One Blackfriars
UK developer St George is set to launch a new landmark 52-storey tower designed by Ian Simpson architects on the banks of the River Thames, helping to redefine a new standard for luxury residential in London.
Construction is currently underway at One Blackfriars, which, when complete, will provide 274 luxurious studio, one, two, three and four bedroom apartments, as well as high-quality retail and restaurant space, a boutique-styled hotel. There will also be a new landscaped piazza featuring soft landscaping and water features, providing an exciting new public realm in the heart of London’s cultural hub. The adjacent Southbank Centre is the largest single-run arts centre in the world and includes the world renowned Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery and Queen Elizabeth Hall, while the National Film Theatre is also nearby.
“The new mixed-used quarter at One Blackfriars will reflect this important [cultural] identify and encapsulate the very best of London living,” said Mark Griffiths, Managing Director of St George. The building, which traces the curved geometry of the envelope, is shaped to allow uninterrupted views of London’s skyline, including the financial district of Canary Wharf and the Tower of London. With an iconic 170m-high silhouette, the structure will bask in the sun’s rays, casting its altering reflections onto the city below as the light changes through the day.
The tower’s unique form incorporates a seamless outer glass skin which envelops a subtly coloured interior structure, giving it a distinctive and elegant appearance. These colours gradually fade as the cladding rises higher up the tower becoming lighter nearer the top, while at the bottom, the building will taper to provide a further touch of elegance. The space between the two layers will also provide a unique area for gorgeous winter gardens, allowing every residential apartment and hotel room to have its own internal conservatory space.
One Blackfriars will be Simpson’s second design project in the British capital following the redevelopment of Battersea Power station. The award-winning architect also helped reshape the skyline of his Manchester hometown through the iconic 47-storey Beetham Hilton Tower. The project is due for completion in 2018.
Ian Simpson Architects