a TAG Heuer ambassador himself. Welcome to the family, Mr Ranieri. tagheuer.co.uk
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Baselworld saw the launch of Chopard’s first in-house perpetual calendar chronograph. The brand’s L.U.C. range of timepieces is where it houses its most high-end complications – the Perpetual Chrono, for instance, features a moonphase display that will deviate by only one day every 122 years. As both a COSC-certified chronometer and a perpetual calendar, this is a rare timepiece indeed. So rare, that it will cost you £61,710. L.U.C. Perpetual Chrono, Chopard, chopard.com
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With the Swiss watch industry under pressure, watch brands big and small are striving to offer the best value possible. Chris Hall reports on the most compelling launches of Baselworld 2016
Time is money T oo often as a watch writer, you find yourself hearing – or repeating – the mantra of the uncurious: ‘a watch is worth whatever somebody will pay for it’. It’s a callous maxim that is as insulting to wealthy buyers as it is to craftsmen. As a statement, it is pure horological snobbery, usually deployed to snipe at watches whose price tags seem to be hovering several thousand feet above reality, as well as the buyers happy to uncritically part with large amounts of cash. Yet it conceals an awkward truth – there is very little discussion about value in the modern watch market. It’s an immensely thorny issue – many will simply say watches are a ‘passion product’, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that you can’t put a price on happiness. Maybe that’s true; I’m not so sure. One thing is for certain: at Baselworld 2016, we saw a lot of watches whose most arresting attribute was their price. It’s undeniable that brands are having to chase sales harder than in recent years, and that’s being reflected across the board. Some have cottoned on quicker than others, which makes for interesting times. I’m not just talking about ‘cheap’ watches – whatever that may mean. This is about value, and no matter how hard that is to define, it exists at every level of the market. Take, for example, Jaquet Droz; one of the highest-regarded producers of Métiers d’Art watches, mechanical automata and elegant dress watches. This year, it released stainless steel versions of its Grande Seconde range for the first time, with prices starting at £9,400, and rising to £17,900 for a very
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from top Carrera Heuer Calibre 02 Tourbillon, £12,000, TAG Heuer; Stainless steel Grande Seconde, from £9,400, Jaquet Droz; Angelus; 44mm 1966, from £5,000, Girard Peregaux
handsome dual time reference. It wasn’t the only high-end brand leaving precious metals to one side; Girard-Perregaux has taken the bold step of releasing the entire 1966 collection (its most mainstream range) in steel. This has brought the brand – which still sells six-figure tourbillons and minute repeaters – into the £5,000-10,000 range for the first time, and it’s a seriously tantalising prospect for watch lovers. We’re talking stylish dual time or triple calendar watches with in-house movements for around £6,000-7,000, and a shade over £5,000 for the standard automatic. Overall, prices have been reduced by approximately 17 per cent across the entire range. Elsewhere, Moritz Grossmann, Chopard L.U.C and Blancpain were all making similar moves. It’s not just about swapping steel for gold. Watchmakers are exercising all their cunning to bring out advanced, complicated watches at hitherto unseen prices. A couple of years ago, the watch world was stunned when Montblanc released a perpetual calendar – the Heritage Spirit Perpetual – for less than £10,000 (in steel, it costs £8,500). This year in Basel, Frederique Constant showed us its Manufacture Perpetual Calendar – with a price tag of £7,480 in steel or rose gold plate. That is frankly astonishing when you consider that it’s produced entirely in-house (Montblanc uses a bought-in movement with another, separately sourced, perpetual calendar module on top). It’s also better looking than the Montblanc. It goes on. From meeting to meeting,
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| collection |
we were confronted with watches that, in some cases, made us think a zero had been missed off the end of the figure. First prize in this category must go to recently revived alternative brand Angelus. Last year, it announced its return to watchmaking after a 40-year absence with the slightly odd U10 Tourbillon. This year, it wowed us with three new, highly-advanced pieces. All are seriously avant-garde watches cooked up by some incredibly talented chaps, but the U30 stands out in particular. It’s a flyback, split-seconds chronograph with a tourbillon, with a finely skeletonised movement and carbonfibre case – yours for around £18,750. This is Ferrari watchmaking at Ford prices (even if you could buy an actual Ford for the same amount). Scarcely a handful of watchmakers can pull this off, and very few at Baselworld were taking the risk to invest in new movements, let alone ones as complex as this. Back with the powerhouse brands, only one man could cause a stir two years running with exactly the same watch. TAG Heuer’s CEO Jean-Claude Biver managed it by finally ‘releasing’ the Carrera Heuer Calibre 02 Tourbillon, which we first saw in 2015. Tourbillons – love them or loathe them – are pretty much the definition of prestige watchmaking. You don’t need one on your watch, but they are so hard to make (properly, anyway – Chinese factories bang them out for pennies) that they always command a high fee. Not any more. TAG Heuer’s Swiss-made tourbillon comes in at £12,000 – hardly small change, but a figure so unprecedented that Patek Philippe president Thierry Stern recently accused Biver of devaluing the very concept of Swiss watchmaking. How did he do it? In a move that may yet reverberate around the industry, Biver candidly admitted that he slashed the usual profit margin on such a watch. So what does this all mean for the high street watch shopper? Pleasingly, there is good news here as well. It can be the hardest area in which to define true value because most mainstream customers know – or care – less about the innards of their watches than us watch-obsessed geeks. But when a brand such as Tudor introduces its first in-house movement and barely changes the watches’ prices (as it did last year), you know you’re on to a good thing. It was more of the same this year, with the Heritage Black Bay Black, as well as a 36mm Black Bay, now incorporating an inhouse movement. Design is also coming to the forefront in the value battleground – genuinely good-looking watches for less than £2,000 are usually scarce, but this year the likes of Oris, Junghans and revived-dive-brand
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Zodiac all released cool watches that, while they owe a distinct debt to Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay, stand in their own right as great entry-level options. We went to Baselworld knowing that it was likely to be a tricky year. The focus on realistic prices is a cautionary sign of the times, but could prove a boon to buyers – free-market economists would say that things are heading towards some sort of ‘equilibrium’.
“Only one man could cause a stir two years running with exactly the same watch”
above Frederique Constant
It is also telling that in the weeks after Baselworld, news started to circulate of a company called Goldgena (yes, terrible name), promising to “blow wide open” the “truth” behind Swiss watchmaking’s dirty tricks, exposing the fat profit margins and – not so altruistic, this bit – start marketing a range of Goldgena watches that claims to offer true value to the customer. At the time of writing, this amounted to little more than some naff ‘viral’ marketing videos and a good deal of hot air, but the key point being made here is one the industry might do well to heed; there is a perceived demand for openness. A watch is worth whatever somebody will pay for it – until, of course, they won’t.
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| COLLECTION |
jewellery
Words: olivia sharpe
Flying the Flag In celebration of its new boutique in Mayfair, French maison Dior flies the flag for the UK with a selection of limited-edition jewellery and watch pieces that draw on the colours of the Union Jack. Among the jewellery pieces, the Milieu du Siècle bracelet, ring and earrings set, along with the Archi Dior Bar en Corolle ring, have been decorated in either sapphires or rubies with an abundance of diamonds. POA, available at 160-162 New Bond Street, W1S, dior.com
Bird Song
Mexican jeweller Daniela Villegas delved into Salvatore Ferragamo’s vast archive and unearthed the Italian fashion house’s vintage silk scarves featuring colourful wildlife, along with the Ars shoe designed by the founder in the 1950s, as inspiration for her new capsule jewellery collection. The menagerie-themed line sees parrots, parakeets and other birds of paradise brought to life in necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets crafted in sterling silver and showcasing green topaz and purple amethyst. The birdcage has become a Ferragamo hallmark and is therefore a recurring motif in Villegas’ collection, available now. From £165, ferragamo.com
RIGHT AS RAIN
Schwartz Sparkle
Come rain or shine, Tessa Packard always manages to bring a smile to our faces with her playful fine jewellery collections. The latest flash of inspiration came from the jeweller wanting to celebrate rather than bemoan the typically unpredictable British summer weather and comprises a range of meteorological symbols set with a variety of gemstones. From a pair of simple thunderbolt earrings in sterling silver and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, to the dramatic April Shower chandelier earrings with suspended sapphire and diamond drops, the sky is truly the limit. Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining collection, from a selection, tessapackard.com
Type Lorraine Schwartz’s name into Google and a host of famous female faces will appear, from Beyoncé and Blake Lively to Kim Kardashian. As of June, the New York-based jeweller to the stars will be available in Harrods, which has become the first retail destination outside of the US to carry her coveted designs. Schwartz’s full jewellery collection, encompassing the red carpet, bridal and bespoke ranges, will be given pride of place this month in the department store’s newlyrenovated Fine Jewellery Room, designed by David Collins Studio. All pieces available exclusively in the Harrods Fine Jewellery Room from 1 June, harrods.com
FROM LEFT Thunderbolt earrings in silver; Thundercloud cufflinks in gold, £260; £250; April Shower earrings, £6,900;
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lead the pack our guide to looking effortlessly chic while you kick back, relax and enjoy a well-deserved holiday
al l wr appe d up Heading to the seaside this summer? Stretch out and soak up the rays on this spherical update from The Beach People. The original Roundie towels are available in an array of prints and patterns, with a leather carrier as an optional extra . Roundie towel s, £76.55, Leath er carrier, £19.80, The Bea ch People, thebeachpeople.com .au
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a basket case
2
If you’re the type of woman that carries the kitchen sink, The Row’s Market may be the answer to your prayers. Crafted from durable canvas, trimmed with smooth leather, and finished with easy-to-hold wooden handles, this bag is both stylish and practical. Market leather-trimmed canvas tote, £1,790, The Row, net-a-porter.com
crossing over If you’re quite happy carrying just the bare necessities, the crossbody is a great alternative to a heavy tote, and it’s particularly practical on weekend city breaks. We have our eye on the Hudson from Chloe, in the cream for summer. Inspired by classic saddle styles, the Hudson embraces the brand’s bohemian spirit, with gold studs, long tassels and three rows of whipstitching. Small Hudson bag, £1,230, Chloe, chloe.com
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
Romance is born, with pretty pastels and flirty florals featuring big this season
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slip & slide Book a pedi, this summer we’re pairing our sun dresses with stylish sandals from a few of our favourite designers. Left to right: Studded , £175, Valentino, harveynichols.com; Eyeliner flat sandal, £550, Nicholas Kirkwood, nicholaskirkwood. com; Idara twisted striped leather sandals, £195, Vince, harveynichols.com
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| fashion |
Thi s m onth in b eauty, w e t al k ab out th e d am a gin g an d a ge in g imp a ct s of to o mu ch e xp o sure to th e sun . O n c e y ou’v e rea d th e fa ct s , y ou w on’ t w ant to t ake any ch an c e s, s o giv e y our SPF a littl e b a ck up w ith on e of th e se gorge ou s w i d e - brim h at s . L eft to rig ht: Virginie, £775, Maison Michel Paris, michel-paris.com ; Panama Calado Hat, £130, S ensi Studio, matchesfashion .com ; Hon ey, £375, Eugenia Kim , eugeniakim .com
Backstage at the Prada SS16 show, courtesy of Prada
5
a hat trick
The Ballerina colour-blocked swimsuit, £110, Solid and Striped, net-a-porter.com
Laser-cut midi dress, £1,285, Emilio Pucci, net-a-porter.com
Chloé Spring 2016 RTW
Chloé Spring 2016 RTW
8
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Alchemy broderie anglaise cotton shorts, £245, Zimmermann, net-a-porter.com
t h re ad c are f ul ly Romance is born , with pretty pastels and f lirty f lorals featuring big this season . Chloé led the way with lace and chif fon , while Zimmermann opted for delicate broderie, against a beautiful backdrop of botanicals. One highlight for us, was Emilio Pucci’s laser -cut, matter -satin and silkchif fon midi dress.
7
swim up stream
Isotta fringed oneshoulder swimsuit, £185, Anjuna, net-a-porter.com
Attention bathing beauties, this summer we’re taking a slightly more modest approach to swimwear, so think Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. We’re loving this pretty little swim suit from Solid and Striped, mainly because it makes us feel like a prima ballerina. This colourblocked swimsuit may be simple, but it screams elegant. Also keeping it simple, is Anjuna’s Isotta fringed one-shoulder swim suit, which is both a timeless and perfectly flattering ensemble.
shady lady
Keep chic with the ultimate oversized Prada shades. The brand’s S/S16 eyewear offering is extensive to say the least, with shapes and styles to suit every face. prada.com
THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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42, Conduit Street - London
FF_210x297 MAYFAIR PE16_s2.indd 1
04/04/16 11:39
| BEAUTY |
THE SUN PROTECTION FACTOR Slip! Slop! Slap! And stay protected this summer with our edit of tried and tested sun care
G
rowing up in Australia where the highest rate of skin cancer in the world is suffered, may have made me a little paranoid about the sun. Okay, very paranoid. Throughout the winter you’ll find me diligently applying and reapplying SPF30, and, come summer, I’m slapping on the SPF50. To some, this may seem an unnecessary level of precaution, but the truth is, there is a darker side to the sun. Sarah Williams, Cancer Research UK’s health information manager, said: “Far from being a sign of health, a suntan actually means your skin is trying to protect itself from too much UV– and sunburn means that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged. Over time, this damage can build up and lead to skin cancer.” In short, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. It’s also been reported that over the past five years, NHS hospital admissions for skin cancer, which is now the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK, has risen by 40 per cent. And if that doesn’t get your attention, perhaps this will.
’s kin s s he nk l a rve t , tha B e o iv e g s es in UV ct n i pr -ag nd rote s so elp hoto VA a d p r r h to uk e e ec s.co. ct nd p ge U anc t p u o i su prod ital a g-ed -adv Pr par is cap ttin ltra nts. outh sleyTh n cu d u ie Y , si su its an gred are sley to ters in n C , Si fil tive l Su 134 ac cia 0, £ Fa F3 SP
e ir
Oclipse Sunscreen+Primer SPF 50, £41, Zo Skin Health, askinology.com
Thi s hi g h pro t e ction sun scre en w i l l l eav e y our skin w ith a v elv ety - s of t tou ch , and a ct a s th e i d eal b a se f or m akeup. Sun-City Prot ection SPF 30, £50, D r S ebagh , drsebagh .com
UVA rays contribute to skin ageing, and you’re at risk of exposure all year round UVA rays contribute to skin ageing, and you’re at risk of exposure all year round. They can even travel through some types of glass. UVB rays are those that can burn you, while UVA is harder to detect. So while you may be aware of the effects of too much sun on a hot day, you may not be quite so aware of the effects of everyday exposure to sunlight. These can include everything from dry, rough skin to dark pigmentation and uneven skin tone. Dr Askari Townsend, medical director of ASKINOLOGY in Leadenhall Market, says: “Something people don’t realise – they’re always talking about lines and wrinkles looking aging, the reality is, uneven skin tone and discolouration, has a greater effect on your perceived age and your skin health.” Here’s our edit of the best SPF products currently on the market... TE
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil SPF 50, £125, La Prairie, laprairie.co.uk
A multiple defence sun protection system, which helps to smooth and diminish the appearance of fine lines
Iridia sunglasses, £340, Fendi, net-a-porter.com
Complexion Perfector BB SPF 20, £80, Omorovicza, cultbeauty.co.uk
Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF15, £20, Elizabeth Arden, net-a-porter.com
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Reset the clock.
