Towering Ambition

How things change. Until a decade or so ago, nobody, at least not in Britain, aspired to live in a tower block. Councils up and down the land had built towers to house those who couldn't afford the cherished Victorian terraced house, thirties semi, or detached bungalow. And so they became associated with poverty and deprivation, and, after the catastrophic collapse in 1968 of Ronan Point, in East London, with poor build quality too. Partly as a result of this event, it can still be difficult to this day, to find a lender prepared to offer mortgages on buildings over about 6 storeys, particularly if the building in question is an ex local authority block. Despite this background however, the top end of the housing market has recently been enthusiastically building ever higher towers. Most notable is the 50 storey Vauxhall Tower nearing completion by the river in SW8. Despite recent bad publicity when it was hit by a helicopter in the fog, it will doubtless have no shortage of buyers for its multi-million pound apartments. Meanwhile on the Isle of Dogs, among the cluster of towers of London's new financial heart, are the twin Pan Peninsula Towers. And there on the thirty-somethingth floor, I photographed this palatial party pad with panoramic views.

The Sultanate of Style

I wasn't the first photographer to shoot Interior Designer, Francis Sultana's grand Mayfair apartment, and I'm sure I won't be the last. Arranged on 2 storeys, it's an impressive showcase for his exuberant style. On the main floor, two large Georgian reception rooms connected by double doors evoke an era of grand entertaining. It's no surprise therefore, that on the upper floor there is a discreet door that once lead to the butler's rooms. However, Francis's forebears would probably have been shocked by some of the large contemporary artworks adorning the walls. No matter, they looked wonderful across the pages of last Saturday's Times magazine.

Francis Sultana

Although the Times feature generously ran to 5 pages, there was sadly no space for my favourite bits of the flat; the bathroom and dressing room, so here they are.

The Birds and the Bees

There was a rare burst of spring recently at Grosvenor Waterside. Birds, bees, and even butterflies were in abundance, though mostly in decorative form. Jess Lavers had just completed her latest project, a show apartment overlooking a Thameside wharf between Pimlico and Chelsea. Rather than the inoffensive beige and blandness one might expect from a show flat, this one had bags of character and style. 

Birds and Bees Wallpaper designs by Barneby Gates

Living over the Shop

Commuting from the suburbs to a place of work in the city is a comparatively recent phenomenon, made possible by improvements in transport. Historically though, people lived and worked in the same place; from the humble blacksmith's forge, up to the renaissance palazzi of Florence & Venice, or the medieval merchant houses to be found in most old cities. Such homes would have functioned as shops, warehouses or workshops at ground level, with living space above. A great surviving example in this country, is the 13th century Merchant's house in Southampton, built by a prosperous wine merchant. Then in the last two centuries, as people sought the peace and clean air away from grimy city centres, the tradition of living above your work premises gradually declined. It was therefore quite a surprise to find someone living very much in the merchant tradition in 21st century Clerkenwell. Jan Wilson may not trade in silks and spices, bake bread, or manufacture hats and corsets, as her predecessors may have done. Like much of today's economy, her business is in the service sector. On the ground floor, and basement, of her handsome courtyard building, she runs a successful design business, RPW, which specialises in hotel interiors (see earlier post: Nights on Broadway). Meanwhile upstairs, and with separate access, is the comfortable apartment she shares with her partner. For those who run their own business, the overlap between home and work is inevitable, so such an arrangement makes complete sense. To that end the grand boardroom on the ground floor, also makes a great dining/entertaining space.

The 'Shop'

Main entrance on the ground floor, with the studio to the left and the boardroom on the right.

Jan Wilson

Jan's office at one end of the studio

The studio

The studio overlooks a secluded courtyard garden

The boardroom across the hall

The elegant furniture and lighting in the boardroom, make it perfectly usable as a entertaining space too

The Apartment

Polished to Perfection

Seldom has an apartment block generated so much publicity, but then seldom do apartments command such eye-watering prices. One Hyde Park materialised at the start of the credit crunch, but has apparently been unaffected by it, sailing above the economic storms battering the rest of Britain and the West. Conceived by the developer brothers, Candy & Candy, it is not a single apartment block, but 4 inter-linked buildings designed by architects, Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners. The exterior divides opinion, but I'd been itching to get inside the building ever since it was completed. Fortunately, award winning Interior Designers, Casa Forma asked me to photograph what must be their most impressive project to date. The shoot was not without its challenges. Simply getting into the building is a hurdle in itself, as security is understandably tight. The main issue however concerns the finishes throughout the apartment. 'Antique' mirrored walls, highly laquered timber veneers and polished stone and marble. All look fabulous, but are super glossy and reflective, making it almost impossible to conceal the tripod and camera, let alone any flashlight. On occasion it's unavoidable, so thank heaven for Photoshop!

As I mentioned, many column inches have been devoted to the subject of One Hyde Park. Here's a thought provoking one that appeared in Vanity Fair recently.