Special Report, Wharf Life, Sept 20-Oct 4,2023

No walls. No rules

Designed for the creatively adventurous

Where urban dockside heritage meets cutting edge loft style living

how loft-style apartments at 8 Harbord Square combine the quality of new-build with enduring appeal

Image by Ben Pipe

by Jon Massey

New York City looms large in the imagination. It’s the smooth vocals of Alicia Keys on Empire State Of Mind, yellow taxis and the splash of water over Carrie Bradshaw. It’s impossibly tall skyscrapers, hip-hop, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Jules Munshin playing over-excited sailors in On The Town. It’s Central Park, Central Perk and the Ghostbusters piloting the Statue Of Liberty through Fifth Avenue.

Countless heroes and villains in every kind of drama have made it their home in literature, on stage and across screens big and small. Often those characters are portrayed living in loft apartments – open spaces with high ceilings and large windows, typically featuring exposed brickwork and concrete, hinting at former lives as offices or places of industry.

London too has had a flush of such properties – albeit on a smaller scale – with warehouses, usually along the Thames, converted. Many have that NYC-feel, with original features celebrated amid the sleek worktops of fitted kitchens and cleverly cantilevered mezzanines. They are now, however, few and far between for enthusiastic buyers.

That’s where 8 Harbord Square comes in. It’s styled by Karakusevic Carson Architects as a brick-built structure that wouldn’t look out of place in New York’s meatpacking district – a chunk of the city that became a hotbed of fashion design, culture, dining and residential property in the 1990s and 2000s. Its story – of industrial decline followed by regeneration – is not dissimilar to Canary Wharf’s.

The difference here, of course, is that 8 Harbord Square is newly built, with none of the potential problems of an industrial conversion but all of the style of a chic, period loft.

“There are 82 apartments in total, spread over 12 storeys and they are very different to anything that we’ve ever built or sold before,” said Melanie Conway, continued on Page 4

Days of New York takeover on Wood Wharf to celebrate the forthcoming completion of 8 Harbord Square – running Sept 20-23

to

why dressing the estate as NYC is a natural fit for the Gramercy and Prospect Lofts on Wood Wharf choose how

The show apartments at 8 Harbord Square are now available for viewings

Images by Ben Pipe

from Page 3

director of residential sales at Canary Wharf Group. “We’ve stripped everything back, so there’s exposed brickwork and concrete ceilings – the decor is very raw – with huge Crittall windows to let lots of light in. There’s a real openness to the lofts. They are very unusual –buyers are used to seeing apartments with bedrooms and living spaces laid out. Here, it’s very much up to the buyer how they want to live in them.”

The majority of the building’s floors – excluding the penthouses which have already sold – are split into eight apartments in two configurations.

The Prospect Lofts are just over 800sq ft of open-plan, undivided space. Each comes with a fully-fitted kitchen in stainless steel, with Siemens appliances including a built-in washer-dryer. Heating comes from cast iron radiators arranged along the walls, while ceiling fans provide air circulation throughout.

The only walls are around the bathroom, which includes a blackframed shower cubicle, a freestanding bath and double sinks. These properties are single aspect and are located in the centre of the building.

The Gramercy Lofts are similar in every respect, except that they extend to a little over 1,000sq ft and are arranged on the four corners of each floor with twice as many windows.

“We’ve been holding off on a big launch until the building is nearly finished, because the best way for buyers to understand these spaces is to walk into them,” said Melanie. “We’re expecting people to be able to move in by the end of the year. It’s been very interesting to see who has bought here already – it’s a real mix from young couples to downsizers who love the warehouse style, and even students.

“It’s a design that appeals to lots of different people because you can move everything around. We could have dropped the ceilings and put in walls to create a typical layout, but we wanted to keep everything real.

“There’s not much decoration to be done and very little maintenance as there’s hardly any wall space that needs painting. The properties will also stand the test of time from a design-point of view – they won’t date.

“People buying here might be looking at older warehouses, but 8 Harbord Square is newly built so there won’t be unexpected leaks or any issues like that. They’re also really well insulated because they have been designed as homes. They are new, but also

Sizes of apartment at 8 Harbord Square on Wood Wharf – The Prospect and The Gramercy Lofts

The Prospect Loft

really cool. They’re very tranquil too, overlooking Harbord Square Park – an oasis of calm away from the bustle.”

Following the completion of two show apartments at the scheme, Canary Wharf Group is marking the occasion with a New York-style takeover of the whole of Wood Wharf. The event runs for four days from September 20-23, with offers, pop-ups and installations (find more details on Pages 6 and 7).

“Wood Wharf feels very much like the residential district of Canary Wharf and, with 8 Harbord Square offering warehouse-style living, the takeover seemed like a great way to promote the building,” said Melanie. “New York sits very well alongside the buildings here and on the estate as a whole.