Get time on your side with Dr Sebagh’s iconic, glow-restoring serums. Serum Repair
Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum
Dr Sebagh’s award-winning, cult serum with 60% hyaluronic acid intensively hydrates and plumps the skin for instantly glowing results. Perfect for day or night, or as a pre-party radiance boost.
A highly powerful super-serum, Dr Sebagh Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum plumps, hydrates and protects skin whilst boosting its natural glow. Oil-free, for all skin types, this potent concentration of ingredients, including resveratrol, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid and three antiageing peptides, helps kick-start collagen production and visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Rose de Vie Sérum Délicat More than just a pretty bottle. This powerful, silky, organic rose oilbased serum is an essential treatment to restore the skin’s natural barrier and vitality. Calming, soothing and antioxidant-rich, it reduces redness and protects and smoothes dry, mature or sensitive skin.
Used alone or mixed to create your perfect, personalised blend, find Dr Sebagh serums in stores and online at drsebagh.com.
best in the field With the UEFA Euro Championship taking centre stage this month, we find out why Sports Bar & Grill is the best place to be to watch the games
W
ith the Euro Championship kicking off on Friday 10th June, Sports Bar & Grill have their work cut out for them, however owner David Evans is particularly excited about the buzz the matches will create. Sports Bar & Grill opened its doors in Crossrail Place just over a year ago and Evans has been over the moon with the success so far. “This past year has been more successful than I could have hoped for. We now have loyal Canary Wharf customers and the word is still spreading.” Living close to Canary Wharf and
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
watching it develop year upon year made it an obvious choice for Evans when it came to opening his seventh branch of Sports Bar & Grill, which has now become the most impressive in its portfolio and the branch Evans considers his flagship. “I just love the space and the electric atmosphere. Canary Wharf has everything you could possibly need and I’m very proud to be part of that,” he explained. With high speed wifi and plug sockets at every seating bench, its modern-luxe interior and large menu, it’s no wonder people are in at half seven for breakfast or popping
in for dinner and drinks to unwind after work. Sports Bar & Grill prides itself on being able to show everything on the sporting calendar, programming its 4K screens to show multiple sports at different times with the corresponding commentary. The designated sound zones mean everyone can watch what they want without it being drowned out by their neighbours. With so much on offer, there is no doubt the tables will be filling up quick. Book yourself a table now to ensure you are at the ultimate spot to enjoy the Euros this month. Sports Bar & Grill, Crossrail Place; sportsbarandgrill.co.uk
A pint with... Alan Brazil
sport highlights
Image courtesy of betonbrazil.com
at Sports Bar & Grill
ALan Brazil,
doubt. On big match nights, it’s
Former footballer, Talksport
fantastic here. They have all the
radio presnter and regular
games on, which is perfect for me; I
10th June Euro kick off
at Sports Bar & Grill
can watch Barcelona on the left and
11th June England v Russia
Arsenal on the right.
Euro Championship 16th June England v Wales
Greatest Euro moment?
20th June England v Slovakia
There have been quite a few shock
Favourite Sports Bar & Grill meal?
wins. Greece unbelievably winning
The Burger and Chips at Sports Bar
the Euros in 2004, that stands out
& Grill is my favourite. I do love a
to me as an amazing achievement.
burger and if I’m going to have one,
30th June Euro Quater Finals
Grand Prix 12th June Canadian Grand Prix
I have one there.
Formula One
Favourite player of all time?
19th June European Grand Prix
Lionel Messi is a genius. The best
What do you like about living close
I’ve ever seen. Make no mistake, he
to Canary Wharf?
is genuinely a footballing genius.
I’ve lived near Canary Wharf for
Formula One
over 12 years and I absolutely love
Menu teaser
Best memory of watching football?
it. I love how clean and secure it
Celtic winning the European Cup
is. You have everything on your
in 1967. I was 8 years old and in
doorstep here. I used to drive past
Glasgow, I watched them beat
years ago when there was only one
Inter Milan and for me that will
tower block, so what I’ve seen and
never be surpassed. They were all
how it’s changed has been amazing.
Glaswegian players and the first
I am a huge admirer of Canary Wharf.
Tennis
British team to win the European cup. Nothing beats that.
What stage do you think England
5th June French Open Final
will get to in the Euros?
27th June Wimbledon starts
Best advice you ever received?
I think they are going to get to the
It’s got to be Sir Bobby Robson
semi-final, I really do. If they believe
from my Ipswich days, he said;
and have confidence, they have a
“Work hard, look after yourself,
serious chance and a bright future.
Golf 16th June US Open Golf starts
Rugby
work hard, play hard, but you must work hard every day. And enjoy.”
Who are you backing?
11th June England v Australia
I’ll be honest, I think it’s quite open. Best place to watch the football?
If someone gave me £500 now to
Sports Bar & Grill, without a
bet, I would probably back France.
18th June Wales v New Zealand 25th June Scotland v Japan 25th June Ireland v South Africa
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
URBAN OUTFITTER
Prince of Wales check or pin stripes? Single or double-breasted? Linen or wool? There’s much to consider when purchasing a new suit. Whatever the style, there are two non-negotiables: quality cloth and a precise cut. Here’s our edit of this summer’s standout suits PHOTOGRAPHER: KEN KAMARA STYLIST: JOSEPH CRONE
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| FASHION | Prince of Wales check suit, £750, Chester Barrie, chesterbarrie.co.uk; White cotton business shirt, £160, Dunhill, dunhill.com; Red silk polka dot tie, £80, Hardy Amies, hardyamies.com; White cotton pocket square, £70, Canali, canali.com; Black leather document bag, £1,395, Louis Leeman, louisleeman.com; Black leather oxford shoes, £330, Hugo Boss, hugoboss.com
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LEFT Light grey pinstripe suit, £2,210, Brunello Cucinelli, brunellocucinelli.com; Fine white linen shirt, £125, Hardy Amies, as before; White cotton vest, £125, John Varvatos, johnvarvatos.com; Pure silk navy tie, £69, Tiger of Sweden, tigerofsweden.com; Luminor 1950 left-handed 3 day watch, £7,100, Panerai, panerai.com; Silk pocket square, £40, Caruso, carusomenswear.com
ABOVE Blue single breasted wool jacket, £800, Aquascutum, aquascutum.com; Blue wool trousers, £800, Aquascutum, as before; White cotton shirt, £95, Chester Barrie, as before; Mulberry silk & linen polka dot woven tie, £125, Dunhill, as before; Brown and white cotton pocket square, £40, Caruso, as before; Jaguar MKIII watch, £3,495, Bremont, bremont.com
RIGHT Lightwight grey ‘Norten/Bexter’ suit, £800, Hugo Boss, as before; Pure cotton grey socks, £8, Hugo Boss, as before; White cotton shirt, £135, New & Lingwood, newandlingwood.com; Black painted spot silk tie, £85, Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk; Mulberry silk polka dot pocket square, £60, Dunhill, as before; Gold SF logo cufflinks, £245, Salvatore Ferragamo, ferragamo.com; Tortoiseshell glasses, £196, Burberry at David Clulow, davidclulow.com; Brown leather ‘Ashton’ derby shoes, £950, John Lobb, johnlobb.com
ABOVE Grey wool double breasted suit, £750, Chester Barrie, as before; Contrast collar cotton business shirt, £175, Canali, as before; Mulberry silk olive paisley printed tie, £95, Dunhill, as before; Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 watch, £640, Tissot, uk.tissotshop.com
LEFT Navy wool flannel single breasted jacket, £395, Hardy Amies, as before; Navy wool flannel trousers, £195, Hardy Amies, as before; White cotton shirt, £343, Just Cavalli, robertocavalli.com; Buratti silk stripe handmade ‘Leonard’ tie, £98, Shaun Gordon, shaungordon.co.uk; Blue silk border pocket square, £70, Hardy Amies, as before; TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Watch, £1,600, TAG Heuer, tagheuer.co.uk; Gold and burgundy striped umbrella, £295, New & Lingwood, as before; Dark brown ‘Malton’ Oxford brogue shoes, £380, Crockett & Jones, crockettandjones.com
ABOVE Lightweight grey suit, £795, Richard James, richardjames.co.uk; White cotton shirt, £155, Richard James, as before; Burgundy Micro Design tie, £130, Ermenegildo Zegna, zegna.com; Pink and white piped silk pocket square, £55, Turnbull & Asser, turnbullandasser.co.uk; Tortoiseshell glasses, £196, Burberry at David Clulow, as before; Polished Blinder Black ‘Grafton’ Oxford Brogue shoes, £450, Church’s, church-footwear.com PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNICIAN: Nick Rees FASHION ASSISTANT: Cali Lew HAIR & MAKE-UP: Monica Caneo MODEL: Gary Greenwood @ Storm
work Sun and suits are difficult to mix. The secret is fabric – lighter fabrics such as linen or poplin will make your 3pm meeting that bit more comfortable. Subtle flashes of colour through a tie or shoes also adds a summer slant to work attire.
Pink cotton-poplin shirt, £140, Canali, canali.com Richie 14 shirt, £119, Tiger of Sweden, tigerofsweden.com
Richard James Slim fit wool silk linen half-canvas three-piece suit, £1,595, Burberry, uk.burberry.com
Navy and fuchsia spot lace silk tie, £105, Turnbull & Asser, turnbullandasser.co.uk
McClean Brogue, £220, Barker, barker-shoes.co.uk
Wimbledon logo cap, £14
Ac e at t i re In its 11th year of partn ership with th e All England L awn Tenni s Club, Polo Ralph L auren has once again design ed uniforms for all of ficial s at thi s year’s Wimbledon Championships. Th e uniforms have a more modern feel , with t echnical fabrics to reduce h eat and sweat, w hile th e tradition of Wimbledon in its 130th year of championship t enni s remains through th e use of navy, green and purple. Th ere i s al so a Wimbledon lifestyle collection featuring fashion and comm emorative it ems for th e public.
SUMMER IN THE CITY Things are hotting up. Make sure you stay cool, in and out of the office
Umpire pima sweater, £299
weekend
Diamond G Luxe linen fitted shirt, £135, GANT, gant.co.uk
Gieves & Hawkes
If you decide to brave the city on your days off, then use the weekend’s sartorial freedom to emphasise comfort, without forgoing style. Take a leaf out of the Italian book of relaxed elegance with a deconstructed blazer and linen shirt, or pare your look back even more with some smart shorts.
White hidden dash placket linen shirt, £220, Ermenegildo Zegna, zegna.com Slim-fit chino short, £99, Polo Ralph Lauren, ralphlauren.co.uk
Graphic sweatshirt, £119
Original Achilles low sneakers, £249, Common Projects, opumo.com
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Ball boy polo shirt, £109
All Ralph Lauren, ralphlauren.co.uk
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| fashion |
Golden turtle shorts, Vilebrequin, uk.vilebrequin.com
SPOTLIGHT ON… VILEBREQUIN
“Vilebrequin – you’re talking about beaches, holidays and swimming all day long. Isn’t it great?” After four years at the luxury swimwear brand, CEO Roland Herlory continues to make waves What prompted your move to Vilebrequin? I’ve known Vilebrequin since I was 18, when I asked my parents to get me some Vilebrequin shorts for my birthday, so it’s a brand that really resonates with me. What I appreciate at Vilebrequin is the integrity of the brand. There’s no compromise on having the talent to turn our swim shorts into a world reference in that highend niche. That’s very valuable, and that’s the kind of story I like. Tell us about the importance of the father-son shorts story... We were the first ones to really focus on that, which is very natural, because we’re talking about holidays, the moment to have time with your kids, time with your family. Now that we do women, we have the same with mother and daughter.
“I believe that when you are in craftsmanship, the challenge is always to push the limits. I went to the embroiderer in the middle of nowhere in Italy and asked what he would like to do, to go one step further. He said ‘I would love to embroider gold thread’. So we did gold thread embroidery turtle swim shorts. Every scale of the turtle is embroidered in a different direction, so when you have the sun on it, each scale is reflecting the light in a different way.”
BEST OF THE REST
contradictory ideas or values, but we’ve been able to find the magical meeting point. How important is the freedom you give your manufacturers? The talent of the hand is as important as the pure creation. The challenge again is to mix both, because the guys doing the manufacturing know so much. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail, but when you are able to help these people, with their level of knowledge, you can really do something extraordinary.
Swim Shorts, £260, Berluti, berluti.com
Printed swim shorts, £170, Canali, canali.com
Tropical shorts, £40, Gandys, johnlewis.com
Huck 5 shorts, £100, Mocha Salt, mochasalt.com
Why does Vilebrequin always aim to mix luxury with fun? That’s always been our approach; I believe that’s exactly the secret of the company. Fantasy and elegance could sound like
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THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE CITY MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR DESK FOR FREE EMAIL YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR TO CITYDESK@RWMG.CO.UK
| STYLE |
Frame, set and match Sunglasses can make a look – provided you pick the right frame for your face
Refrain from choosing too much of a thick frame
square face Metal and acetate sunglasses, £250, Saint Laurent, ysl.com
Sharp features, angled jaw and straight brow? A small round pair creates a great contrast between the natural lines of the face and crafted curves of the frame.
H e art Fac e Match th e face shap e with th e fram e shap e. Tr y picking a fram e with both cur ves and straight lin es, and a combination of mat erial s.
Murphy rectangle stainless steel, £199, Orlebar Brown, orlebarbrown.co.uk
Oval Fac e: O val faces suit n early all fram e shap es. Pick around how your ch eekbon es sit. High ch eek bon es n eed balancing so select a fram e w hich drops down b elow th em – aviator style i s p er fect. For less pronounced ch eek bon es, you want som ething ver y simple and narrow.
