Property: Here's your chance to live in a landmark building
Iconic buildings need no introduction as, due to their history and architectural merit, they’re instantly recognisable and an integral part of the local landscape.
Now’s your chance to live in a landmark as across the country and beyond, industrial plants, commercial complexes, hotels, hospitals and other unique edifices that have outgrown their original use are being repurposed as amazing homes. Take your pick from these one-of-a-kind apartments, all currently for sale.
1. The Playfair at Donaldson’s, Edinburgh EH12, from £550,000
Regarded as one of the city’s most important buildings, The Playfair in Edinburgh was designed in the mid-19th century by renowned architect William Henry Playfair in the style of an Elizabethan palace.
Queen Victoria is said to have admired it so much that she would have swapped it for the Palace of Holyroodhouse, though it was in fact a children’s hospital and later became a residential school.
Over the past few years it’s been sensitively converted into apartments with original features retained as much as possible. Most have been sold but a few two-bedroom homes are left. To avoid missing out, contact City & Country.
2. Fort Clarence, Rochester, Kent, £750,000
Anyone who knows the Medway area reasonably well will be familiar with this historic fortress, a Scheduled Ancient Monument constructed in 1808 to ward off potential attacks during the Napoleonic War.
In World War II, it was used as the headquarters for the Home Guard and was converted into four roomy apartments in 2002.
This feature-filled duplex comprises an open plan kitchen/living/dining space with a vaulted ceiling and unusual eyebrow windows – shaped to accommodate a cannon. It also features a cloakroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study on the first, reached via a spiral staircase.
There’s also a south-facing roof terrace, a viewing turret and a communal garden. Through Fine & Country.
3. Battersea Power Station, London SW8, from £865,000
In its heyday, this iconic building generated a fifth of London’s electricity before being switched off in 1983.
Now it’s back to operating on full throttle as redevelopment of the red-brick power station — constructed in two halves, in the 1930s and 1950s — is complete and it’s opening its doors to the public, who will have access to 110 new shops, bars and eateries.
Apple (AAPL) and Shark Ninja have offices here, and it also contains 254 apartments, ranging from studios to Sky Villas.
These dual aspect duplex homes sit between the rebuilt chimneys and have private gardens, balconies and roof terraces with 360-degree views of London’s skyline and the Thames. Get the lowdown from Batterseapowerstation.co.uk.
4. St Pancras Chambers, London NW1, £1.4m
This spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is arranged over the fourth and fifth floors of St Pancras Chambers.
This wonderfully over-the-top Victorian Gothic Revival building designed by architect George Gilbert Scott started life as the Midland Grand Hotel and has been restored to its former glory.
It is located moments from the Eurostar at St Pancras International station, as well as the restaurants, bars and galleries of King’s Cross, and residents can enjoy room service courtesy of the adjoining St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Via Knight Frank.
5. The Whiteley, London W2, from £1.5m
William Whiteley, one of London’s first department stores, opened in 1911 and became a shopping centre in the late 1980s.
At the moment it’s being transformed into a new mixed-use development, comprising 139 one- to five-bedroom apartments as well as shops, cafes and restaurants, a cinema, gym and a Six Senses hotel and spa.
The famous façade, with its clock and sculptures and the glass rotunda are being restored. For the finer details, visit Thewhitelylondon.com.
6. Powerhouse, London SW10, from £1.7m
Lots Road Power Station, the largest and last of London’s three great power stations to be redeveloped — the others are Battersea and Bankside, now the Tate Modern — played a vital role in keeping the capital running as it powered the Underground for over a century.
Now it’s called Powerhouse, a mix of 260 newly-launched two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments on Chelsea Waterfront, an assortment of 10 buildings overlooking a previously inaccessible part of the Thames.
Amenities include a 24/7 concierge, a club lounge and state-of-the-art health and fitness centre. Find out more via Powerhousechelsea.com.
7. Television Centre, London W12, from £2.75m
The BBC’s headquarters from 1960 until 2013, Television Centre has been reimagined as a luxury mixed-use scheme with 432 homes, offices, restaurants and cafes in the first phase. It also houses White City House — an outpost of private members’ club Soho House, complete with Electric Cinema and hotel.
A number of two- and three-bedroom lateral and duplex apartments remain on the upper floors of the Grade II listed, mid-century modern Helios building and are ready to move into immediately. For more information, visit Televisioncentre.com.
8. Börseplatz 1, Vienna, Austria, €11.45m (£9,990,462)
A vast contemporary three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse with an indoor garden is found in a grand Italian Renaissance-style building, formerly the headquarters of the Austrian postal and telegraph service.
The building is adorned with a sculpture of group of figures sitting on a globe, intended to symbolise telegraphy.
The huge rooms have high ceilings, parquet, tiled or stone floors and views over the rooftops, and there’s a concierge, central garden and a private wine cellar. Get in touch with Engel & Völkers.