“Right now it’s about awareness and it’s also an opportunity for people to discover what it’s like to live here. From the moment people leave one of our stations, the whole estate is managed by Canary Wharf Group.

“There’s also security on site, 24-hours a day and a high level of cleanliness and service across the estate.

“Well known as a commercial area, for us it’s about communicating how much the Wharf has changed even since work began on Wood Wharf in 2015.

“People are now investing their time and money into coming to the estate as a leisure destination –the shops, the bars, the restaurants and so on.

“The transport is fantastic and, while people were initially buying here because they worked locally, we’re now seeing them make their home here and work elsewhere. People just love it.”

Show apartments at 8 Harbord Square are now available to view with prices for a Prospect apartment starting at £770,000.

★ For more information go to canarywharf.com/residential or email residential.sales@canarywharf.com

Scan this code to find out more about homes at 8 Harbord Square

There’s a real openness to the lofts. They are very unusual – buyers are used to seeing apartments with living spaces laid out

Melanie Conway, Canary Wharf Group

Images by Ben Pipe

The Gramercy Loft

Sepcial o ers to track down on Wood Wharf for the NYC takeover in celebration of 8 Harbord Square – running Sept 20-23

americana

by Jon Massey

Mini Manhattan – that’s what they call the Isle Of Dogs – so what’s this takeover all about, anyways?

Wood Wharf is set to be transformed into the Big Apple for four days from September 20-23. Running 11am-7pm, expect big yellow taxis, break dancers, chess tables in Harbord Square, a subway station and an authentic US school bus serving up hot dogs and pizza by the slice. Have a nice day now.

eat and drink

In addition to the various special events that will be taking place over the four days, many of Wood Wharf’s businesses will be getting involved with the takeover, adding further layers to the immersive experience. Here are the deals to look out for:

★ Free Manhattan cocktail

Head down to the corner of Water Street and Park Drive, where Mallow will be adding a very special item to its entirely plant-based menu for the duration of the takeover. Order its French Dip – featuring portobello mushrooms, caramelised red onion, horseradish cream, red wine jus and butter pickles – for £15 and you’ll receive a Chocolate Cherry Pie Manhattan for free to go with it. The cocktail is made with Bourbon, Mozart dark chocolate liqueur, sour cherry molasses and bitters – for a potent take on a New York classic –and costs £9 on its own.

Hawksmoor is o ering three NYC cocktails at £10 each

★ Free New York Sour Order up the Classic American for £13 at Patty & Bun on Park Drive and customers will get either a free NY Sour or a can of Coca Cola with their burger.

★ Cocktails for £10 each + a free one Drawing on inspiration from its actual New York branch, Hawksmoor The Lowback will be o ering a trio of the best drinks available at its US location for the special price of £10 each. So that’s the Manhattans, Cosmos and Dirty Martinis sorted. But wait, there’s more. The venues will also welcome tables of up to four guests with a complimentary Big Apple Martini for all diners at lunch or dinner. Bookings should be made via email to thelowback@thehawksmoor.com quoting NYC x Canary Wharf. Better still, both o ers will be available until September 24 – an extra day after the takeover ends.

★ Gelato pop-up

George Street restaurant Emilia’s

★ Fresh gelato and cawfee

Downtown on George Street, visitors will nd American ags draped over statues outside MMy Wood Wharf, which inside will be serving piccolo gelato cups with a single espresso for £5 during the takeover. Mac ’n’ cheese will also be available, as will American craft beers including east coast brew Good Vibrations by NEPA for £7.90 per pint.

★ NYC avours Water Street’s Feels Like June is becoming Feels Like Brooklyn for the duration of the takeover and will be serving up NYC Bagels with pastrami, emmental cheese, pickles and mustard for £7 or with chives and cream cheese for £6. The venue will also be hosting sets from its resident DJ from 4pm-9pm over the four days.

Crafted Pasta is set to step outside its walls with a special pop-up throughout the takeover. The venue’s gelato cart promises to serve up 100% Italian ice cream – one scoop for £4.50 and two for £6 in either wa e cones or paper cups. Visitors can expect to choose from creamy mascarpone, Sicillian pistachio, raspberry sorbet and chocolate and hazelnut. There may even be a few bonus surprises from the sta .

★ More details

Find out more about what’s on o er during the NYC takeover via the Canary Wharf app, downloadable in both Apple and Android formats from canarywharf.com or the app stores for free

Mallow will be serving up free cocktails with its plant-based French Dips

discover all the o ers and discounts available during the New York takeover of Wood Wharf plus a sprinkling of USA avours and styles across the estate

american flavours on the wharf

Inspired by Malin+Goetz, we decided to have a wander beyond Wood Wharf in search of other slices of the USA available across the estate. While not part of the NYC takeover, every now and again it’s nice to rediscover a few favourites...

