Wharf Life's Property Supplement, Jun 12-26, 2024

£1.95m

Price of

how newly released Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square promise buyers 2,400sq ft of space inside and out

by Jon Massey

The residential properties contained on the lower levels of 8 Harbour Square are a brave, bold statement. Presented almost completely open-plan (you do get walled off bathrooms), they recall Docklands’ warehouses with more than a nod, stylistically, to the red-brick structures of New York’s Meatpacking District.

But while the flavour is of industrial buildings cleverly converted for residential use, the 11-storey tower is newly built meaning it comes with none of the hassle or dodgy bodges that can plague refurbishment projects.

Instead, the exposed concrete ceilings, black metal framed windows and cast iron radiators are all carefully thought-through design statements contained within a thoroughly modern structure.

Capping the whole thing off, developer Canary Wharf Group has now launched a pair of apartments on the building’s top floor.

The Upper Lofts, both priced at £1,950,000, feature internal living space of 1,400sq ft and feature wrap-around terraces of more than 1,000 sq ft.

Properties feature fully-fitted kitchens with stainless steel units and counter tops as well as Siemens appliances.

Above, buyers are free to fill the spaces however they like with no fixed walls to contend with

Left, both of the apartments feature more than 1,000sq ft of outdoor space on the 11th floor

Bathrooms come with free standing baths, double basins and black-framed, walk-in showers.

Canary Wharf Group director of residential sales, Melanie Conway, said: “The expression ‘one-of-akind’ is sometimes overused, but in this instance, The Upper Lofts represent ‘two-of-a-kind’ apartments not seen before in London.

“Their positioning within 8 Harbord Square and the wider Canary Wharf estate gives them views of iconic surrounding landmarks, which previously you would only have seen from some of our tallest residential buildings.

“With vast wrap-around terraces and totally open plan living spaces, they have been designed to take advantage of these views and the natural light that floods the spaces, giving residents the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.

“8 Harbord Square marks the final building in our residential portfolio on the estate, meaning

It’s the last opportunity to own a piece of the Wharf’s rich history and to be a part of the incredible transformation that has taken place here

Melanie Conway, Canary Wharf Group

it’s the last opportunity to own a piece of the Wharf’s rich history and to be a part of the incredible transformation that has taken place here.”

Part of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf development, 8 Harbord Square is the final building in Canary Wharf Group’s scheme to feature homes for private sale. Further residential projects will fall under its wholly-owned subsidiary Vertus, which boasts an extensive portfolio of homes to live in via all-inclusive rental deals.

Wood Wharf itself is rapidly becoming established as an area to visit with restaurants such as Dishoom, Hawksmoor, MMy Wood Wharf, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta and Roe attracting a steady stream of visitors.

Third Space recently opened a new site locally, adding Hot Yoga, Reformer Pilates and a new 20m swimming pool to its Canary Wharf offering, while creative companies such as Qube, Vow Studio and Broadwick also now call the neighbourhood home.

The Cube, a competitive socialising experience is set to open nearby, while Harbord Square itself now boasts a vet, GP surgery, convenience store and a sports hall and gym complex for residents to investigate.

key details

The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square are both priced at £1,950,000.

Other properties in the 82-apartment building start at £770,000 for an 801sq ft home or £990,000 for 1,037sq ft.

Go to residential.canarywharf.com for more information

Scan this code to find out more about The Upper Lofts

both of The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf

total freedom

The layouts are fully open-plan allowing for flexibility with design

Wrap-around terraces offer views across the

and

Dressed to thrill:

One of The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square

Wharf

London skylines

Asking

how the few final homes available at Principal Tower offer an opportunity to buy into a landmark building in EC2

by Jon Massey

Right now, Principal Tower sits in a series of liminal spaces – physical and temporal. The Shoreditch development is both in the City and part of a hip east London neighbourhood.

To the west, slabs of glass encase office workers. Across the road are bars, restaurants, dives, clubs and destinations. It’s both the urban bustle of Liverpool Street for the Elizabeth Line and the counter-cultural edge of Shoreditch High Street Overground.

As a residential project, it’s right on the cusp of being sold out too, with only four homes remaining. There’s a one-bed, a two-bed and a three-bed with prices starting at £1.28million.

Then there’s the penthouse on the 48th floor – a three-bed, threebath duplex arranged over some 2,855sq ft of space with a decent size terrace. That will set you back £9.9million.

All boast outdoor spaces and are contained within a Foster + Partners tower set back a little from Shoreditch High Street and Worship Street. Part of the wider Principal Place scheme – which boasts commercial premises let to Amazon – the structure shoots up some 50 storeys from the street with rounded corners and fins offering a modern take on Art Deco and 1950s futurism.

Amid the more angular shapes of the City, it’s something of a maverick, standing out against the severe geometry of the nearby office blocks and suggestive of a more welcoming, hospitable function. That’s one reason, perhaps, that only a quartet of

properties are still available from a complement of 299. It’s a singular building in an enviable location, unafraid to plough its own furrow.

