Crescent House
Golden Lane Estate, London EC1
Architect: Chamberlin, Powell & Bon
Register for similar homesThis is a very rare example of a studio flat on the sought-after Golden Lane Estate with most of its original features intact. The apartment is on the second floor of Crescent House, favourably situated at the rear of the building, away from the road. It is presented to the market in immaculate condition, having been exactingly restored over a period of several months by the current owner.
The property has a kitchen with reclaimed original worktops and space for a cooker and a fridge. The reception room has large windows that provide excellent natural light and views over the concourse to Great Arthur House and the Barbican. There is a sleeping area that can be separated off with the assistance of original sliding screens, and a bathroom with some original fittings and a modern shower attachment. A cupboard in the hallway contains plumbing for a washing machine. The flat has newly installed electric under-floor heating.
The Golden Lane Estate was built in the 1950s to a design by the newly formed practice Chamberlin, Powell & Bon, who later designed the Barbican Estate. The development is perenially popular with young professionals and those in the creative industries.
All residents on the estate enjoy the use of a swimming pool, as well as tennis and badminton courts, at preferential rates. There is a Waitrose supermarket close by, and the Barbican Arts Centre is also within walking distance. This area has a particularly good selection of restaurants, pubs and bars, and Smithfield Market is nearby. There are two Underground stations within very close proximity: Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines) and Old Street (Northern Line). Farringdon Underground (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines) and British Rail station is also within walking distance.
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
The Golden Lane Estate stands on a site that was heavily bombed in the Second World War, and was acquired by the Corporation of London. New housing was required for those who had lost their homes, and in 1951 an open competition was announced. Among the 178 entries were three separate schemes by a trio of lecturers at Kingston Polytechnic, Geoffry Powell, Peter Chamberlin and Christof Bon, who had agreed to from a partnership should any of them win the competition. Powell emerged victorious, and thus the famous Chamberlin, Powell & Bon practice was formed.
The brief was to build 940 flats at the maximum density of 200 people per acre (only 557 flats were eventually created). Powell managed to avoid making the site feel congested by replacing the existing road pattern with pedestrian courtyards. The 16-storey Great Arthur House was the tallest block in London when it was built.
One of the hallmarks of the Golden Lane Estate is its bold use of colour, which, along with the geometric forms of the buildings, contributes to an atmosphere of architectural vibrancy. According to an article in Architectural Design in 1953, “Special attention is paid to the floor treatment with varying textures, colours and patterns and with the floor pattern of the piazza being designed as a picture on the ground.” The entire estate took nine years to construct.
Chamberlin, Powell & Bon outlined their architectural manifesto in the Architects’ Journal in January 1953: “We attempted to make Golden Lane truly urban as, for instance, Florence or Oxford City are truly urban. Wheeled traffic was kept outside as far as possible. The greater part of the site was reserved for pedestrians only; an attempt was made to bring life to the pedestrian area… We strongly dislike the Garden City tradition with its low density, monotony and waste of good country, road, curbs, borders, paths in endless strips everywhere. We like strong contrast between true town and true country. Most towns are a terrible disappointment; we suggest 200 to the acre is a reasonable density… There are possibilities of enlivening existing towns. The best views of towns are from high up. Restaurants, pubs etc., should be on top of buildings; every tower and spire should be used thus, like a lot of stork nests. Rooms with views – of the Thames, or railway termini.”
The architects’ ideas found further expression in the Barbican Estate, built in the 1960s, which is their most famous achievement.