Round-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses, £255, Persol, persol.com
round face Round faces as a rule should always contrast with something rectangular. Refrain from choosing too much of a thick frame as this can add weight to the face. FROM TOP Square sunglasses, £195, Ferragamo, ferragamo.com; Saratoga C6 classic brown frame, £130, Taylor Morris, taylor-morris.com; Withycombe sunglasses, £199, Orlebar Brown, orlebarbrown.co.uk
Transparent polarised sunglasses, £195, Zegna, zegna.com
Transparent polarised sunglasses, £195, Zegna, zegna.com
Sunglasses in silver metal with grey lens, £275, Bottega Veneta, bottegaveneta.com
FROM TOP Round-frame tortoiseshell acetate and metal sunglasses, £530, Thom Browne, thombrowne.com; Roundframe acetate sunglasses, £300, Persol, persol.com; Round-frame tortoiseshell, £135, Ray-Ban, ray-ban. com; Grandy savannah yellow/ forest green sunglasses, £199, Orlebar Brown, orlebarbrown.co.uk
George Arthur C4 brown and yellow Havana frame, £140, Taylor Morris, taylor-morris.com
Tips provided by Hugo Taylor & Charlie Morris, co-founders and designers of Taylor Morris eyewear. Find the full range at taylor-morris.com
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| LIFESTYLE |
No sweat Don’t worry about unsightly patches this Summer, thanks to a few well-placed products
hair Catch up with the ladies – dry shampoo can be useful after a particularly sweaty tube ride to wash away the oils. One more day dry shampoo, £14.50, Philip Kingsley, marksandspencer.com
pit spray For the sprayers, a longlasting, delicate scent to whip on and go. Colonia Club deodorant spray, £29, Acqua Di Parma, harrods.com
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face Absorbs sweat and surface oil, leaving your face less like a puddle. Oil eliminator 24 hour lotion, £30, Kiehl’s, kiehls.co.uk
pit stick For those who have stuck with the stick, this cologne-style deodorant will keep you fresh. Neroli Portofino deodorant stick, £34, Tom Ford, harrods.com
crotch
foot
Help out the boys below. This cream to powder concoction protects your privates from chafing and discomfort. No Sweat body defense, £20, Anthony, spacenk.com
Sockless feet will smell. Use a spray to mask this side-effect of fashion. Feet treat foot spray, £12, Skoah, store.skoah.com
THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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out of office JUNE 2016
DESERT ROSE Dubai is a mecca for the modern traveller, but how long will its appeal last? The city’s population is one of the youngest and wealthiest in the world, and, despite a momentary pause in booming development during the peak of the recession, Dubai is now the fourth most visited city after London, Paris and Bangkok. By 2020 it’s estimated that the annual number of visitors will have reached 20 million. The City Magagine visist the city of superlatives on page 104.
True Nobility
Super Veloce Racing unleashes the latest British-built Noble M600 supercar Words: Jennifer Mason
wheely good The M600’s forged aluminium alloy wheels are fitted with 380mm, semi-floating discs with six piston callipers at the front, and 350mm discs with four piston callipers at the rear.
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posh perch The M600’s seats have been designed and created exclusively for the model. Crafted from lightweight carbon fibre, they can be bespoke upholstered to suit individual requirements.
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B
ritish brand Noble Automotive is working with Super Veloce Racing (SVR) in the UK and Europe to launch its new M600 supercar, which made its debut at last month’s London Motor Show. Noble has invested five years of development in the M600 and M600 CarbonSport and the result is one of the
most exciting British-made supercars on the market. Each car is hand-built in the Leicester factory and can be tailored to each buyer’s wants and needs – from interior finishes to exterior paintwork and even driver seat upholstery. That hands-on approach goes even further. Before potential owners catch a
glimpse of their car, SVR gives them a behind-the-wheel experience in an M600 so they can analyse the needs of each client and ensure each car is personally made-to-measure. Forget a tailored suit – this is a tailored supercar. Suits you, Sir. noblecars.com
made-to-measure Each M600 is hand-built in England to exacting specifications – and individually finished to suit each owner’s taste and requirements, making each car bespoke to its driver.
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the power The Noble M600 delivers 662bhp from its 4.4-litre Yamaha V8 twin-turbo engine, which, thanks to the M600’s relatively light weight (just 1,198kg) launches it from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 225mph.
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There’s a new ship of the desert in the Middle East – it travels on two wheels and is encouraging an increasing number of tourists to the breath-taking sultanate of Oman Words: Jeremy Taylor
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To discover the real Oman means leaving behind the tourist hotspots of Muscat
A
part from building iconic bikes ridden by the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, HarleyDavidson now offers more than 430 authorised travel tours to Africa, Australasia, Europe and the Americas. Oman is a recent addition, and in the capital city of Muscat, riders can plan their own route, riding the very latest machines equipped with satellite navigation, and be guaranteed warm weather. There’s definitely no stigma attached to arriving at an expensive hotel on a Harley these days. That’s because the owners are more likely to be well-heeled rebels in their forties and fifties than oily Hell’s Angels. They have to be, because the bikes cost between £7,500 and £30,000 each – some even feature entertainment systems, Bluetooth and plush pillion seats more comfortable than an armchair. Riding in Muscat isn’t for the fainthearted, but the rest of the country’s ultramodern road network has made Oman a dream for motorcyclists. Dramatic scenery, constant sunshine and a lack of potholes are helping to put the Arabian Peninsula on the map for two-wheeled adventurers. I’ve arrived at the city’s Mutrah souk on my rented Street Glide Special, fully prepared for Arab market chaos. It’s hot but I’d chilled all my armoured clothing in the hotel mini bar earlier. Dripping with sweat, I still feel heavily overdressed compared to the locals. I’ve also discovered that the heat has
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melted the cover on my iPhone in my trouser pocket. Motorbiking in Oman definitely requires the correct lightweight gear to survive the scorching temperatures. The only other riders I’ve seen are T-shirted commuters on scooters, and they don’t even bother with a helmet. The souk is one of Oman’s top destinations but compared to other Middle-Eastern markets I’ve visited it’s refreshingly relaxed. Bartering is expected but the vendors approach with an apologetic air. It’s so chilled that any form of jostling might constitute a riot. I set my helmet down on a coffee-house
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table by the souk entrance to watch the world go by. There’s a healthy mix of locals and tourists, but navigating the souk for the first time can be tricky. Fortunately, it’s built on a slight slope, so heading back downhill to the entrance works better than any map. Oman is ruled by Sultan Qaboos, who came to power in 1970 after deposing his own father in a coup. He set about a new era of modernisation that transformed every aspect of life, from healthcare to the slick road network. Qaboos remains the longest-serving ruler in the Middle East. One of his greatest achievements is the remarkable Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, a 20-minute ride from the souk. Built to mark the 30th year of his reign, the main prayer hall can accommodate 20,000 worshippers at once. There’s a steady stream of tourists too, but nothing to constitute a rush. The mosque is an active place of worship, so it’s important to check the opening times and avoid being turned away at the entrance. Visitors have to be dressed modestly. Fortunately for me, motorcycle clothing works just fine. To discover the real Oman means leaving behind the tourist hotspots of Muscat and heading out into the mountainous interior and surrounding deserts. I set off early morning the following day, hoping to avoid some of the afternoon heat. My sat-nav is set for the Jebel Shams mountain – the highest peak in the Al Hajar range.
I can’t sit around too long, though, because I want to make the watering hole of Nizwa before sunset. The 16th-century fort lies on a plain surrounded by a palm oasis. Nizwa is two hours from Muscat and the second biggest tourist attraction in Oman. It’s also a good base for day trips to the historic sites of Jabrin and Bahla. Stepping off my motorbike, the air in Nizwa smells of heat and dust. The road here cut through a vast expanse of nothingness, but now I’m surrounded by colourful rugs and pungent coffee. Returning to Muscat, the city feels even more sanitised than the towns and villages in the surrounding hills. The road-building programme continues and it won’t be long until a new route is cut through the mountains, bringing neighbouring UAE ever closer. For now, though, Muscat remains a little corner of the Middle East that lacks some of the bling vulgarities of its noisy neighbours. For more information on Harley-Davidson Authorised Tours, visit harley-davidson.com. Contact HarleyDavidson in Muscat at hdmuscat.com
Riding in Muscat isn’t for the faint-hearted The first 30 minutes after escaping Muscat are hot and uncomfortable. Around town, a 1,690cc Harley engine sounds like a sewing machine with asthma. It’s only when the road opens up ahead that the bike takes on the acoustic purr of a Spitfire. The Harley is a heavy bike but it’s remarkably easy to handle. It chugs around bends at 50mph and doesn’t require me to change gear that often. A screen deflects flies off my face, but I can still inhale the intoxicating smell of medwakh tobacco, smoked in copious amounts by vendors selling rugs and Omani silver in the village centres en route. It may be a working day in Oman but traffic is scarce and soon I’m counting more goats than cars. Jebel Shams is an impressive peak, but the spectacularly deep Wadi Ghul next to it is known as the Grand Canyon of Arabia. Fortunately, road improvements mean there is now a barrier between my bike and the 1,000ft drop. The route twists and turns to the mountain top, where I sip mint tea under a gazebo tent and stare deep into the canyon.
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TECH TALK
Essential apparatus for keeping ahead of the curve
Living on the edge
The next generation of intuitive smartphone is here
I
f you’re locked in a war of attrition with your current smartphone, worried about how much time you spend looking at a screen, kidding yourself you’ve not become addicted, it’s probably a good idea not to get the new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Do, and it will be game, set and match to the smartphone. So fast, so responsive, so intuitive is Samsung’s new handset, that it will become a permanent extension of your arm in no time. The ‘Edge’ feature has been improved on the previous attempt, and its simplicity and ease of use is second to none.
You can now capture motion in panoramic images The new camera offers a brighter lens, larger pixels, and a dual pixel sensor. Plus, you can now capture motion in panoramic images, the phone doing all the splicing and stitching for you. The S7 is the S6 souped up: its CPU is 30 per cent faster, its graphics processing unit 64 per cent quicker, you get an additional 1GB of RAM, as well as microSD support. Something Samsung calls the ‘3D thermoforming process’ creates a seamless connection between the glass and metal alloy back, which feels luxurious in your hand. While the phone may promise water and dustresistant features, be sure to invest in a protective case. The ‘Edge’ feature of the super lightweight S7 makes it a slippery piece of kit. It has a habit of falling through your fingers and, should you smash the screen, you’re looking at a hefty fee to have it fixed. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Galaxy S7 edge 32GB, £639, Samsung, samsung.com
Best of the rest lg
NEXUS
G5
6P
The LG is built for fun. Simply take the bottom module off, and attach one of the many options LG has in its locker, including an extra battery, a picture quality enhancer and virtual reality toys. £499, EE, O2 and Vodafone
The 5.7-inch AMOLED quad-HD display packs a serious punch, and strong front-facing speakers make it a great audio device. It’s cheaper than its rivals, leaving more space in your pocket for the big screen. £449, store.google.com
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iPHONE 6S PLUS The same design as last year’s model, but with improved hardware and promising 3D Touch technology, making using apps such as Safari and Mail more intuitive. From £619, apple.com
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| out of office |
Football Crazy You might not have heard, but there’s some football on this month. Catch the best of the action with the smartest technology around
The lighting
The sound – Dynaudio (Denmark, winners 1992)
Philips (Netherlands, winners 1988)
Gary Lineker is an unassuming man. Make sure you can hear him with highquality speakers. Dynaudio has provided monitors for the BBC and Abbey Road, with everything hand crafted at its HQ in Denmark. The Xeo 2 wireless system produces a rich and full sound despite being the smallest system from the brand. Xeo 2, £995, dynaudio.com
To create real atmosphere in the front room, get some lighting that packs a punch. Hue is smart lighting that can be controlled via an app to produce (apparently) 16 million colours, and lights of various strength and brightness. Pick the colours to suit the teams. Hue white and colour ambiance wireless lighting LED starter kit, £149.95, johnlewis.com
The drinks – Smeg (Italy, winners 1968) The screen – Hisense TV (China, not in Europe)
It’s the 85th minute, 1-1. Your drink was polished off ten minutes ago and you’re getting thirsty, but the kitchen is at least fifteen seconds away. Avoid the risk of missing the decider with a mini fridge. Smeg has a wide range of options, so you never go thirsty. FAB5 RNE, £549, smeg50style.com
Hisense is an official partner of the Euros, and there aren’t many better ways of watching the action short of making the trip to France than on a 4KHD TV. Just try not to throw the remote at the screen when someone misses a sitter. 75M7900, £2,499, hisense.co.uk
The old school – Ruark (England, semi-final 1996, winners 2016?)
There’s something more exciting about listening to a match. British brand Ruark has made a name for itself with quality tabletop radio fare. A clear LED display and Bluetooth receiver mean it will be easy to switch on the patriotic tunes pre-match. Mk3 deluxe tabletop radio, £200, ruarkaudio.com
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Designing the Superyachts are big, bold and technologically brilliant. David Taylor talks to the experts who build the ultimate luxuries
T
he World Superyacht Awards ceremony is an understandably high-end affair. Held last month at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence – lauded by the organisers as the birthplace of the artistic Renaissance – the great and the good from this exclusive and sometimes mysterious uber-culture gathered to compete for, and revel in, top accolades in the yachting world. The nominees were, to a machine, extraordinary – a grand mix of sailing and motor yachts, refurbished, rebuilt, newlydesigned. Big and bold. Small and nimble. The winner of best rebuilt yacht was the Malahne, whose fortunes were turned around by Pendennis Shipyard Ltd. Mike Carr, joint-MD at Pendennis, remembers the saving of Malahne fondly: “Yachts are romantic vessels. She was a really iconic vessel with an Art Deco interior, and we had the pleasure to work for a client who literally left no rivet unturned, because of the romanticism of the boat. We had to make it as authentic as the day it was first built.” The passion the new owner showed, says Carr, was infectious. “If a client comes and shows interest, and is clearly passionate about the job that’s being done and how it’s being achieved, they get so much more out of it, as does the team.” Involved with Pendennis from the outset, Carr is in a good position to notice growing trends. One of the most important is, understandably, quality. The standard to which companies work is ever higher, with modern navigation, electronics and communication playing a large role for the consumer. Andrew Winch, of Winch Design, agrees wholeheartedly: “The benchmark of quality is much higher. If I achieve a fantastic standard on one project for one client, their friend wants more. If you’re fishing for carp, you want the bigger carp; if you want a yacht and your friend has one, you’d like one a little bigger. “We built the motor yacht Dubai, which is 161 metres, then along comes a yacht for a different owner called Eclipse, because it’s 164 metres, and it’s great. I don’t have any problem with that.” Carr echoes this sentiment, with the challenge of space becoming more of an issue: “Yachts are getting bigger all the
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Superyacht
| FEATURE |
time, so our facilities have had to change. We started with a 40m shed, and now we have two 90m sheds and a 150m dry dock. “You just do the engineering on a bigger scale. The salt water might have gone through a two- or three-inch pipe, now it’s a six-inch pipe, so the challenge is to alter your equipment and your in-house skills.” The use of newer technology is not limited to building bigger vessels. Over the past few years, attention has turned to the ecological effect superyachts have on the sea. Kiran Haslam, MD of Princess Yachts (whose boat Antheya III won the ‘best semidisplacement or planing two-deck motor yacht’ award in Florence), sees this as the obvious next step: “Evolution in this day and age results in efficiency – whether that’s efficiency in terms of alternative energies to drive performance or derive pleasure, lower consumption, or a quieter boating experience. “Whether it’s feasible to implement right now is anybody’s guess, but we are all undoubtedly looking in that direction. I would love to imagine a reality where the boating industry can outperform other industries in terms of its efficiency, because it is one which has the potential for very rapid change. “The processes behind tooling, equipment and the manufacturing of cars can result in a car being on the road eight to 13 years after being thought of. With boats, we can do that within two to three years, so implementing change is rapid. We have an opportunity, and we would be foolish to ignore it.” Andrew Winch has been a longtime advocate of responsible sailing, having grown up, he says, on the likes of conservationist and explorer Jacques Cousteau, and more recently Sir David Attenborough. “We support Blue Marine, which is a marine charity trying to create marine reserves to help the sea save itself. We want our clients to understand the oceans and enjoy them,” says Winch. “There are some significant clients who have been investing to help save the sea. Prince Khaled [of Saudi Arabia] has his Golden Odyssey fleet and he’s been helping to investigate the coral reefs. “The clients are looking for their yachts to be as green and efficient as possible. There are clients looking at cleaner systems, so they leave no footprint as they travel around. You can do so much now to make them efficient, whether it’s carbon fibre hull structures to make the yachts lighter, fluid efficiency, even wind efficiency, so that they are easily
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driven through the oceans. They can be statements, but the reason people go on a yacht is because they want to see the sea.” For all the talk of efficiency and technology, superyachts are a playground, an unnecessary toy on which the rich while away their days. Owner of Y.CO, Charlie Birkett, while a strong proponent of ecological responsibility, thinks there’s no reason to dispel this claim: “We’re seeing a new generation of clients coming through, and they’re looking at yachting in a completely different way. They’re young and active enough to be spending time on the water with friends and family, and they’ve worked out that the lifestyle
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“They design their boats in an unconventional way. There’s more focus on having one deck living space”
you can get from having a superyacht is probably like nothing else. “They design their boats in an unconventional way. There’s more focus on having one deck living space. Design-wise, it’s a good challenge, because it challenges young and even established yacht designers – they’re moving away from the conventional wedding cake tier approach, to quite long, low volume yachts.” This signifies another trend common across the yachting world. Bespoke design has always been important when designing a superyacht – without it, why bother at all? – but the advent of the internet has seen demands reach another level. Winch
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| FEATURE |
revels in the creative collaboration between designer and client: “They love seeing new ideas, new things, and that stimulates them. I always get excited about design. “Some clients will want to be involved on a daily basis, those that love the building process, and actually owning a yacht is secondary to the satisfaction of building these amazing floating homes.” This doesn’t stop at the exterior, with the contents of a yacht all chosen by eager future owners. One of Winch’s favourite designs is that of a coffee table that folds out into an entire planetarium. His reason? “Who wants their yacht to look like someone else’s? It’s unique. It’s got to be.”
