This spacious apartment is the epitome of London loft living, occupying a third-floor corner position of an art deco warehouse development in Clerkenwell. The space has been finished to an exceptionally high standard while allowing the building’s fabric to speak for itself. Its interiors gesture towards the building’s industrial heritage, with exposed brick walls, concrete ceilings and wraparound Critall steel windows that, along with a south-facing terrace, provide wonderful city views.

The Building

With a white façade and ribbons of Crittall windows, the building is a distinctive feature on Clerkenwell’s Summers Street. The grand five-storey art deco warehouse – originally a printworks – was designed in the 1930s by Stanley Peach, the architect behind Wimbledon’s historic Centre Court.

In 1992, the Manhattan Loft Corporation commissioned award-winning architect Piers Gough to reimagine the building for residential development. With the integrity of its original design in mind, it was subsequently reconfigured to include 23 individual apartments, each with a unique footprint and a feel that set the standard for loft living in London. Owners were radically first invited to divide the space up according to their own needs.

The Tour

The impressive building is entered via an enclosed courtyard. Bold red signage synonymous with the development signifies the residential apartments, while a private underground car park with a car lift is past a towering curved wall of glass bricks.

All floors have lift access; this apartment, on the third level, sits at the end of a light-filled corridor.

Soaring ceilings create a lofty sense of volume upon entry. Steel-framed double-glazed windows flood the plan with natural daylight; the current owner describes the space as feeling like a “magical snow globe” during a wintery flurry. The apartment’s industrial aesthetic is enhanced by its subtle colour palette, solid maple flooring and steel column radiators.

An Italian kitchen by Minotti is a sculptural statement with its dramatic grey-marbled central island offset by simple white cabinetry. Newly installed, the kitchen has been finished to an exceptional standard, with integrated appliances including a Gaggenau fridge-freezer, V-Zug ovens and a Bora induction hob with a built-in extractor.

The plan’s versatility allows for flexible layout options. The current owner has arranged the dining area next to the dramatic corner windows to take full advantage of the view. A sunken position delineates the lounge area, which is subtly demarcated from the rest of the extensive plan by a velvety white carpet.

The bedroom is off the hallway. Light enters from a window on one side and a glazed door on the other leading outside to the balcony. Fitted wardrobes along one wall have plenty of hanging space.

The large bathroom is designed as a wet room using refined Kohler fittings.

Outside space

An expansive south-facing balcony runs along the length of the hallway and can be accessed from either the hall or the bedroom. Sheltered by its rear-facing aspect, it provides a wonderfully private space to relax. Potted plants add greenery, with an orange tree bringing a slice of the Mediterranean to this pocket of London.

The apartment has a car space allocated in the secure underground car park.

Area Guide

Summers Street is superbly situated just north of Farringdon, east of Bloomsbury and close to the peaceful green space of Coram’s Fields. It is within the Hatton Garden Conservation Area, designed to protect the area’s historic character and its many “robustly detailed industrial, commercial and residential buildings of the late 19th to mid-20th centuries”.

Clerkenwell was recently named the London winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2024. With the building sitting behind Farringdon Street, restaurants like The Eagle, the first gastro pub in London, the much-loved Moro and the original outpost of Caravan can be counted among the excellent local offerings.

Leather Lane beckons in the other direction. It has a brilliant mid-week street food market, where great coffee options include Profrock and Attendant Coffee Roasters. Laidback Lamb’s Conduit Street, with its independent restaurants and boutiques, is less than a 10-minute walk away; favourites here include the culinary institution Ciao Bella and the celebrated wine bar Noble Rot. The Brunswick Centre, a Grade II-listed masterpiece is a five-minute cycle away and is home to a large Waitrose supermarket and Curzon cinema. The world-famous theatres of Soho and Covent Garden are also within walking distance, as are Sadlers Wells Theatre and the Barbican‘s arts centre.

We’ve written about our Clerkenwell recommendations in greater depth.

Farringdon Station is a nine-minute walk and is serviced by the Hammersmith and City, Circle, and Metropolitan and Elizabeth Underground lines as well as National Rail. For the city, Liverpool Street is five minutes away by tube, while Heathrow can be reached in around 35 minutes. International rail travel connects to Europe from nearby St Pancras and several bus routes run along neighbouring streets in all directions, including neighbouring Islington.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Service Charge: Approx. £4,400 per annum
Council Tax Band: F

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.