Sandstone Place II
Whittington Estate, London N19
Architect: Peter Tabori
Register for similar homes“A light-filled apartment on the iconic Whittington Estate”
This bright one-bedroom apartment with south-facing balcony is located on the first floor of Sandstone Place, a building on the popular Whittington Estate. The block is located between Highgate Village and Dartmouth Park, with the expansive green spaces of Hampstead Heath and Waterlow Park just a short walk away.
The Architect
The estate was designed in the 1970s by architect Peter Tabori during Camden Council’s “golden age” of progressive social housing developments. Many of the flats are now under private ownership and are ever-popular with fans of modernist architecture. The development is characterised by its stepped profile that provides each property with excellent levels of natural light, and the fact that every flat has its own front door from the pedestrianised street.
The Tour
The apartment measures approximately 520 sq ft internally. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead from the generous reception room onto the south-facing balcony and illuminate the room with sunlight. The apartment maintains its original windows throughout as well as a cleverly designed sliding door that opens to reveal a hidden bookshelf.
A compact dining area links the living room with the kitchen to the rear. The master bedroom is a well-proportioned, light space with a leafy outlook and deep in-built wardrobes which provide excellent storage. In the hall, there is also plenty of storage care of a second large utility cabinet.
The Whittington Estate comprises six terraces with a pedestrian walkway between each terrace. Landscaping formed an important aspect of the original design and each terrace has an interesting selection of trees, plants and mature shrubs, softening the strong horizontal lines of the concrete structures. Underground garages sit beneath Lulot Gardens with secure parking spaces available to residents.
The Area
The Whittington Estate is positioned between the desirable areas of Highgate Village and Dartmouth Park. Parliament Hill, with its tennis courts, lido and farmer’s market, is a short walk away. There are several excellent gastropubs in the area, including St. John’s Tavern, The Bull & Last, The Flask, The Lord Palmerston and the Southampton Arms.
Archway and Tufnell Park Underground stations (both Northern Line) are also close by.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: approx. 119 years
Service Charge: approx. £1,545 per annum
Ground Rent: approx. £10.00 annually
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 Metropolitan Boroughs of St. Pancras, Holborn and Hampstead merged to become Camden in 1965. Under the stewardship of Sydney Cook, the new borough quickly became renowned for its radical housing. Cook appointed a “dream team” of architects working out of Holborn Town Hall, led by Neave Brown. These included Peter Tabori, who was born in Hungary in 1942 and studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic. When he was a student, he asked the local authority for a diploma project and was given the brief for Highgate New Town (Whittington Estate). After working for Ernö Goldfinger and Denys Lasdun, Tabori joined Camden Architects Department – Sydney Cook had been so impressed by Tabori’s student work that he was employed to develop it into the final scheme.
The estate was built between 1973 and 1978 overlooking the cemetery. It comprises six terraces with strong horizontal lines of balconies and cornices and vertical cross walls. Between each terrace is a pedestrian walkway, with trees and shrubs to soften the architecture.