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Princess’s Haslam agrees, adding that the owner’s enthusiasm for the interior can sometimes become a little heavy-handed: “There is a behaviour which is unique to the boat world, and particularly to the superyacht world, where we will have a conversation with a customer, and they will focus heavily on the base price of the product. It might mean six or seven consultations, over a period of seven months to a year, and when we finally arrive at an agreement, all of a sudden they start selecting options for their boat, and they might very quickly accumulate four or five million pounds of options. The cost of
the options is never a discussion point. It’s what they want.” There’s general consensus on the state of the superyacht world from Birkett, Carr, Haslam and Winch. Technology and the money involved has reached new levels. Add to this the continuing enthusiasm of new owners from the internet age, and you have a creative atmosphere almost second to none. As Winch says: “We’re in an era now that’s the equivalent of the 1930s of wealth and ambition and of incredible opportunities – to create new ideas, new yachts, new dreams.” And of the astronomical sums involved? “If you can afford it, have it.”
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HEALTH & FITNESS
the tips and tricks to keep you fighting fit
Away from it all
For those burning the candle at both ends, a mindful mini-break might just be what the doctor ordered
The Wild Pause
For something close to nature, try The Wild Pause, a weekend retreat in South West Cornwall where you cook and sleep under the stars, and explore the Cornish coastline with founder Danielle Marchant and Polar explorer Ian Prickett. You sleep in tents provided for you and spend the whole weekend away from the modern world – a chance to reassess what’s really important. £389pp, 22-24 July, lifebydanielle.com
the Reset Button
The Reset Button focusses on a sustainable new lifestyle not just for the week, but for when you’re back in Blighty, too. Overlooking the Pyrenees, you’ll be greeted by a team of clever bods, including nutritional experts, psychotherapists, masseuses, personal trainers, and a gourmet chef. Founded by a former creative director in advertising, the team knows how to cure the pitfalls of the work hard, play hard lifestyle From £1,350pp (based on two sharing), theresetbutton.co.uk
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Sayana Retreats at Epic Sana
There are plenty of different retreat options available at Epic Sana, from a week-long yoga programme, to a fitness and nutrition bootcamp with pilates, aquafit, cycling and circuit training five hours a day, to a luxury de-stress course, which includes massages and an osteopathic assessment. Each course is situated at the Epic Sana Hotel, surrounded by the multi-coloured, sandy beaches and cliffs of the Algarve. Not many better places to wind down. Or be shouted at by a personal trainer, apparently. From £795pp, algarve.epic.sanahotels.com
Stay-at-home serenity
The time-poor don’t even need to leave London to find inner peace. Meditation experts Will Williams and Jess Cook teach a technique that helps find calm and clarity among the chaos of city life. Just 20 minutes of meditation twice a day leaves you feeling revived and strong. For those wanting to take it further, there are advanced programmes and retreats. Meditation course for beginners, £294, Will Williams Meditation, willwilliamsmeditation.co.uk
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SPEEDY SNACKING The Medicinal Chef, Dale Pinnock, knows a thing or two about quick, healthy food. Here are two of his go-to dishes when in a hurry
Speedy beef stir-fry “This is a great warm lunch that’s rich and hearty, but doesn’t take long to cook at all. Serve as a standalone dish or with a handful of cooked brown rice”. Serves 1 Ingredients • A dash of olive oil – for stir-frying • 3 spring onions – cut diagonally into 1cm pieces • 2 cloves garlic – finely sliced • 1 small steak – cut into thin strips • 1 handful curly kale and baby spinach • 1 teaspoon runny honey • 2 teaspoons soy sauce • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil • 2 teaspoons chilli bean sauce • Sea salt Method 1. Sauté the spring onions and garlic in the oil with a pinch of salt until the spring onions begin to soften. Add the beef strips and stir-fry for 6 minutes. 2. Add the green vegetables and stir-fry for 3 minutes, then add the honey, soy sauce, sesame oil and chilli bean sauce. Mix well and cook for another minute before serving.
Egg and bacon stuffed tomato “This juicy and flavoursome dish can be used as breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is one of my favourite Saturday morning brunches and helps fill you up for the whole morning”. Serves 1 Ingredients • A dash of olive oil – for greasing and cooking • 1 large egg • 1 large beef tomato – top cut off like a ‘lid’ and insides scooped out to create a ‘bowl’ • 1 rasher nitrate-free bacon / or 300g feta cheese • Salt and black pepper to season Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 and lightly oil a baking tray. 2. Tip a whisked egg into a pan and stir over a high heat for a minute or so, until it is just starting to scramble but has a runny consistency. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 3. Place the hollowed-out tomato on the baking tray and fill with the egg and chopped bacon. If you follow a vegetarian diet, switch the bacon for feta cheese and crumble into the scrambled egg. Lay the tomato ‘lid’ on the tray to be cooked, too. 4. Cook in the oven for about 25 minutes, until the tomato skin has started to wrinkle and the egg filling is golden.
Healthy home truths
If a wake-up call is needed after a few months sitting on the sofa, a trip to be assessed by the trainers at Embody Fitness will certainly do the trick. After a preliminary health check, you’re taken through to meet Chris, head trainer, who will ask you a comprehensive series of personal health questions. You then see a physiotherapist, who details your physical strengths and weaknesses, and what can be done about the latter through a 45 minute session. Then it’s crunch time: do you transform your body with a tailored 12-week training regime, or waddle back to that sofa? The choice is yours. Embody Fitness, EC2
tHE RAT RACE Men’s Health’s Survival of the Fittest, the world’s biggest adventure race series, is back in London for its 9th year. The challenge: a 10km run starting at Wembley Park, with 10 unique and challenging obstacle zones, including Container City, constructed from huge shipping containers. Once you’ve conquered the course, enjoy the glory in the event village beer tent and gardens, with food, music, and live MCs. Save money by signing up as a team, and get that extra yard of competitive motivation. Survival of the Fittest, 23 July, from £62, mhsurvival.co.uk
All ingredients available from online grocer Bearfaced Groceries, bearfacedgroceries.co.uk
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CREATURES OF OUR OWN MAKING
Mark & Hannah Hayes-Westall have been working in, and writing about, contemporary art on and off for almost 20 years. Each month they introduce an artist who should appear on your agenda
This month: JAMES OSTRER
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hat’s so interesting? If a little new digital paradigm creates a new kind bit of what you fancy does you of iconography and our reactions to it. good, what happens when big A recent show of work at Art Central, data’s algorithms get involved and you Hong Kong’s contemporary art fair, saw only get more of the things you like? the artist showing works portraying A cultural change that began with the well-known celebrities: Donald Trump, advent of reality television has now sped Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Tiger Woods up hugely thanks to the pervasive tracking and others, but in a way that is barely that is part of our digital lives, and it’s recognisable. At first glance, the engaging a new generation of artists. grotesque figures made of meat, raw While it’s true that there is something of fish and silicon renderings of sex organs a boom in young artists looking at might seem like particularly how to slow down the flood of nasty caricatures of information that the internet celebrities, but look closely delivers, British artist and what’s clear is that James Ostrer isn’t one Ostrer isn’t mocking James Ostrer of them. In fact, he’s at the people themselves; The Ego System work on something more instead his issue is 15 September – 30 October 2016 ambitious; he’s looking with the way that their Gazelli Art House, 39 Dover instead at the way the humanity has been
find the work
Street, W1S gazelliarthouse.com
Hong Kong’s contemporary art fair saw the artist showing works portraying wellknown celebrities
far left EF 124, 2014 left 145.4, 2014 above EF 127.5, 2014 All by James Ostrer, archival pigment print of diasec mount, 34 x 51 cm
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reduced to a series of crude symbols for gender, power and desire. Ostrer describes the works in his latest show as “honest portraits” but the celebrities portrayed in them as “totems of dysfunctionality”, whose public images are more representative of our own distorted value systems than of any intrinsic quality they may have as people. Responsibility for the horror of these images is laid firmly at our door, with each artwork title including the number of Google searches that each celebrity had attracted on the day the work was created. The focus on consumer iconography and our responsibility for its creation and dissemination isn’t a new one. In a previous series of works called Wotsit All About (2014), Ostrer took images of
popular sweets and snacks and presented them in a highly ritualised way evoking the images created by some tribes of icons
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of power. They looked at the veneration and idealisation of products that are known for their dual power to generate both pleasure and problems. He has said: “I suppose I am responding to the vast divide between what we are being sold as aspirationally good for us both emotionally and literally, and what we are actually getting.” The concept of commercialisation and personal responsibility was ably expressed in the creation of Ostrer’s alter ego Guru Jimmy, a persuasive yogi shaman who persuaded hundreds of art lovers at 2015’s Venice Biennale to follow his instructions for better living through yoga. A previous work, a portrait of the interior designer Nicky Haslam seated in a chair belonging to the late artist Lucian Freud, won the Curator’s Choice at the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in 2010.
Ostrer took images of popular sweets and snacks and presented them in a highly ritualised way
above, left EF 127.6, 2014 left EF 137, 2014 above EF 133.2, 2014 All by James Ostrer, archival pigment print of diasec mount, 34 x 51 cm
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ROGERS LAMP TABLE This timelessly elegant table lamp from Black and Key has been crafted from quality timber in the glossiest black and features polished-nickel detailing, not to mention a low-level shelf – great for storing back issues of The City Magazine. £3,350, luxdeco.com
s e o r e h n g i s de hing inguis it t is d s ior ed brand inter d the n n a a h s wit on ture ior ic hitec inter c , r n a ig t des grea e-old atch decad ves – we m sel them
LLOYD shelving Award-winning French designer JeanMarie Massaud has created a system of storage units and bookcases with varying geometrics. The light grids, which are made up of a series of thin, vertical wooden rods, can be moved as desired, making this a truly versatile storage solution.From 33,400 including VAT, poltronafrau.com
N O N R AN D OM Design er Bertjan Pot i s best known for th e Random Light, hi s 1999 creation that start ed as a mat erial exp erim ent. Today, th e outcom e of hi s approach i s th e Non Random Light, a striking p endant. £ 490, moooi .com pa s si f lora c u sh i on Add vibrancy to any living space with Missoni Home’s eyecatching prints. We love the Passif lora , a large yet intricate f loral pattern . £252, amara .com little bold Roderick Vos’ fascination with laser -cutting technology, led to the Bold series, and we can see Little Bold taking pride of place on a mantelpiece. £253, moooi .com
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FINISHING TOUCHES
Go Undercover 635 BLACK RED AND BLUE CHAIR (ZEILMAKER VERSION) Gerrit Thomas Rietveld’s original Red and Blue model dates back to 1918. Today the structure is presented in black-stained beechwood with contrasting white components, but it still makes the same sculptural statement that did almost a century ago. 2,270 including VAT, cassina.com
hot mesh bar stool This Blue Dot design took its inspiration from iconic steam bent, wood bistro chairs. It’s an exclusive to Heal’s in the UK and features a fusion of tubular and lasercut steel, giving the modern edge to a classic. £195, heals.com
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UK summers aren’t famous for their balmy nights, so when the temperature drops of an evening, be sure to stay cosy outdoors with the Go Undercover Commedia Dell’Arte blanket. The 100 per cent cotton throw also doubles as a very sophisticated picnic blanket. £75, amara.com
Septum Steel Vase A limited edition of 300, this gorgeous Kosta Boda vase boasts a smooth and simple exterior, while exploring the concept of a dividing wall in glass. The Septum series consists of three different vase sizes and is available in a number of shades, which are to some extent inspired by the Nordic glass art of the ’60s and ’70s. £319, skandium.com
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NEW WORLD WINE Vineyards that make as much of a statement with their architecture as their wines WORDS: Chris Allsop
This relatively closed-off region needed to open its châteaux doors a little wider to wine tourism
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uring this year’s en primeur wine week in April, as Bordeaux wine producers wrung their hands and worried about pricing and whether the Chinese and Americans would turn up (they did), there was a lot of acknowledgement that this relatively closed-off region needed to open its châteaux doors a little wider to wine tourism. They understood that, elsewhere, their New World competitors – already hot on their heels with the quality of their output – were also making up for their
lack of dramatic castellos or haughty châteaux by employing starchitects such as Frank Gehry and Renzo Piano to elevate their wineries to something approaching large-scale modernist sculpture. Perhaps Château Cheval Blanc and Château Margaux’s new wineries, designed by Christian de Portzamparc and Norman Foster respectively, are indicative of a sea change in the French mentality; if so, we, as visitors, are all the more fortunate for their earnest investment, as we have been with these other notable wineries.
Bodegas Portia, Ribera del Duero, Spain A sleek marriage of function and form, the 2010 Norman Foster-designed Bodegas Portia, part of the Grupo Faustino, is located in the prominent Spanish wine region of Ribera del Duero. Sharing a similarity to the winery Opus One in the manner in which it ‘rises from the landscape’, this star-shaped structure, with an exterior clad in shingles of Corten steel, has a trefoil design expressing the three main areas of production: fermentation in steel vats; ageing in oak barrels; and ageing in bottles. The building is partly embedded in the landscape in an effort to minimise its visual impact and maximise its passive environmental benefits for the wine production within. Foster + Partners followed this, their first winery, with a recent sympathetic and low-key addition to legendary Bordeaux winery Château Margaux.
image © Foster + Partners
image © Foster + Partners
image © Foster + Partners
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| FEATURE |
Château Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion, France
View Hill House, Yarra Valley, Australia View Hill House was designed by architect John Denton to crown View Hill – a small, isolated mount in the Yarra Valley, north-east of Melbourne, that is wrapped in the 150-acre vineyard joint owned by Denton and his restaurateur son. From the exterior, the house comprises two parts: a ground-floor, pre-rusted Corten steel block with a shiny black aluminium block balanced at right angles above. The design, which partly represents an investigation into architecture as ‘land art’, makes the most of the extraordinary views from the hilltop. The Dentons have been producing wine in the region since 2007.