★ Calvin Klein Underwear Start with the base layer and dress for success with this Cabot Place store’s selection of women’s and men’s pants (not trousers).

★ Polo Ralph Lauren Top o those CKs with some outerwear from the quintessential American fashion designer – a New Yorker himself, born in the Bronx. Find the Canary Wharf store in Cabot Place.

★ Shake Shack

Appropriately dressed, it’s time for refreshment and where better than NYC-founded Shake Shack. Try its burgers and frozen custards at Canada Square’s Park Pavillion.

pop-up samples

★ Malin+Goetz

The skincare, haircare, fragrance, candle and gift brand will be taking over a corner of Wood Wharf for the NYC event. Founded in Chelsea (New York City) in 2004, the company aims to create products that will work with all skin types, growing and expanding over the years to meet demand. For the takeover, its portable cart will be o ering samples and cards o ering discounts at its Canary Wharf store in Cabot Place. Naturally, terms and conditions apply.

★ Five Guys Too much shakin’ going on? Head over to Jubilee Place where the stripped back simplicity of this Virginia-born chain serves up burgers and hand-cut fries aplenty.

★ Big Easy

The Bar.B.Q. and crabshack o ers live blues, plenty of bourbon and, of course, a range of smoked meats and seafood capable of fooling anyone into believing Crossrail Place is located way across the pond where the music is sweet and the cook-ups immense.

★ Blank Street

The new players in town. Recently launched at Crossrail Walk (o Canada Place), this co ee brand has expanded at speed since its August 2020 launch in the garden of a Brooklyn diner. Now in New York, Boston and DC it already has branches in the double gures in London and shows no sign of slowing. Must be the ca eine.

by Jon Massey

Just as Melanie Conway contends, the loft-style apartments need to be seen in the flesh by buyers to be fully understood (see page 3, if you’ve not already read it). That explains Canary Wharf Group’s decision to mark the launch of its two show apartments at 8 Harbord Square with such fanfare. But being able to take people over the threshold to appreciate the dimensions is only part of the benefit.

The other is the forte of Tracy Ogino, CWG’s director of interior design – the person responsible for dressing the Prospect and the Gramercy for perusal by the people who might decide to buy them. It’s her job to change these spaces from blank canvases into coherent homes to demonstrate to potential future owners what they might choose to do with them – whether that’s a vibrant, brave scheme full of quirky pieces or a more muted, calmer approach.

“To get people excited, we wanted to show them how they could really live and function in the space,” said Tracy. “We’re very conscious of the demographics these might appeal to, but we’re also thinking about what pieces someone would choose –what they would want and what would be important to them, if they were really living here. That’s why I always start with a story.”

The result of that process is two show apartments that offer completely different interpretations of what might be done with the open-plan spaces. One is dressed as a one-bed and the

Tracy Ogino, Canary Wharf Group

other with two beds, to explore different approaches to living in a loft and using furniture and decor to divide it up.

The Gramercy

The larger of the two properties has been dressed in more muted tones as befits its imaginary inhabitants.

“It’s a couple in their early 30s who bought it together but don’t have kids yet,” said Tracy. “He likes to cycle and she does Yoga – they’re amazing and perhaps planning to marry. At every stage of the process I was wondering if they would buy this or that or not – whether it was sustainable or organic, to suit their taste. If the answer was ‘no’ then I wouldn’t put it in. I try to envisage the real purchasers, who are buying their first property and who have all the excitement.

“In my role, I don’t just dress the space, but am also involved in the pre-construction and construction – the whole process. We’re forever thinking about practicality and durability, longevity and integrity.

“We have so many discerning buyers, who have travelled all round the world and stayed in great hotels – this experience has to appeal to them.

“In The Gramercy, I want people to feel at home, that it’s a place of peace and sanctuary –somewhere to get away from the world outside.

“But it’s also somewhere that really gets used. The couple I imagine cook, they go to markets

the home of the

how dressing the loft-style apartments at 8 Harbord Square brings what the open-plan spaces offer into sharp focus

To get people excited, we wanted to show them how they could really live and function in the space

The Prospect has been dressed with a more vibrant use of colour

1,000

Sq ft of space is found within each Gramercy loft apartment

Property at the weekend and buy ingredients, they potter around, have coffee, make lovely meals and entertain at the long dining table.

“It was also about creating areas where there’s a constant flow – where people can chat while making a meal. With such an open space you start with larger pieces – island units to have coffee at or wardrobes – to divide it up. One of the key elements was not to have anything going all the way up to the ceiling, to keep that open feeling and avoid blocking out the light.”

