On the market: 1950s Erno Goldfinger-designed modernist apartment in Primrose Hill, London NW1
An interesting space, this 1950s Erno Goldfinger-designed apartment in Primrose Hill, London NW1 is now on the market and certain to appeal to fans of mid-20th century modernism.
It is part of a grade II-listed modernist block, dating back to the 1950s and notable in the row for the exposed brick and concrete frontage. In fact, this place was built using reinforced concrete construction, with red brick infills and concrete slab balconies. It was actually constructed using council money too, with an act at the time allowing a group of people to come together to get funding from the local authority.
Goldfinger got people to commit to his build, with the first residents (aka the Regents Park Housing Society) moving in around 1956. According to the Ham & High, some of the original residents were still living there just a couple of years back, which perhaps says everything about the building and its ongoing appeal.
In fact, the appeal for this kind of architecture has grown in recent years, so a rare opportunity to live here should prove a popular proposition. Just as long as you have the cash. Yes, it might well have been affordable space in the 1950s, but like other properties in the area, the value of these apartments has just gone up and up. More on that in a moment. For now, let’s look at the apartment itself.
This is a third-floor apartment, with a ‘spacious’ hallway leading through to the main living area with cork tile floor, large south facing windows and the balcony area.
A folding screen opens up to a dining area which in turn leads in to a galley kitchen. According to the agent, the lower kitchen units are newer than the original mahogany cupboards with their sliding doors above, but it is nice to see at least some of the original kitchen surviving.
Three bedrooms to the rear of the building all face the garden and come with the original mahogany wardrobes and cupboards, with a bathroom and WC completing the layout. The hallway and the bedrooms also feature black tiled floors similar to those used in Goldfinger’s own Willow Road house, with recessed curtain rails and original radiators also original to the property.
That’s not quite all though. In the basement of the building there is a ‘communal garden room’, along with a shared laundry and a private secure storage cupboard, with what’s described as a ‘large, beautiful communal garden’ outside and also available to all residents. Love that cantilever staircase over the four floors too.
Note that there are still rules in place for owners, including a block on renting out any of the apartments. Check those out when you enquire. If you can live within those rules, this place is on the market for £1,499,000.
Images and details courtesy of Aucoot. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
Big thanks to John for the tip off!