Its boldness is similar to that of Christopher Murray, co-founder and managing director of Concord London, the joint venture partner responsible for Principal Tower alongside Brookfield Properties.

“When we were asked to get involved, it was obviously a great location to live,” said Christopher. “There are still great restrictions on building houses in the City itself, so we thought this was a missing product in the market –that people would be happy to live just up the street.

“Shoreditch is a cool neighbourhood – trendy and edgy. Blue collar nights and white collar days. It has great food, great restaurants and rooftop bars.

“From our point of view, the project was a no-brainer. We focused on building a tall residential tower with western and eastern elevations that offer unparalleled views.

“People can see the major London landmarks such as the BT Tower, the London Eye and St Paul’s. We wanted a mix of sizes but with large spaces and a similarly generous approach to communal areas and amenities.

“It’s gone down really well, with the vast majority of properties now sold. Some buyers wanted to hear about the City, others about Shoreditch. The design was absolutely key – the tower had to be a gateway, a node announcing that you’re entering a different part of London and we think it has quite a lot of presence.

“It’s the first building that has been entirely designed by Foster + Partners – they didn’t do residential interiors before this but on

There’s an exactness about Principal Tower, from the mirrors to the matching patterns on the marble. They’ve thought about everything

Christopher Murray, Concord London

our tower it’s everything from the hinges to the door handles and the flooring.

“There’s an exactness about it, from the mirrors to the matching patterns on the marble and how the flooring lines up with the skirting boards. They’ve thought about everything – how the doors open, how they close and what they sound like.

“The beauty in the design is that it’s equally possible to just leave it be or to put your signature on it. The style doesn’t presuppose anybody’s taste.

“The apartments themselves are all about daylight with open-plan designs. Every home has a terrace and some have more than one –again of a generous size.

“We’re not a cookie cutter developer and large properties are hard to come by.

“In the end, this is high-end housing that, because of its location, has a broad audience. I look at the competition and I know I’m biased, but I can tell you that this really is the best.

“I can be pretty self deprecating about our buildings – I’m very honest – but when it comes to Principal Tower, it’s a home run.”

The tower has an obvious appeal for City workers or those who simply want to benefit from the Square Mile’s amenities alongside the buzz of Shoreditch. However, the proximity of the Elizabeth Line at Liverpool Street makes it an equally appealing prospect for Canary Wharf workers.

Also, with London rapidly moving eastwards, direct connections to Royal Docks and Stratford look like increasingly attractive assets.

Residents’ amenities include an infinity pool, a spa, sauna and gym overlooking Principal Place. There’s also a cinema, lounge space and a 24-hour concierge service that promises five-start hotel-style service.

Christopher said: “This really is the last chance to buy here. There’s already a very good vertical community in the building – there’s a feeling of belonging.

continued on Page 16

The tower features dramatic curved glazing to maximise views from its apartments

299

Total number of apartments contained within Principal Tower on the edge of the City

“People are respectful of the building and of each other. Neighbours speak to neighbours.

Residents see it as a special place and it’s a great environment.

“The person on the door will know your name as you enter the beautiful two-storey lobby and then we have super fast lifts to get people to their homes. There’s also parking down below which is accessed by a car lift – it’s like something from James Bond.

“While we’re keen to sell the remaining apartments, there will be a touch of sadness when it’s done because it’s been such an amazing journey.

“Working with Brookfield on this has been a great experience and that’s not because they’re Canadian like me. We’re very proud of what we’ve built and we’d love anyone who is interested to come down and take a peek.

“We especially want people to see the penthouse, which hasn’t been available all that long and really is an incredible space. At 3,000sq ft it has stunning views with floor-to-ceiling windows and beautiful outdoor space.

“I’ve been in the property business for a very long time but I can’t think of another space like it. It has a modern vibe but there’s the Art Deco style to it too. It’s unique.

“As a company we think a lot about the apartments we create – some things work in plan form but not in reality and there’s nothing worse than getting it wrong.

“Some developers have a formula-based approach, which works fine in the commercial space because development can be quite repetitive – it’s less emotive.

“But for residential every village in London is different, every borough is different, there are varied creeds and politics.

“People want different things so it’s about not just knowing your customer but knowing where they are and why they will come to you. We have staff on-site every day and we’d love to show you around.”

key details

There are currently four properties available at Principal Tower in Shoreditch High Street. Prices for a one-bed start at £1.28million and the penthouse is on the market for £9.9million.

Go to principaltower.com for more

from Page 15 Scan this code to

Left, Principal Tower offers commanding views across the London skyline

Above, Concord London’s Christopher Murray says he’s very proud of his firm’s joint venture with Brookfield Properties

Right, Foster + Partners have designed the building inside and out, a residential first for the well-known firm of architects