A white infinity symbol floating above the rows of twisted vines, the Christian de Portzamparcdesigned winery, which opened in 2011, makes an elegant new wave statement about longevity and excellence tailor-made for the Premier Cru Classé (A) wine producer. De Portzamparc apparently drew inspiration from the curves of the winemaker’s concrete fermentation vats to create the curvilinear concrete canopy containing numerous beams. Housed within the mashrabiya walls are 52 fermentation vats, while the lawn roof offers a suitably elevated setting for a, no doubt, elevating tasting. Offsetting the futuristic design is an adjacent 18th-century building, a reminder of Bordeaux’s strong sense of tradition.
© Erick Saillet
The design, which partly represents an investigation into architecture as ‘land art’, makes the most of the extraordinary views from the hilltop.
© Tim Griffith
Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, Spain Evocative of a flowing ballroom gown (or a punk-tinged Trump coiffeur), the pink-hued titanium exterior of Hotel Marqués de Riscal contrasts dramatically with the dusty terracotta roofs of nearby Elciego – but is instantly recognisable as vintage Frank Gehry. Completed by the Pritzker-winning architect in 2006, this operatic,
images © Quim Roser
organic structure forms the centrepiece of the Marqués de Riscal vineyard in the Rioja wine region. Beneath the metal ribbons, you’ll find a luxury hotel, a spa offering vinotherapy (what else?), and a Michelin-starred restaurant run by Francis Paniego – a previous winner of the National Gastronomy Award for Best Chef.
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Opus One, Napa Valley, USA The powerhouse Napa Valley winery, completed in 1991, is a stately blend of classical European and contemporary Californian aesthetics; an architectural marriage intended to reflect the partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Reminiscent of both tomb and temple, the cream-coloured limestone building, designed by LA-based architect Scott Johnson of Johnson Fain, was intended to give the impression of rising from the earth and merging with the landscape of Napa’s rolling hills. Stainless steel and Californian redwood are juxtaposed throughout the hemispheric structure, which Johnson described as being “introverted, like a jewel box”.
O Fournier, Mendoza, Argentina
Stainless steel and Californian redwood are juxtaposed throughout the hemispheric structure
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The avant-garde winery created by architects Bormida & Yanzón architects (a firm greatly responsible for the aesthetic evolution of Argentine wine estates over the past 20 years) was intended to meet a brief that asked for something novel and nonconformist, that sought a distinctly New World design free of any deference to Europe. Completed in 2007, the concrete, glass and stainless-steel structure contrasts starkly with the rugged mountains beyond and its shape is intended to be evocative of Mendoza’s symbolic condor. Employing a technique that’s become popular in this ever more environmentally-minded industry, O Fournier’s multitiered construction employs gravity to pull the wine through its processes without the use of energy.
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Strolling beneath the skyscrapers is the best way to get a feel for fascinating Shanghai Words: Chris Allsop
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Shanghai, home to 24 million people, is immense and ever growing
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hanghai, they’ll tell you, is a “walking city”. As your connection from Hong Kong circles in over the field of streetlights stretching beyond the horizon, you might – with the clarity brought on by a decent night’s sleep on the blessedly horizontal Cathay Pacific business-class seats (or, depending on how you manage long haul, a movie and Malbec marathon) – wonder what the hell they’re talking about. You’re not walking that. You’ll find, however, that the shadowy ‘they’ know their business. It’s true that Shanghai, home to 24 million people, is immense and ever growing. You get a sense of the rate of growth as you drive the 45 minutes from Pudong International (the busier of the city’s two airports) into the centre, and understand that the bristling vista of high rises and developments that whizz past have all sprung into existence over the last 15 years. On the Thames-broad Huangpu River wending north-easterly through the city’s heart, commercial tankers stream past dawdling cruise ships and on to the Yangtze River and Pacific. Shanghai is mainland China’s financial centre – the draw for that rural exodus requiring all the new housing – but beyond the industry and the sprawl is an engaging and walkable core that expresses the city’s blend of the ancient and the modern. You’ll find China’s moneyed elite sipping cocktails in skyscraping bars, while below bets are taken on backstreet cricket fights.
Yuan Love
Where to walk first depends, of course, on where you find yourself staying (if the weather’s not on your side there are 366 miles of metro, the world’s longest, on hand
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(and not as hellish as you might imagine in China’s most populous city)). Pudong (which translates as the ‘east of the Huangpu’) is a former swamp turned financial district with a dazzling skyline. It’s home to China’s tallest building, the recently completed 632-metre Shanghai Tower (roughly double the height of the Shard), as well as the newer Ritz-Carlton. The six-year old Ritz – with its glittering Art-Deco interior, specially commissioned free-standing baths inspired by Chinese dumplings and weird lift interiors wallpapered with pearly fish skin – is a little bit special. To top it all off, the rooms offer a panorama of the Bund – the classiest perspective in the city. A sweep of stout, colonial-era edifices parading beside the Huangpu, the Bund was originally a British settlement before becoming a focus for the numerous foreign powers invested in the commercially strategic locale. Besides some of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the city, you’ll also find the trendy Rockbund Art Museum; “culinary provocateur” Paul Pairet’s avant-garde Ultraviolet (the D-Box of haute cuisine); and upscale club M1NT with its shark tanks (although Le Baron in the former French Concession is more the elite set’s club of the moment). It’s rather wonderful that two upmarket addresses are accessed by the trippy Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. Essentially a two-way resort ride beneath the river, the tunnel originally had Disney lined up to execute the special effects. They swiftly withdrew after the budget was unveiled, and today the tunnel is a five-minute journey through amusing and baffling nonsense; best is the wary look of the attendants at the finish, wondering how angrily you’ll demand a refund.
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are a delight for peering through the peanut and chilli-scented steam of a street-food stall, and into the windows of tiny random outlets where you might at last locate that fur-lined denim trench coat you thought had only existed in a fever dream. Time your exploration, early or late in the day, past Fuxing or Xiangyang Parks to witness some of the senior citizens enjoying a mass foxtrot – ballroom dancing in the city is a cultural Step into the streets behind the Bund and relic from the end of the 19th century. you’ll strike Nanjing Road, a rich retail The adjacent Old City, sandwiched vein. Shanghai does shopping extremely between the former French Concession well, and in the centre you’re never far and the Bund, is centred around two poles from a decent mall. The former French – the southerly Confucian Temple and the Concession, located south-west of the northerly Yuyuan Garden. The north is Bund and immediately recognisable always the more tourist-choked area as the for the leafy plane trees shading the gardens are the city’s major cultural site pavements, houses some of the city’s – a walled oasis of 16th-century serenity more interesting shopping experiences. embedded within a commercial labyrinth A recent addition is Xintiandi: a high-end of faux-classical architecture, known as the outdoor mall constructed from renovated Yuyuan Tourist Mart. Stroll instead in the Shikumen houses, offering a gorgeous southerly area, where you can wander the grey stone maze of boutiques, restaurants jumbled alleyways, listening to the click and bars. You’ll wish it was ten of mahjong tiles and the music of family times as big, but the vibe arguments, and get a taste of spills out pleasantly on old Shanghai. Cathay Pacific to the surrounding If your feet are tired, flies from London streets. Its lowcycling is an increasingly Heathrow to Hong Kong end equivalent is popular way to tour the five times daily and from Tianzifang, also in city. It’s best at night Manchester to Hong Kong four the former French as there’s less traffic times per week, to more than 190 Concession: (Shanghainese drivers destinations globally, including a cobble and have a casual disdain 22 in China. To book, call brick warren of for pedestrian life) and 0208 834 8888 or visit visit Shikumen shops no crowds. A three-hour cathaypacific.co.uk that are your go-to organised tour (try the for cheongsams, bespoketravelcompany. leather goods and com) can zip you through the assorted artsy tat. atmospheric highlights of the main If the weather isn’t districts, including a deserted (and appropriate for outdoor browsing (visit much more atmospheric) Yuyuan Tourist Shanghai in late March or late October to Mart, and bring you out to a glittering maximise your chances of avoiding bad finish along the midnight Bund. weather and big crowds), try the plush The thing about Shanghai is that it’s IAPM mall, near the Shaanxi Nan Lu too vast to be pigeonholed. It’s a walking metro station. With an undulating ceiling city, certainly, but it’s also a biking city, a reminiscent of a concert hall, IAPM is a ballroom-dancing city, a risky crossing-theluxury outlet haven. It’s also home to one of road city, and, when the going gets tough, six branches of Din Tai Fung – a Taiwanese an Uber city… chain known for its excellent xiaolongbao, a mouth-wateringly delicious pork-filled steamed bun (or soup dumpling) typical of Shanghai. Din Tai Fung is a good cheat to try this local speciality if life’s too short for the perpetual lunchtime queuing at famed Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Road.
Shop Shop
The north is always the more touristchoked area as the gardens are the city’s major cultural site
Cultural Quickstep
Shanghai’s reputation as a walking city finds its zenith in the more laid-back former French Concession. Outside of its malls and Shikumen mazes, these streets
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Cocktail City
From rooftop bars to underground speakeasies, the Shanghainese really know how to mix a jigger of drama with a well-crafted drink. A few of the best:
Speak Low, Huangpu
Differentiating itself from the crowd of speakeasy-style bars in Shanghai is this rather more genuine article. Slide the bookshelf to enter, and head upstairs to push the right city on the map to access the second bar. Try the namesake sherry and Bacardi-based cocktail that won Shingo Gokan, Speak Low’s Japanese owner, the 2012 Bacardi Global Legacy Cocktail Competition.
Flair, Pudong
The Ritz-Carlton’s skyscraping cocktail loft is, unexpectedly for brassy Shanghai, perhaps the cosiest bar experience you’ll ever have. Step out on to the veranda and, 250 metres up, there are matchless views of the Bund. Signature cocktails and old favourites vie for your affections alongside 40 types of vodka and a respectable collection of small-distillery rums.
Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai Pudong, are £320 per night with club lounge access, including five complimentary culinary and beverage presentations daily, a dedicated concierge, complimentary limousine transfers and many other exclusive benefits. ritzcarlton.com
Image: atiger
Taste Buds Cocktail Palace, Xuhui
Thanks to the velvet couches and gaudy Qing dynasty-inspired décor, walking into the Taste Buds Cocktail Palace feels like the cocktail-bar experience you expected to find in the Orient. Manhattan fans should order the dangerously moreish Ye – essentially the same cocktail but with the added depth of a maple-syrup sweetness, balanced by an allspice and vinegar kick.
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hotel of the month:
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GEORGE V, PARIS
Paris is much like a restaurant serving eight or nine courses, so when all you have time for is a starter, what you’re really after is a tasting platter. For that, the answer is simple – a weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel George V words: tiffany eastland
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hen I pushed on the glass offer. My guest and I were given the rare revolving door of 31 Avenue opportunity to view the Presidential Suite. George V, I felt a lot like It comes with a €18,500-a-night price Lucy in The Chronicles of tag – not that that stopped one Narnia. Paris itself is gentleman from staying for picture-perfect in my a month. From there, eyes, but what was it was to the hotel’s waiting on the crowning glory, the other side of this Penthouse Suite. Eurostar Business Premier white stone ArtThis is for those customers can enjoy fully flexible Deco façade was looking for a room fares, ten minute express check-in, nothing short of with a view, not to exclusive lounge access, along with magical. mention a choice delicious menus designed by Business Immediately of terraces where Premier culinary director Raymond my eyes were you can delight in a Blanc served at their seat. drawn to the panorama of Paris. Business Premier fares are exceptional floral If palatial £245 one way. arrangements that surrounds, breathtook centre stage in taking views and the an opulent lobby. I was mention of Jeff Leatham told that this is the handy aren’t enough to get your heart work of Jeff Leatham, the hotel’s racing, perhaps this is… Le Cinq, artistic director. If you’ve not heard of Jeff, the hotel’s French fine-dining restaurant, I urge you to visit his website. His client recently received its third Michelin star, list reads a lot like the Met Gala’s roll call after just one year with Christian Le Squer of attendees, and the gallery of his work is at the helm. And when I say received, breath-taking. During a tour of the hotel, I mean earned. From the moment we
Arrive in Style
French journalist Adrian Leeds said: “It’s Paris. You don’t come here for the weather.” I’m told that Jeff ’s annual flower budget has hit the million mark. I’m not surprised. After check-in, we’re shown to our Four Seasons Suite, where we do the depressing thing of comparing its size to our London flats. But even if you find yourself staying in a Superior or Deluxe room, you’ll find it impressively spacious, boasting some of the largest standard rooms the city has to
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stepped inside the restaurant situated toward the rear of the hotel – behind La Gallerie, the hotel lounge – we were waited on hand and foot. In fact, they’re almost stealth-like in the way they clear the table and replenish the drinks. However, when the food is presented, it’s done so in a choreographed manner, making the experience all the more special.
For our entrée, my guest and I sampled the large Dublin Bay prawns, which were served with the most delicious warm mayonnaise, followed by a contemporary deconstructed French onion soup that honoured a favourite classic. For our main course, we both opted for the melt-in-yourmouth Australian Angus beef, covered, and they mean covered, with mozzarella and peels of raw turnip. To finish what was possibly the best meal of my life, was a wonderfully decadent dark chocolate dessert with lightly iced caramel milk. During our stay, we also had the pleasure of dining at Le George, which offers light and modern Mediterraneanstyle cuisine designed for sharing. From the platter of raw tuna and black truffle, to the crème brûlée/cheesecake hybrid, each sharing dish was executed with utmost precision. When we weren’t busying ourselves with food and making a dent in the wine cellar (which we discovered during the Taste the World’s Wine experience), you could find us by the pool, or in my case, in one of the seven treatment rooms being pampered with an 80-minute Pure Radiance Facial. At this point, it occurred to me, just how difficult it was going to be to leave. French journalist Adrian Leeds said: “It’s Paris. You don’t come here for the weather.” I have to agree. You come here for the Four Seasons. fourseasons.com/paris Eurostar operates up to 21 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord with one-way fares starting from £29. Fastest London-Paris journey time is 2hrs 15 minutes. Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 03448 224 777.
