A hidden warehouse apartment in the heart of east London
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that somewhere called Brick Lane has a rich manufacturing history. It was named after the brick kilns introduced here by early Flemish settlers in the 16th century, before cementing itself as a destination for silk weaving and garment making in the 17th. Around the same time, it became the epicentre of a booming alcohol industry when the area’s largest warehouse, the Old Truman Brewery, was established in 1666. (Now known as simply Truman’s Brewery, it holds market stalls selling food and vintage clothes.) Naturally, then, the area is brimming with industrial buildings and – while we might be slightly biased – we think the one holding this apartment is a cut above the rest.
One of the reasons it’s so remarkable is the unassuming façade. Located on Heneage Street, it shares a uniform with its Victorian neighbours: the bottom half of the building has been painted a refined shade of dark green, while the upper part features exposed golden brick. If you have the code to the first door, however, you’re in for a treat: it leads to a communal courtyard filled with thriving native plants and tropical trees alike, evoking the feeling that you’ve stumbled across a secret garden of sorts. In fact, this is where you’ll find the entrance to the apartment, which comprises a galvanised-steel front door surrounded with steel-framed glazing.
Inside, the sense of volume and space is second to none. The bright and airy rooms are spread over three floors, which include a lower-ground level and a mezzanine that overlooks the main living area. Here lies a space-maximising double-height ceiling and another set of steel-framed windows; these ones soar to the top of the apartment and feed it with natural light. Both bedrooms have been ideally tucked away on the lower level, making them feel secluded and perfect for rest. But they also have access to a second garden: a leafy sunken terrace, a lovely lush spot where it’s easy to forget you’re in the thick of the East End.
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