In a quiet part of Kennington yet close enough to Westminster to hear Big Ben chime at night, this ground-floor studio is bright, warm and welcoming. It sits in a beautifully maintained late modernist block that retains a wealth of period features, including a bas-relief sculpture and original postal boxes. Outside, well-maintained communal gardens shared by residents foster a strong sense of community.

The Building

Vanbrugh Court was designed as a simple four-sided, four-storey block in the early 1970s, bearing many of the modernist hallmarks from its modernist predecessors. The brick and concrete building reflects the sleek symmetry and muscular simplicity of the period, as well as a desire to create a dialogue with the natural world.

The Tour

The apartment is found at raised ground floor level, set back from the street behind a stepped entrance up to the building. Inside, a splendid raw cement bas-relief adorns the communal hallway, which also retains the original individual apartment varnished teak doors and postal boxes. The apartment’s front door opens into a wide hallway lit naturally from a window on one side and internal glazing on the other.

A bank of windows in the main living area invites light to fall in different places throughout the day. There are two large recessed cupboards on the rear wall; the current owners use one as a wardrobe and the other as a creative office space. The bedroom area fits neatly into the front of the plan and is divided by a folding shutter.

The generous kitchen can be closed off from the central living space. Its white cabinetry is arranged in a U-shape with a window above the sink overlooking tranquil Gilbert Road opposite.

The bathroom is entered from the entrance hall and has a bath with a shower overhead. A transom window above the door borrows light in from the bright hallway.

Outside Space

Beautifully landscaped communal gardens with extensive lawns sit within the centre of the four blocks. There are plenty of places to sit and terraces to wander through and admire the year-round display of colour and fauna.

The Area

Wincott Street, is a short walk to Kennington Road, which has excellent amenities. There is good coffee and cake, books and plants respectively to be had at Vanilla Black, Sally White and Urban Botanica. The nearby The Prince of Wales on Cleaver Square is loved by locals, while in the other direction towards Southwark sits The Albert Arms. Only a little further afield is Bonnington Square, home to renowned deli and café Italo with its delightful outdoor dining terrace.

The Kennington Triangle has undergone something of an artistic rebirth in recent years. Within a short walk are Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery, Cabinet, Gasworks, The Camera Club, The Tea House Theatre and The City and Guilds of London Art School. For green spaces the grounds of the Imperial War Museum are a 10-minute walk and the manicured open space of the Grade II-listed Kennington Park can be reached in under 15-minutes.

Vanbrugh Court is ideally situated within easy reach of Kennington and Oval underground stations (Northern Line), as well as Lambeth North (Bakerloo Line) and Vauxhall (Victoria Line and National Rail services). There are excellent bus links into central and south London, and good cycling and walking routes towards the South Bank and Soho, which can be reached within 10 and 40 minutes respectively on foot.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 112 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £1,800 per annum (includes buildings insurance, freeholders’ administration or management charges, repairs to shared areas and the outside of the building, cleaning services, concierge or caretaker, sinking fund, bike store, communal garden
Ground Rent: Approx. £45 per annum
Council Tax Band: B

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.