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The New
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Atlantis? For two decades Dubai has been taming the desert and reclaiming land from the sea. But can this vision of paradise really stand the test of time? Words: Richard Brown
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y parents, probably like your parents, had a pretty rigid view of what constituted a suitable place for a family holiday. Menorca, Majorca and mainland Spain were bankers. As were Greece, Cyprus and in one particularly adventurous year, Croatia. The Middle East ranked somewhere between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Until the last year of last century, if you were a Westerner travelling to the Middle East you were either involved in shipping, oil or war. Dubai changed all that. In 1999, a hotel in the shape of a sail opened on an island of reclaimed land off the Arabian coast. It was touted as the world’s first seven-star hotel and, as such, made quite the racket – they even made a television programme about it. Two decades, a palm tree, the planet’s tallest building, the planet’s biggest shopping mall, and the planet’s busiest airport later, Dubai has, in no insignificant way, changed the world. It’s now as viable a family holiday destination as Corfu or the Costa del Sol. For Dubai to survive, tourism needs to thrive. That the emirate state has oil to fall back on is a myth. The industry may have accounted for 24 per cent of GDP in 1990,
Image Funny Solution Studio
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hands is anyone’s guess. Whatever the reasons, the beach couple got caught, the cab duo got shopped, the first lovers got three months, and the second pair was sentenced to two. Even more damaging to Dubai’s image, a city that was selling itself as a tolerant temple to high-living, was the accusation that this new utopia in the sand was being built on slave labour. From a BBC Panaroma report in 2008, to a documentary that appeared on VICE just three months ago, various news agencies have reported that Dubai’s soaring towers and expansive hotels are being constructed by armies of migrants whose own lives are confined to little more than labour camps. Contractors, it is alleged, confiscate passports, house up to 12 men to one room and allow them just one holiday every two years – all while paying them as little as they can get away with under UAE law. At the other end of the spectrum, life but that figure had fallen to seven per cent in the ivory towers isn’t always an orgy by 2004 and to around five per cent by of tax-free sun, sand and bottomless 2015. Oil reserves are expected to run out Saturday brunches, either. Should you be completely by 2035. a big swinging dick that all of a sudden That the city is rich beyond its means is goes bankrupt, you can find yourself also fiction. Having made the decision to going the way of the beach bonking diversify most heavily into tourism couple. Sharia law says that if and real estate, the financial you can’t pay your debts you’re crisis of 2008 hit Dubai like a a criminal. With no UAE sledge hammer. Properties bankruptcy laws to offer lost as much as 64 per cent of protection, if your business their value between 2001 to goes bust then you can end November 2008, reported The up inside. Thus the stockpile Daily Telegraph, while The Wall of supercars abandoned at Street Journal placed Dubai’s debt, Dubai airport whose owners relative to its GDP at the time, at have recently invested in a one 42 per cent. When governmentway ticket to safety. You can find owned construction companies photos of the motors all over defaulted on loans in 2009, the Internet. Dubai was forced to accept And yet, despite all of this, a $10 billion bailout from its Dubai still attracts us. We are much wealthier brother Abu curious. We can’t believe that it Dhabi (whose own debt-toexists. That in little more than a Image Andrzej Kubik GDP ratio was just 2.9 per cent). decade a city should spring up on For Dubai to avoid becoming the edge of the Arabian Desert, that a 21st-century Atlantis, people can lay claim to the tallest building need to want to go there. So on earth, a palm-tree reclaimed it didn’t help that Brits kept from the sea so big that it can getting banged up for getting be seen from space, and 300 caught with their trousers man-made islands that float down. Why you’d decide to off the coast in the shape of the get jiggy on a beach or in world. The whole thing is, quite the back of a cab in a country simply, mental. And it only gets where it’s illegal to even hold more surreal when you get there.
Dubai has, in no insignificant way, changed the world
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Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
T
hree palm-tree-shaped archipelagos were planned for Dubai. Only the smallest, Palm Jumeirah, ever got built – construction of the two much larger islands stalled in 2009 when the governmentbacked construction firm behind the developments went skint. Palm Jumeirah only becomes a palm when you are looking at it in aerial shots on your computer. On the ground, it’s about as unpractical an approach to town planning as you could imagine – try navigating a 11-km semi-circle when you’re staying at either end. Dubai, it must be said, boasts an abundance of extraordinarily ugly buildings. The skyscrapers that surround Dubai Marina might look appetising on screen, but from street level they are spectacularly crap. Luckily, with the Anantara hotel this isn’t the case. The cluster of temple-like villas that comprise this Thai-inspired abode act as an antidote to a city of excess. Set
among three winding lagoons and a huge infinity pool, its red-roofed residences are home to rooms the size of suites. Like Las Vegas, Dubai was built in a sandpit and has land to spare. Like Las Vegas, hotels are subsequently sprawling and you get a lot of space for your cash. Anantara is pretty, serene and spotless – almost to the point of feeling sterile. It’s saved by a white-sand beach (though the water trapped inside the Palm stays eerily still), striking interiors (the lobby is particularly impressive) and a superb food offering (the breakfast buffet is mind-blowing and a fairylit dinner on the hotel’s private beach might be the best thing you do in Dubai). dubai-palm.anantara.com
need to know ITC Luxury Travel (itcluxurytravel. co.uk) has prices from £1,489 per person based on 2 adults sharing a Premier Lagoon View Room for 4 nights at Anantara The Palm on a half board basis and 2 nights bed & breakfast at Desert Palm in a Palm Deluxe Room (see next page) including return flights with Emirates from London Heathrow and private Transfers.
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Desert Palm Per Aquum Dubai
‘W
hat do Westerners want?’ Dubai conceivably asked itself when planning a redesign that had the primary purpose of making it look good in travel brochures. ‘Immense expanses of stucco,’ someone must have said. ‘Malls the size of cities,’ someone else presumably muttered. ‘Enormous, insipid hotels in which they can get shit-faced,’ a particularly clued-up town planner must have proposed. ‘But leave that fabrication of a gold souk where it is, you know they go bananas for that sort of crap in Marrakech.’ The committee considered the brainstorm, nodded in selfcongratulatory agreement and sent their diggers out into the desert. If Dubai’s attempt to cater to Western sensibilities has created a homogeneous metropolis with the culture sucked out of it, then the Desert Palm Per Aquum Dubai might just be the jewel in the sand. Dubai doesn’t really deal in boutique hotels, which makes the Desert Palm something of a rarity. A 20-minute drive from the town centre, this polo resort comprises just 24 bedrooms and villas. From the Nic Fiddian-Green horse head that welcomes you at the entrance, through to the lobby, lounges and reception, everything is equine-inspired and served with a slice of refinement. If it feels like you’re staying in the
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middle of a working polo estate, that’s because you are. Guests share the 160acre site with hundreds of horses, four polo pitches and a picturesque Spanishstyle riding stable. Vast, minimalist and modern bedrooms, come with all the mod cons, plus oversized, free-standing stone baths. If inside is all clean lines and contemporary styling, outside is an absurd oasis of green. Exotic flowers, stately lawns, manicured gardens and idyllic olive groves beg the question ‘where does all the water come from?’ One afternoon, I enjoyed high tea with china cups in front of a polo match. The next day, I knocked a cricket ball about with Indian gardeners during their lunch breaks. It was a glorious glimpse of what it must have been like existing at the right end of British colonialism. minorhotels.com/en/peraquum/desert-palm
Designer Dubai: Palazzo Versace As the Palazzo Versace finally opens its second hotel in Dubai, Elle Blakeman visits the Middle East’s new hotspot to see if it can possibly live up to the hype
I
know what you’re thinking, because it’s exactly what I was thinking, and probably what anyone else who hears the words ‘Dubai’ and ‘Versace’ in the same sentence is thinking: ‘Dear God – the bling!’ Diamante baths… logoed toilets… you’ll need sunglasses to just to make it to breakfast! It’s because there’s no one to slow things down in this relationship, it’s Whitney and Bobby all over again; Donatella of the big lips and penchant for all things leopard-print and Dubai currently being in competition with itself to build the world’s tallest building… neither are known for holding back. Ahead of opening, Versace was being typically modest too, stating that it was aiming to build ‘the most luxurious hotel the Middle East has ever seen’. Being just the second hotel in the brand’s portfolio, and coming 16 years after the first (oddly enough on Australia’s Gold Coast), Donatella was said to have been heavily involved in its design. Naturally, all of the iconic Versace nods were there – the Greek key, the Medusa, the abundant use of gold – but upon entering the cool, monastically proportioned lobby, I can see that it’s more expensive antique shop than Kardashian wish-list. Sure, it’s extravagant – the lobby floor alone took a year to finish, with 1.6 million tiles being shipped over from the Amalfi
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coast, and laid with intricate precision to create a work of art under your feet – but it’s also undeniably beautiful. ‘Fine Italian craftsmanship’ is the tagline they have gone with, and it’s actually an accurate description; the marble floor that runs through the hotel has been flown in from Italy, against which scarlet neoclassical chairs sit, decorated with bold Versaceprint cushions and set out for discussion like the salon houses of old Venice. The staff are all dressed to match the décor; not to complement it, they are literally wearing the same print as the chairs or walls, which is all very well until you need someone and they’ve blended into the background – I’m playing fashion Where’s Wally every time I want a cocktail. The vast space helps of course, as do the floor-to-ceiling French windows leading to the pool, put them somewhere smaller and the chairs and matching waitresses and framed drawings of models from past collections (several of which inexplicably resemble David Bowie) could easily go a bit ‘crazy old lady from the Bronx’ rather than Amalfi-coast cool. Here, it’s all rather elegant. As with editing a collection, details matter and nothing is overlooked; plates are by Rosenthal, there are hospital corners on all the sunbeds and the lights go from ‘help me put on my face’ to ‘bathe me in soft light for entertaining’ with an iPhonepracticed swish of a finger. Medusa, the brand’s iconic logo, peers up from the bottom of glasses, cushions, even the swimming pool (trust Dubai to launch the designer-labeled swimming pool), but again, it’s done with just enough subtly to work. There are bays for the yachts that Palazzo Versace are hoping will arrive when they start to sell the extensive residences attached to the hotel. These, along with the soon to be finished MOMA museum to the left of the hotel are pieces of the puzzle that will create the incarnation of the ultimate designer’s sketchbook. But if you’re attempting to launch ‘the most luxurious hotel the Middle East has ever seen’ it’s got to be about more than the
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aesthetics, which is why the hotel has gone guns blazing into the Dubai food scene. How do you make a statement in a place known for shipping in the best of the best – want Nobu, the Ivy, KFC? Dubai has them all, and bigger than the originals – well, you keep everybody guessing. Enigma is a hotel restaurant that brings the world’s top chefs to their kitchen for just four months – keeping the incoming chefs on a strictly need-to-know basis. Guests will never see something as banal as a menu, but merely sign up for the ‘half story’ ( from £85) or the ‘full story’ ( from £120) – such
The hotel has gone guns blazing into the Dubai food scene culinary tales do not come cheap. When I visited, the hotel had called in the three-Michelin starred Quique Dacosta of El Bulli fame to run Enigma, and his menu – a 12-course ‘journey’ involving edible stones, smoked pigeon and dry-ice misting over our starters – was truly the most remarkable thing I have ever seen to grace a plate. Next in line is Scandinavia’s renowned Björn Frantzén, who is planning to bring his notoriously perfectionist
Nordic flavours to the Middle East. And after that is a matter of state secret – if you know then you’re more powerful than I am. There is also much to explore outside the hotel, and although the Creek is fairly undeveloped by Dubai standards there are big plans on the horizon, with MOMA, another gigantic shopping mall and a landmark tower that plans to eclipse the Burj Kalifa by 2020 all in the pipeline. However, the Versace hotel has nabbed the best location by far – in property, as in fashion, it seems it’s always good to be first. Despite the relative quiet of the Creek, there is still a lot to do, the gold souk is nearby, where you can explore everything from antique treasures to those weird little seeing-eye bracelets that stare at you while you’re trying to type. Meanwhile, the hotel can arrange a fabulous desert safari – avoid the group ones at all cost – where you can be driven over the sand dunes in a 4x4 before settling down for a private feast, as you watch the sun set over the desert around you. So is it the most ‘luxurious hotel the Middle East has ever seen’? As it turns out, I think it might not be far off – which is astonishing for an entire country built on the very concept of luxury. The service is genuine, the décor fabulous and the food has somehow pushed even Dubai to up it’s game. Although, frankly, a diamante bath wouldn’t have gone amiss.
need to know A deluxe room at Palazzo Versace Dubai Hotel & Residences costs from £575 night (based on two sharing on a room-only basis excluding taxes), palazzoversace.ae; Private Dune Dinner with Arabian Adventures, approx: £175pp, arabian-adventures.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY OF GALLERY INTERIOR
A MARYLEBONE GALLERY SO PRIVATE, ONLY A FEW WILL EVER SEE IT
A new gallery now open in fashionable Marylebone is unmissable; but to visit this venue at The Chilterns, on Chiltern Street, you’ll need to buy a property there – and just three apartments remain, each designed by Rabih Hage. As a resident, you’ll have exclusive access to the gallery, displaying large-scale works by iconic photographer David Bailey, and there’s a five-star concierge, private spa, gymnasium and cinema. Minutes from Mayfair and the Regent’s Park, Chiltern Street has fabulous boutiques and restaurants, including the celebrated A-list Chiltern Firehouse - all on your gallery’s doorstep.
thechilternsw1.com For more information about The Chilterns or to arrange a private appointment, please contact Oksana d’Offay on +44 (0)20 8418 1070 or email oksana@thechilternsw1.com
LONDON HOMES &
PROPERTY Covering THE CITY, Wapping, Shad Thames, Shoreditch & Islington
A New Perspective Investment properties with perfect panoramas
Referendum Results
Anticipating how the property market will react
Limited Edition ercol Windsor Chair, ÂŁ389, Barker and Stonehouse, barkerandstonehouse.co.uk
PROPERTY NEWS
Keep tabs on the market, whether you are living or investing in the capital
SALES TOM YEOMANSON, sales manager at Knight Frank Tower Bridge, comments on the trends in the residential sales market The first signs of summer have finally started to appear, but just when it looks like the weather is on an upward trend, things change. The sales market in our region has displayed similar characteristics lately. The market was incredibly active at the beginning of the year as purchasers looked to secure second properties before the increased stamp duty deadline of 31 March. As the deadline approached, activity slowed and we got the sense that buyers had either bought somewhere or decided they had missed the opportunity. Strangely though, enquiries picked up again almost immediately on 1 April. Currently, the market seems fairly well balanced. Stock levels of available property are good, meaning buyers have choice. However, there remains some uncertainty from prospective purchasers regarding Brexit: will it happen and if it does, what affects might it have on property prices?
