Words: Josh Lee
With its myriad boroughs, finding the London neighbourhood that best suits you can be exacting work. If you’re a sourdough seeker, you may want to flock to Shoreditch, one of the first enclaves of hipster activity and the birthplace of moustachioed, tattooed men in oversized flannel shirts; young novelists might consider the promise of Bloomsbury, where part-time writers take to the cafés to plug away at their next big manuscript; there’s Soho, all bars, members’ clubs and debauchery; King’s Cross is luring in the Patagonia-wearing Big Tech crowd; and then there’s Kensington, home to retail royalty, genuine royalty, the sprawl of Hyde Park – and 9 St Mary Abbots Place, a newly developed cluster of five opulent apartments.
On sale through Knight Frank, this luxury accommodation, set on a cul-de-sac between Kensington Palace and Holland Park, is defined by a dual appeal – while its sleek, sharp, brickwork facade acts as a foil to the more traditional residences that surround it, an organic look and clean aesthetic help it simultaneously merge into the local neighbourhood.
Rodić Davidson Architects, the London firm renowned for their restrained style, were responsible for creating the bones of the property, and for this project they took a 20th-century building, replaced it with five family-sized apartments, and arranged each accommodation around sizeable courtyards that allow for natural light to flood through the floor-to-ceiling walls and into the living spaces. This idea of injecting a breezy quality into the building is further complemented by swathes of greenery that have been planted on the premises.
The interiors, meanwhile, were overseen by a team of high-end property designers and specialists, and are flush with luxe finishes (from porcelain to brushed-stone tiling) and a selection of amenities worthy of a five-star hotel (including Bowers & Wilkins speakers and Miele kitchen gear), all of which lend the property a premium finish. To prevent it from looking too sterile, a mix of light- and darkwoods have added a feel of warmth and elegance, the kind of quality that seems to have come straight from an Arch Digest shoot.
9 St Mary Abbots Place isn’t just coveted for its looks, though, as the surrounding Kensington neighbourhood – renowned for being a hub of culture, its concentration of glorious Victorian homes, and proximity to elegant green spaces – offers the property one of the one most sought-after postcodes in the capital. Within walking distance, there are Michelin-approved eateries, including the multi-course, seasonal creations at Core by Clare Smyth and Mark Kempson’s Anglo-Gallic fare at Kitchen W8; cultural hits in the form of the V&A and the Royal Albert Hall; and high-end retail therapy at Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
For those looking for respite from the hordes, the vast expanses of Hyde Park and the pristine walkways at Kensington Gardens offer an escape.
And finally, an additional pull is that a concierge-and-security team is on hand at the property – providing you with complete peace of mind while you’re out taking the Amex for a ride.
Interiors and furnishings by Matthews Rea and Finchatton.
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