Theatre review: 2017 at the Royal Court November 14, 2014 Royal Court | ★★★☆☆ Climate change is the defining global issue of our times, professor Chris Rapley states, matter-of-factly, from a chair on the stage. Over the course of an hour, unaided by notes but surrounded by digitised graphics of the earth, the renowned climate scientist calmly presents the fact that when his [...]
From Battersea Power Station’s roof garden to Oval Quarter’s allotments – homes with budding potential November 13, 2014 You might have a Rolex or a superyacht, but the most expensive commodity in London today is space. A square foot in the capital costs around £1,200 on average, and when land is that expensive, green space becomes a luxury. As a result, local authorities are increasingly likely to grant planning permission to [...]
Old Friars in Richmond Green: Richard Attenborough’s former home in south west London is a movie star mansion November 13, 2014 This eight bedroom historic house in south west London was home to one of Britain’s best-loved filmmakers. Sitting on top of Richmond Green, peering down over the Thames and the sprawl of Richmond Park, is a distinguished mansion that was once home to an even more distinguished owner. A lounge area in [...]
The Riverlight development in Battersea’s Nine Elms is welcoming residents November 13, 2014 Visitors to Riverlight, a new housing development on the south bank of the Thames, are confronted by a rather extraordinary, large artwork in the lobby. It layers towering elm trees, cranes from the docks, industrial waste and six, serrated glass towers lining the river bank. “History in the Making” by Royal College of Art [...]
Focus on Chiswick: Why are families flocking to west London? November 13, 2014 Many people seem to think that, between oligarchs buying up prime central London and renters occupying the trendy suburbs, the capital is becoming a place of transition. But there’s one place that’s defying that trend: Chiswick. This ancient country retreat, which was once part of Middlesex, is every inch the traditional London village. [...]
The George Clooney effect: Venice’s Palazzo Molin del Cuoridoro is a rare medieval masterpiece November 13, 2014 Two months ago, Paris was overshadowed as the romance capital of the world by Venice. This had everything to do with George Clooney, Hollywood’s smoothest eternal bachelor, choosing the city to host his wedding to British human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin. The world’s media swooped on the waterlogged cultural hotspot and it received some [...]
London’s empire state of mind: New York warehouse conversion inspiration comes to Islington, Clapham, Stratford and Wapping October 30, 2014 Globalisation, it seems, is not only changing our work, life and shopping habits, it’s also changing our living arrangements. Industrial warehouse conversions, originally found in the meat-packing districts of New York, have crossed the Atlantic and found a new popularity on our shores. Old textile factories in north east London in particular have become [...]
Helios penthouse atop Kew Bridge West’s Hyperion Tower is a whole new level of luxury October 30, 2014 Flowers are not the only things sprouting up in Kew these days. A number of new housing developments are entering the market, enticing buyers to find better value for money in the greener, airier, more spacious suburbs of south west London. One of these is Kew Bridge West, a new development from St [...]
Can London build enough homes for 9m people? And where should the new houses be built? October 30, 2014 As our population has increased, housebuilding has become a major political issue. There’s now a consensus that the capital needs to get building to accommodate a population that’s expected to grow by 920,000 by 2024. But it’s not an impossible task, according to residential and commercial estate agent Stirling Ackroyd, who released their [...]
Fancy owning an 18th century Parisian palace? 140 Rue de Grenelle is up for sale October 30, 2014 The 18th century palace you can actually buy at 140 Rue de Grenelle. A rare opportunity to own one of the grandest homes in central Paris. The Rue de Grenelle has over 300 years of Parisian style, architecture and history written into its walls and, after 18 months of restoration and refurbishment, it’s [...]