A concrete apartment with credentials by Regent’s Canal, north London
As fans of brutalist architecture, we often find ourselves lusting after a palette defined by concrete. In this apartment, for instance, exposed concrete ceilings and structural pillars dominate the industrial-leaning scheme, which is complemented by pared-back white walls and metal piping. It’s stripped-back but not stark, cool but not cold, thanks to the current owner’s collection thriving of house plants and wooden floorboards that run underfoot throughout.
There’s a warehouse feel, partly due to the flexible open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas. Elsewhere a separate study is defined by a short wall, which doubles as a shelf and hosts more pretty verdure. It makes a wonderful office to work from home – and when it comes to your tea break, head straight for the south-west-facing balcony. Here there’s ample room for green-fingered folk to nurture outdoor plants and grow their own produce. It can also be reached from the bedroom, where floor-to-ceiling glazed doors and windows offer lovely views of Regent’s Canal below.
And while we’ve touched briefly on the location, there’s more for us to say. When it comes to the city’s waters, the Thames might get more attention, but it gets more tourists too. Along Regent’s Canal, meanwhile, you’re more likely to find locals on their daily walks, runs and bike rides. Foodies will be thrilled to learn it’s also home to some of the best culinary delights the city has to offer, such as barge-turned-restaurant Caravel and Towpath Café, which are only three and 15 minutes away by foot respectively. From Little Venice to Limehouse, the canal stretches nearly nine miles and is a brilliant way to get well-acquainted with many of the city’s gems. And just think – it could be on your doorstep…
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