The Prospect

The smaller of the two show apartments has been laid out with a very different feel with brighter colours, pop-art and plentiful soft furnishings that might appeal to students and younger buyers.

“The aim here was to create something entirely ‘wow’,” said Tracy. “I didn’t want people to feel afraid about using colour in a big, open-plan space. There’s a fun utility area with the kitchen and a giant peg board that I love. You can even fit a bike on it. It has mustard bar stools and a terrazo island to create one zone.

“Then there’s a living area with bright green upholstery and wallpaper to bring in a bit of texture. It’s all about showing you can add colour without being overwhelmed by it.”

Further touches include a glossy, wine-red desk and rich terracotta wardrobes for a gentler warmth in a bedroom zone, screened from the rest of the apartment by a curtain.

While these interpretations of the space offer inspiration and insight, ultimately one of the attractions of the apartments is the wide range of possibilities they offer. Buyers might even like to add a wall or two. It’s entirely up to them. Prices start at £770,000.

★ For more information go to canarywharf.com/residential or email

Interior touches in The Gramercy are based on the story Tracy created to reflect its possible occupants

Images by Ben Pipe

Penthouses were available at One Park Drive at the time of going to press

by Jon Massey

Not very far from 8 Harbord Square, One Park Drive’s penthouses present another singular way to live at Wood Wharf. The properties, which top off the area’s flagship tower, are without doubt the most luxurious apartments available on the Canary Wharf estate.

Located over the 56th and 57th floors of the Herzog & de Meuron-designed cylindrical tower, the four remaining homes range in price from £3.95million to £9.25million and in size from 1,637sq ft to 3,904sq ft.

They all feature outwardlooking terrace spaces offering commanding views over London as well as internal courtyard gardens that are open to the sky.

Arranged as duplexes, they also all boast cast concrete staircases that act as a centrepiece to each apartment.

John O’Mara, UK Studio director at Herzog & de Meuron, said: “At One Park Drive we asked ourselves the question: ‘How would one feel about living on the 56th floor?’.

“In a penthouse one is typically always looking outward, whether from the living areas or balconies along the façade.

“Here, we are suggesting that one can also look inward – a quiet, calm inner courtyard acts as a kind of back garden.

“The sequences and relationships between the interior and exterior spaces are key qualities of these apartments.”

The properties have been dressed by designer Tom Dixon of Design Research Studio to help prospective buyers visualise the way the spaces could be used.

He said: “We decided to imagine the spaces through the persona of an international collector, a lover of architecture and travel who has decided to make their home in London and has curated, over time, a selection of extraordinary objects, art and furniture.

“Each room has been meticulously curated – we wanted every single object to feel as if it has been made specifically for this space or that it has been carefully selected for it.

“It should feel personal, convincing, compelling and aspirational – we didn’t want to

The sequences and relationships between the interior and exterior spaces are key qualities of these apartments

John

design a typical luxury apartment. The beautiful, fluid spaces feature high ceilings and large expanses of wall and window and the artworks create the sense of a private gallery.

“But there is of course an element of practicality, with seating where you might want to enjoy the impressive views.”

Residents at One Park Drive get access to a range of facilities in the building, including a library, a lounge and an 18-seat cinema room with a private bar area. There’s also a 24-hour concierge service in the entrance lobby which, along with all the communal areas, has been styled by GA Design.

There’s also a residents’ health club on the first floor managed by Educated Body, which includes a gym, a studio space, a 20m swimming pool as well as sauna and steam rooms.

There’s a poolside seating area too, which opens out onto a wraparound terrace overlooking the waters of West India South Dock.

One Park Drive is located beside Harbour Quay Gardens with local amenities including a branch of Amazon Fresh, mini food hall MMy Wood Wharf and restaurants such as Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, Mallow and Hawksmoor.

It’s a short walk from all the amenities of the Canary Wharf estate including its office spaces, restaurants, bars, shops and services as well as the Jubilee line, the Elizabeth Line and DLR for easy access to all that London has to offer.

For more information go to canarywharf.com or email residential.sales@canarywharf.com

Scan this code to find out more about the penthouses

how the penthouses at One Park Drive offer views and style from the very top of Wood Wharf’s flagship residential tower

O’Mara, Herzog & de Meuron

The apartments features cast concrete staircases and interior design by Tom Dixon

The penthouses have internal courtyards, open to the sky, as well as external terraces

Total number of properties in One Park Drive, arranged over its 57 floors

at the top of

All of the penthouses feature high ceilings and views across the capital

The properties have been styled with the persona of an international collector in mind

The spaces feature curved walls and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise light and the views