Since Queen Elizabeth II was born, in 1926, average UK house prices have risen from a modest £619 to £291,504 (based on the latest month’s ONS figures). This represents an incredible 471 fold increase over 90 years – implying a 47,021 per cent rise in average UK house prices. - Jackson-Stops & Staff
Currently, the market seems fairly well balanced The general consensus in the City is that Britain will remain in the EU. Therefore some buyers are seeing the market today as a good opportunity to try and secure something before the referendum. They feel that if Britain remains in, confidence will rise, as will the competition to buy. As ever, only time will tell. If we ignore the investment angle for a moment though, our area is a wonderful and vibrant place to live. It has excellent transport links and a diverse range of stock catering to virtually all requirements. So, although it looks like Britain will vote to remain in the EU in the referendum on 23 June, I hope this question alone is not putting off too many people from purchasing in a truly great part of a world class city. Knight Frank Tower Bridge 020 3837 1520 knightfrank.co.uk/towerbridge
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ARMANI SHINES BRIGHT Mostly noted for his menswear collections, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has built a reputation on clean, tailored lines. This season, however, a spotlight is on the home, or should we say casa, as Armani adopts minimalism, simplicity and purity of line in the latest Armani/ Casa furniture collection. Drawing attention to the quality materials and stunning new finishes employed, Armani has again exceeded expectations, proving he can dress people, and a room. We love the Club bar cabinet, a limited edition of 50, which are numbered and signed. armanicasa.com
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| PROPERTY |
SHOWSTOPPER HOPPER
LETTINGS JON REYNOLDS, lettings manager at Knight
Frank Tower Bridge, comments on the trends in the residential lettings market
British upholstery expert Duresta has introduced a stunning new range as part of its Domus collection. Square arms and crisp, clean lines feature throughout the Hopper range which consists of medium, large and grand sofas, along with complementary chairs that come in a selection of fabrics and leather. A signature design feature of the range is deep cushioning, so you can be guaranteed both comfort and elegant form. The legs are crafted from solid oak, but may also be finished in a solid walnut or limed oak. duresta.com
LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE
Sir David Attenborough recently opened a new nature reserve in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust at Woodberry Down in Stoke Newington. Thanks to a £230,000 contribution from Berkeley Homes, Woodberry Wetlands has been able to reopen for the first time since its construction almost 200 years ago. A team of local volunteers were present at the unveiling of Woodberry Wetlands, a protected urban oasis that attracts wildlife rarely seen elsewhere in London. Attenborough, a patron of the Wildlife Trust, said: “Contact with the natural world isn’t a luxury; it is a huge pleasure and brings such delight, but it is a necessity to all of us.” To coincide with the launch of Woodberry Wetlands, Berkeley Homes is launching a new phase at Woodberry Down – the Nature Collection. Those lucky to snap up one of these privileged properties will have the rare opportunity to live adjacent to a protected nature reserve, and benefit from uninterrupted views of London’s unique wildlife, rural scenery and the stoke Newington Reservoir. woodberry-down.co.uk
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The transition from spring into summer usually marks an upward turn in the lettings market. Families prefer to take up occupation during the school holidays and graduates need to secure somewhere before commencing positions during the autumn intake with the large corporate firms. When the time comes for families to downsize or graduates to upsize, their contracts are usually stuck in an annual cycle that ends during the summer months, and professional landlords look to capitalise on this increased demand. Over the past 12 months, however, we have seen the investor landlord come under repeated attack from the chancellor with the increased rate of stamp duty for second homes, and proposals to end tax relief on mortgage interest in April’s Budget. When you also factor in the upcoming EU referendum, there is a lot of uncertainty going into this year’s summer lettings market. What we are starting to see though at these early stages, is an increase in the amount of rental stock finding its way onto the market. This is most likely the result of many new and existing investor landlords making last-minute purchases before the stamp duty changes took effect. At the same time, with so much volatility in the global financial markets right now, we are seeing companies cut their relocation and accommodation budgets for senior staff. With many executives now out searching with lower rental budgets, we’re starting to see a shift in demand to the City and Fringe areas, with rental growth in these areas currently outstripping that of prime central London. Nobody can say for sure what lies ahead over the next few months, but the spike in available property is likely to iron out soon and demand should return post-referendum – regardless of the result. This should hopefully mean a healthy summer market, but perhaps it’s going to arrive a little later this year – just like the summer weather. Knight Frank Tower Bridge 020 3837 1520 knightfrank.co.uk/towerbridge
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The Belvedere, Chelsea Harbour SW10 A beautiful 15th floor apartment for sale in Chelsea Harbour Currently arranged as two bedroom suites, this flat has been recently renovated to a high standard in a minimalist, contemporary style and offers sensational views of the river and the capital. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining/reception room, 2 balconies. Approximately 202 sq m (2,174 sq ft). EPC: C. Leasehold: approximately 95 years remaining
Guide price: £4,200,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/riverside riverside@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5932
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/RVR160093
City Mag May 2016
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A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION We pride ourselves on exceptional service and unrilvalled market knowledge, with a global netowrk of 417 offices across 58 countries that can showcase your property to the widest possible audience. To arrange a free market appraisal, please call us on 020 8166 5375 or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/wapping Guide price: £1,200,000
Teal Court, Wapping E1W A charming, light, two bedroom flat in excellent order with southwest facing views over St. Katharine Docks. The flat is serviced by a 24 hour porter/security and has its own parking space. EPC: C. Approximately 79 sq m (850 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 975 years remaining. wapping@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5375
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £925,000
Globe View, City EC4V Set within a sought after development with a fantastic communal garden within the atrium of the building. 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a balcony looking into the atrium. The building is serviced by a weekday porter. EPC: B. Approximately 74 sq m (791 sq ft). Share of freehold. wapping@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5375
City Mag June 2016
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OFFER TO LET BY KNIGHT FRANK ALDGATE To find out how we can help you please contact us KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3823 9930
Guide price: £475 per week
Sugar House, London E1
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Stylish and spacious one bedroom apartment in the popular 24 portered development Sugar House. This flat has been finished to a high standard offering a large reception room with high ceilings,open plan kitchen,bathroom suite, and interior designed furniture package. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930
All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £550 per week
Mariana Court, London E1 A spacious brand new two bedroom apartment located moments away from Whitechapel Station. The property is brand new and comprises a large open plan lounge/kitchen with access to a private balcony, two bedrooms, master with ensuite. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930
City Magazine May final
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WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE? We pride ourselves on exceptional service and unrivalled market knowledge, with a global network of 417 offices across 58 countries that can showcase your property to the widest possible audience. If you are considering letting a property this year, please contact us on 020 8166 5366 or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings Guide price: £395 per week
Leeward Court, Wapping E1W
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Lovely and light flat on the fith floor of this gated development. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, reception/dining room, porter and private balcony. EPC: B. Approximately 56 sq m (610 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £595 per week
Gun Wharf, Wapping E1W Beautifully renovated flat with stunning City and river views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception/dining room, kitchen, private balcony, porter and parking space. EPC: D. Approximately 105 sq m (1,128 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
297h 210w Mayfair Mag
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Available now 50 apartments designed with flair. Set amongst the new parks and gardens of King’s Cross. Starting from £725,000. Marketing Suite 14–15 Stable Street King’s Cross, N1C 4AB Monday to Friday 10:00am – 6:00pm Register your interest 020 7205 4246 fenmanhouse.co.uk
Visualisation of a living room in a two bedroom apartment at Fenman House
WAPPING
Guide £1.2 million
TEAL COURT E1 2
1
816 sq ft 1
EPC=C
Open new doors Move with Savills BOW
Guide £799,950
CITRINE APARTMENTS E3 3
SHOREDITCH
OIEO £950,000
EXCHANGE BUILDING E1 1
2
1
SHOREDITCH CURTAIN ROAD EC2A 4
1
3
1,139 sq ft EPC=C
WAPPING
Guide £790,000
MAYNARDS QUAY E1W 3
1
2
1,081 sq ft EPC=D
Guide £1.2 million
LIVERPOOL STREET
Guide £685,000
1,227 sq ft
BISHOPSGATE EC2M
769 sq ft
EPC=C
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2
1
2
EPC=F
1
1,017 sq ft
2
SOUTHBANK
EPC=B
Guide £2.875 million
WHITEHOUSE APTS SE1 2
1
1,380 sq ft
2
OLD STREET
EPC=E
Guide £599,950
BEZIER APARTMENTS EC1Y 1
1
1
588 sq ft EPC=B
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Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640 savills.co.uk
WAPPING
£630 pw (£2,730 pcm) + fees*
HERMITAGE WATERSIDE E1W 2
1
2
782 sq ft EPC=C
CANARY WHARF £600 pw (£2,600 pcm) + fees* PAN PENINSULA EAST E14 2
1
WAPPING
2
1
EPC=B
£895 pw (£3,878 pcm) + fees*
EXECUTION DOCK E1W 2
730 sq ft
2
1,314 sq ft EPC=C
OLD STREET
£595 pw (£2,578 pcm) + fees*
EAGLE POINT POST 1
1
WAPPING
1
1
EPC=B
£450 pw (£1,950 pcm) + fees*
BREWHOUSE LANE E1W 1
608 sq ft
1
1,125 sq ft EPC=D
SHOREDITCH
£530 pw (£2,297 pcm) + fees*
SLOANE APARTMENTS E1 1
1
1
LANDMARK EAST TOWER E14 1
1
1
BERMONDSEY
HERBAL HILL GARDENS EC1R
PARKER BUILDING SE16
1
2
877 sq ft EPC=B
EPC=B
CANARY WHARF £400 pw (£1,733 pcm) + fees*
CLERKENWELL £625 pw (£2,708 pcm) + fees*
2
523 sq ft
2
1
543 sq ft EPC=B
£475 pw (£2,058 pcm) + fees*
2
792 sq ft EPC=B
If you’re thinking of buying, selling, renting or letting, please get in touch with our Canary Wharf, Shoreditch or Wapping offices. STRATFORD
£325 pw (£1,408 pcm) + fees*
AMMONITE HOUSE E15 1
1
1
Move with Savills
457 sq ft EPC=B
* Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreements and reference change for one tenant – £282 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit savills.co.uk/fees
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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
College Hill, EC4 £750 per week SHORT LET (charges apply)* Stylishly presented one bedroom apartment located in the heart of the City of London. EPC: C Cit y Lettings Of fice 020 7717 5437
Wormwood Street, EC2 £750 per week SHORT LET (charges apply)* A stylishly presented two bedroom apartment superbly located in the City of London. EPC: C Cit y Lettings Of fice 020 7717 5437
How much could your property generate with a summer Short Let?
New Globe Walk, SE1 £1,500 per week SHORT LET (charges apply)* Stunning newly renovated two bedroom apartment with direct river views. EPC: B Tower Bridge Lettings Of fice 020 7717 5491
Hamptons City Office Sales. 020 7717 5435 | Lettings. 020 7717 5437
Shad Thames, SE1 £750 per week SHORT LET (charges apply)* Fabulous one bedroom apartment in a secure gated development. EPC : C Tower Bridge Lettings Of fice 020 7717 5491
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Commercial Street E1 - £750,000 Leasehold An exceptionally spacious Spitalfields flat with parking. EPC: B
Exchange Building, E1 - £1,050,000 Leasehold An exceptionally spacious Spitalfields flat with parking. EPC: B
Lovat Lane, EC3 - £1,500,000 Leasehold A totally unique 1887 sq.ft. luxury apartment. EPC: B
Britton Street, EC1 - £7,999,950 Freehold A unique period house with spa. EPC: Grade II Listed
Vanburgh House, E1 £895,000 A two bedroom apartment in Spitalfields. EPC: C
Herball Hill, EC1 £925,000 Leasehold A 948 sq.ft two bedroom apartment close to Farringdon. EPC: C
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Roseberry Place, E8 A stunning apartment set within the iconic Dalston square development. This unusual apartment benefits from being on the ground and first floor of Ruffin House, having its own private entrance and being one of only a few of this configuration. On the ground floor is a larger than average open plan reception room with the modern kitchen to the rear and utility room. Throughout the property is immaculately presented and sits in an enviable locations close to transport links. EPC: C
Hamptons Islington Office Sales. 020 7717 5453 | Lettings. 020 7717 5335
£925,000 Leasehold • • • • • •
Own entrance Open plan reception room 3 bedrooms Ensuite shower room Family bathroom Immaculate throughout
Penn Road, N7 An elegant family home boasting a rich collection of period and modern touches. The ground floor boasts three receptions from the formal drawing room with elegant fireplace to the front elevation with double doors to the inner reception room. Currently this room is set up as a home cinema room with lots of bespoke storage and double doors leading to the kitchen/ dining area. Throughout the property offers a wealth of period features and an extremely high standard of finish throughout. EPC: D
£2,999,950 Freehold • • • • • •
Stunning family home Recently renovated 3 Receptions rooms 5 Bedrooms Driveway parking for two cars South facing landscaped garden
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Lloyds Wharf, SE1 £615,000 Leasehold The size of a spacious one bedroom apartment, this huge studio apartment provides incredible living space. With exposed warehouse walls. EPC: C
Tanners Yard, SE1 £1,000,000 Share of Freehold A stunning warehouse conversion, this spacious ground floor flat benefits from exceptionally high ceilings. EPC: C
Empire Square East, SE1 £875,000 Leasehold This apartment provides 903 sq ft of living space and is situated on the third floor. EPC: C
Vogan’s Mill, SE1 £1,750,000 Leasehold Providing 1,253 sq ft, this has been laid out well to provide three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. EPC: D
Meridian Court, SE16 £600,000 Leasehold This large and spacious one bedroom apartment has been kept to a beautiful finish. Beautifully presented throughout. EPC: C
Blue Anchor Lane, SE16 £1,300,000 Leasehold A classic warehouse conversion, this apartment features vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, exposed brickwork and is chock full of period charm. EPC: D
Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5489 | Lettings. 020 7717 5491
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
| PROPERTY |
Insider Knowledge
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR NEW MAYOR Diana Alam, Head of Residential Development Sales, JLL
As Sadiq Khan becomes the new Mayor of London, what are the implications for housing in the capital?
S
adiq Khan has committed to delivering more affordable housing for Londoners and to giving residents ‘first dibs’ on those homes. He has said he will introduce a 50 per cent affordable housing target for new developments, and use mayoral planning powers to stop ‘buy-to-leave’. He has also vowed to stop homes being sold off in advance to foreign investors. In reality, however, there is little evidence of ‘buy-to-leave’ happening in the capital, and restricting demand is a quick way to compromise the viability and deliverability of new developments. The industry is already signed up to the Mayor’s ‘London first’ concordat for sales, which commits to giving Londoners first option on new homes in the capital and which we wholeheartedly support. Ultimately, domestic demand is not strong enough to drive off plan sales rates,
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so the issue here is that action to restrict overseas investors would simply destroy the viability of most schemes, and would reduce, not increase, the level of affordable housing delivery. We should remember that Ken Livingstone had this aim and never got close to implementing it. Under Sadiq’s plans, the £400 million ‘left’ in this administration’s affordable homes budget will be used to support housing associations in their plans to deliver more homes. London would benefit and the intent is commendable, but there again remains a question around the industry’s ability to deliver. Construction costs alone are increasing by around eight per cent each year (driven by labour and materials shortages), which makes higher supply scenarios challenging to say the least. Similarly, the plan to bring forward more land owned by public bodies like TfL, and to use the Mayor’s new homes team to develop that land, would be universally supported across the industry if it makes commercial sense. Sadiq has a number of other plans revolving around creating a living rent, setting up a not-for-profit lettings agency
to promote longer-term stable tenancies for responsible tenants and good landlords, and introducing a landlord licensing scheme. All of these policies may be beneficial to the market, but cost, process and regulatory challenges would pose hurdles to overcome. There is no doubt that the next Mayor will be committed to alleviating the severe housing difficulties London faces. There is also no doubt that there are many promising ideas. However, it is not for shortage of ideas that London finds itself in this situation. Rather, it is the deliverability of those ideas which matters most in a market where competition for funds is aggressive, where processes can tie up opportunities, and where local and international interests may be at odds. Any Mayor who can work with the grain of the market to create long term and lasting solutions will make genuine progress in addressing London’s housing provision problems. Sadiq has promised to be the most pro-business Mayor yet. If he holds to this the development community will play its part in addressing the supply challenge.
THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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AXIS APARTMENTS E1 ● ● ● ●
2 Double bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Balcony 24 Hour concierge
●
Approx. 766 sq ft (71.2 sq m)
Price £875,000 Leasehold For more information, call Bernard Cully 020 3813 5949 or email bernard.cully@eu.jlll.com
16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL
jll.co.uk/residential
THE HERON EC2Y ● ● ● ●
2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Large balcony Exclusive residents club
● ●
Approx. 851 sq ft (79.1 sq m) EPC: C
Price £1,050 per week Furnished For more information, call Neil Short 020 3813 5949 or email neil.short@eu.jll.com
Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.
16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL
jll.co.uk/residential
WE ARE THE ACTIVE AGENT WE ARE THE TIME SAVERS WE ARE CBRE RESIDENTIAL Your sales and lettings team
020 7205 4553 cbreresidential.com
St Dunstan’s Court, EC4 Prices from £595/pw
Chronicle Tower, EC1 Prices from £650/pw
YOU ARE THE SMART MONEY Pickstock Court, WC1 Prices from £630,000
East Central, EC1 Prices from £699,500
250 City Road, EC1 Prices from £850,000
You can live in the city and walk to work. Development advice, investment and funding, sales and lettings.
020 7205 4553 cbreresidential.com
Calshot Street, N1 Prices from £350/pw
Long Acre, WC2 Prices from £650/pw
YOU ARE THE SMART MONEY Wellington Court, WC2 Prices from £595/pw
St Vincent Street, W1 Prices from £995/pw
You can live in the city and walk to university. We are CBRE Residential, your sales and lettings team.
020 7205 4611 cbreresidential.com
John Street, WC1 Prices from £695/pw
Goodwins Court, WC2 Prices from £460/pw
WE ARE THE FORWARD THINKERS Broad Court, WC2 Prices from £565/pw
Little Russell Street, WC1 Prices from £1,350/pw
You can live in the city and walk to university. We are CBRE Residential, your sales and lettings team.
020 7205 4611 cbreresidential.com
Experience. Serv The key to prope Now open in Clerk We are delighted to announce the opening of our new sales and lettings branch, located at 132–136 St John Street. With a network of more than 55 branches across the Capital, we have access to an extensive database of both local and international buyers and tenants. This, combined with over 35 years’ experience and a complete property service offering, means we will ensure your next property move is a success. Exclusive launch offer available to landlords. To find out more visit our website.
kfh.co.uk/clerkenwell
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KFH
ice. Network. rty success. enwell. Visit us at: KFH Clerkenwell 132–136 St John Street Clerkenwell EC1V 4JT Simon Boulton Sales Manager 020 3792 9209 clerkenwell.sales@kfh.co.uk
Our services Sales and Lettings Land and New Homes Block and Estate Management
Kate Bentley Lettings Manager 020 3792 9225 clerkenwell.lettings@kfh.co.uk
16:26
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Property Solicitors Chartered Surveyors Financial Services
18/04/2016 16:26
Mandeville Place W1U ÂŁ3,000,000 A stunning, three-bedroom lateral apartment, located in Marylebone Village. Share of Freehold. EPC=D Marylebone Sales: 020 7935 1775 sales.mar@marshandparsons.co.uk
Marylands Road W9 ÂŁ1,550,000 A unique opportunity to purchase a three-bedroom garden apartment, within an imposing period conversion. EPC=D Little Venice Sales: 020 7993 3050 sales.lve@marshandparsons.co.uk
Warwick Avenue W9 ÂŁ1,295 per week A recently renovated, split-level two-bedroom apartment, moments from the amenities of Little Venice. EPC=D Little Venice Lettings: 020 7993 3050 lets.lve@marshandparsons.co.uk
Nottingham Place W1U ÂŁ800 per week A spacious, beautifully presented, two-bedroom apartment with direct lift access, close to Marylebone Village. EPC=D Marylebone Lettings: 020 7935 1775 lets.mar@marshandparsons.co.uk
SOUTH LONDON’S LEADING AGENTS
Cape Apartments, Rotherhithe New Road, SE16
One bedroom from £399,995 Two bedroom from £499,995 Three bedrooms from £625,000
JUST LAUNCHED This luxury development is raising standards in the area, through welldesigned layouts and exceptional quality finishes. All eight apartments benefit from European Oak flooring, Smeg dishwashers, hobs, ovens, microwaves and fridge freezers. The position is great being under 700m from three stations: Surrey Quays (400 meters) Canada Water Jubilee line, and South Bermondsey (London Bridge 4 minutes) and it is less than 50 meters from Southwark Park. The location also has exceptional investment potential being between two of London’s most exciting regeneration areas; Bermondsey and Canada Water. The development is already proving popular, so book your viewings or request a brochure now.
• • • • • •
Smeg and CDA appliances Stone composite worktops Full height double glazed windows European Oak flooring Porcelain tiles to bathrooms Waterfall taps and rainfall showerheads
020 7403 0600 www.kalmars.com
Mill Lofts, County Street, SE1
Prices from £1,375,000
LAUNCHING NOW Mill Lofts is a terrace of four generously proportioned and contemporary styled two and three bedroom luxury live/work houses, all exceeding 2,300 SQ. FT. Designed by leading local architects, Alan Camp Associates, this character scheme has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of today’s creative professionals.
• • • • • •
Over 2,300 SQ FT Hardwood Oak flooring and staircases Crosswater large freestanding baths Power shower with Rainfall shower head Italian kitchens by Domia Materia with Corian worktops Miele intergrated appliances
County Street has an appealing quiet mews feel yet is very conveniently situated for the buzz of Bermondsey Street and Borough being less than 800 meters from both. It also has exceptional growth potential being within 400 meters of huge regeneration scheme happening at The Elephant and Castle.. MILL LOFTS
Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544
Sevenoaks TN14
Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988
£2,600,000 F/H
Brand new six bedroom, five bathroom detached house offering fantastic views in a quiet semi-rural location. Situated on a private road, this house is beautifully designed with modern living in mind. The internal accommodation measures approximately 7,651 sqft and is arranged over four floors.
Contact Orpington 01689 661 400
West Wickham BR4
Guide £1,500,000 F/H
Superb five bedroom, four reception room Spencer House, built circa 1930 in an enviable position overlooking Spring Park woods. • Five Bedrooms • Stunning Garden
• 4,000 sqft • Energy Efficiency Rating E
Contact West Wickham 020 8432 7373
Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373
• • • •
Six Bedrooms Cinema/Family Room Heated Swimming Pool Energy Efficiency Rating D
Keston BR2
£1,165,000 F/H
Offered chain free, this charming four/five bedroom detached family home measuring in excess of 2,400 sqft is located in a lovely tree-lined cul-de-sac. • Four/Five Bedrooms • Highly Desirable Location
• Chain Free • Energy Efficiency Rating D
Contact Bromley 020 8315 5544 A member of
The Acorn Group, incorporating:
langfordrussell.co.uk
| PROPERTY |
property SHOWCASE
Prestige Property
T
redegar Square is a beautiful collection of houses which surround a well-kept garden, on what was voted the number one road in E3. The north side of the square is the grandest, featuring fine stucco and classical
The north side of the square is the grandest decoration all of which has hardly changed since the mid-nineteenth century. This extraordinary family home offers
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a wealth of living areas, which span over 2,700sq ft of internal floor space, not to mention a 115sq ft private garden. Comprising a kitchen/diner, four double bedrooms, three luxury bathrooms, a study and private terrace, this property also boasts plenty of storage, perfect for that growing family. This property, which has been meticulously renovated and tastefully decorated, has been incredibly well looked after by the current owners.
GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ3,250,000
Tredegar Square, E3 0203 861 8810 fineandcountry.com
THE CITY MAGAZINE | June 2016
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LETTINGS
2
£700 pw | £3,033 pcm
2
Altitude Point, 71 Alie Street E1 • 9th floor apartment
• 24 hour concierge
• Resident’s roof terrace
• 0.2 miles from Aldgate East station
• 0.5 miles from Tower Hill station
LETTINGS | MANAGEMENT | SALES | SERVICED APARTMENTS
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For more information call our Tower Bridge branch on: 020 7234 0666
LETTINGS
2
£850 pw | £3,683 pcm
2
Grafton Mews, Kings Cross W1T • Moments from Warren Street station • Stunning interior design
• Flexible availability • Master bedroom with deluxe en-suite bathroom
• Beautiful secluded apartment
For more information call our Westminster branch on: 020 7222 2005
liferesidential.co.uk
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SALES
3
£1,500,000
2
Palace View, 16 Warwick Row SW1E • 1,069 sq ft
• 5 minutes walk to Victoria Station
• Moments from Buckingham Palace
• 10 minutes walk to Westminster
LETTINGS | MANAGEMENT | SALES | SERVICED APARTMENTS
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For more information call our Westminster branch on: 020 7222 2005
SALES
2
£875,000
2
1 Pepys Street, Tower Hill EC3N • 830 sq ft
• Modern en-suite
• 4th floor apartment
• 1 minute walk to Trinity Square gardens
• Concierge
For more information call our County Hall branch on: 020 7620 1600
liferesidential.co.uk
18/05/2016 14:36
TRENDSETTING ADDRESS, GROUND BREAKING DESIGN 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses available. Prices from ÂŁ850,000
www.250cityroad.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
250 City Road has an enviable location that means almost everywhere is just a short walk away. By day, you can walk to work in the Square Mile or Old Street’s Tech City. By night, the buzzing bars, clubs and restaurants of Shoreditch, Islington and Clerkenwell are just as easy to get to. If you’d rather travel no distance at all, stay home at 250 City Road and enjoy the state-of-the-art gym, rooftop fitness terrace, luxurious 20m swimming pool and spa. Catch up on work in the residents’ lounge or relax in the beautifully landscaped green spaces including the Wi-fi enabled Central Plaza.
Call 020 3468 5790 now to arrange a viewing of the stunning new show apartment or email 250cityroad@berkeleygroup.co.uk 250 City Road Sales & Marketing Suite, 250 City Road, London EC1V 2QQ Open 7 days a week 10am – 6pm (Until 8pm on Wednesdays and 4pm on Sundays) Details correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Computer generated images of 250 City Road are indicative only. Photography depicts Showhome and is indicative only.
Iconic riverfront location Your dream urban lifestyle is within reach. Set right on the Thames waterfront, opposite the O2 Arena and a short walk from Canary Wharf, this superb new development offers every modern comfort in a fantastic location.
Now viewing. Stunning one, two & three bedroom Shared Ownership apartments, E14.
For more information: T: 020 3813 9366 or www.nhhg.org.uk/horizons
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Buy into London’s last great
undervalued riverside location W APPING R IVERSIDE INVEST NOW AND MAXIMISE ON A TIDAL WAVE OF GROWTH
W APPING R IVERSIDE
AVERAGE PRICE
£1688 PSF
AVERAGE PRICE
£1473 PSF
EXCLUSIVE APARTMENTS AVERAGING
£1290 PSF
AVERAGE PRICE
£1951 PSF
AVERAGE PRICE
£1821 PSF
Wapping AVERAGE PRICE
£3023 PSF AVERAGE PRICE
£1519 PSF
Currently there are numerous new developments on the edge of the river. ONLY ONE HAS THE EDGE THAT MATTERS MOST. Exceptional apartments & penthouses within Wapping Wall Conservation Area and adjacent overground connections - minutes from Canary Wharf & The City.
MARKETING SUITE OPEN FOR VIEWING • 020 3770 2104 • wappingriverside.com/cm Averages quoted are calculated from price list availability obtained from selected developments. Correct at time of going to press.
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO THE HIGH LIFE Whether towering above the city skyline or nestling in an eco-friendly woodland site, invest in some rooms with a view with these three off-plan investment opportunities
250 CITY ROAD Berkeley Homes’ has now revealed the crowning glory of its Foster + Partners-designed 250 City Road development. The apex of its Carrara Tower will be home to six top-class penthouses by 2020, two of which have two bedrooms and four of which have three bedrooms. Spread across the 40th, 41st and 42nd floors, each space takes advantage of far-reaching and uninterrupted views, and five of the penthouses will feature extremely generous terraces. The penthouses with duplex and triplex layouts are to have a statement marble staircase, while all of the properties will be fitted to a high standard with the latest in-home technology, Miele integrated appliances and underfloor heating. The development offers plenty of space outside of the property to enjoy, with a gym, 20-metre swimming pool and spa, and a residents’ lounge area. Situated in Zone 1, close to many large tech businesses and the Square Mile, these luxurious homes in the sky are a convenient haven for busy professionals. from £2,350,000 250 City Road, EC1 020 3040 6250 250cityroad.co.uk
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| PROPERTY |
QUEBEC QUARTER The first phase of L&Q’s Quebec Quarter development has now been launched, with the project set to complete in 2017. The development offers a combination of 151 one-, two- and threebedroom private sale apartments and 69 one- and two-bedroom shared ownership scheme homes, and is located between Canada Water and Surrey Quays stations. Research by Dataloft, commissioned by L&G, indicates Canada Water house prices rose by 19 per cent in 2015 alone, while Cathy Lloyd, sales and marketing director for L&Q, comments, “within SE16 alone, there are 2000 new homes in the pipeline – making it London’s second largest area of redevelopment south of the river.” As well as attractive investment value, every apartment is beautifully presented with sleek, lacquered kitchen units, AEG appliances and neutral carpeting. Most spaces also benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace or balcony, and many are also dual-aspect to take advantage of the surrounding views of woodland and the City skyline. A total of 65 per cent of the site is dedicated to being a green environment with communal grounds, play spaces for children and direct access to Russia Dock Woodlands. from £775,000 for a three-bedroom apartment Quebec Quarter, SE16 0333 0033663 quebecquarter.co.uk
KEYBRIDGE Keybridge Lofts, to complete in 2018, will be the tallest brick building in the UK at 129m high, and along with the Keybridge House phase, it forms part of the Keybridge development – a joint venture between Mount Anvil and FABRICA by A2Dominion, situated in Vauxhall. Arranged across four buildings in total, the development also offers one acre of outdoor space, featuring seating areas, a communal garden, courtyards, and sculptures. Delivering a total of 441 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences and penthouses, it is a large-scale project in an area seeing significant regeneration, including the opening of a Damien Hirst gallery. The interiors, crafted by Darling Associates, pay homage to the area’s industrial past, featuring steel, raw timbers and exposed brick, while buyers have the flexibility to choose from three colour palettes. Most also come with a terrace, garden or Juliet balcony – a must-have for higher floors to enjoy the views – while residents can also expect numerous facilities from a concierge and underground parking to a pool, spa and gym. from £675,000 for a one-bedroom apartment Keybridge, SW8 020 7205 4152 keybridgelondon.com
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LIVE TA L L One of the tallest residential towers in Europe, South Quay Plaza has much to offer. With a unique combination of spectacular London views, eye-catching architecture and first class amenities; all built and designed with the exceptional quality that naturally comes with a Berkeley home, South Quay Plaza isn’t just about living up high. It’s about living tall.
Prices from £690,000. For more information, call 020 3811 1532. Sales and Marketing Suite open daily from 10am to 6pm.
www.southquayplaza.london Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Prices and details correct at time of going to press. Computer generated images depict South Quay Plaza and are indicative only.