Duplex apartment in 1960s Cliff Road Studios in London NW1
A wonderfully striking piece of 1960s modernism, this duplex apartment in Cliff Road Studios in London NW1 is back up for sale.
It’s an interesting building that initially gives the impression of being modernism from the first half of the 20th century. It’s much later. Cliff Road Studios dates to 1968, the work of architect Georgie Wolton and a building where properties rarely come up for sale.
Georgie Wolton was a founding member of the architectural firm Team 4, which also included the likes of Richard Rogers, Su Brumwell, Norman Foster and Wendy Cheesman. Some pedigree there, although Wolton was the only qualified architect at the time of the practice’s formation and, as such, key to establishing the practice in its early days.
She moved on not long after and worked on a selection of projects during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Cliff Road Studios is perhaps the most notable and a building that has aged well. The best modernism always does. It sits outside time.
There’s something else notable about this building that isn’t as obvious. It was once a TV star. Ok, that might be pushing it a little, but it did feature in the cult 1970s crime show The Professionals.
The programme featured CI5 agents Bodie and Doyle, and this was the home of Ray Doyle in the show. In fact, one episode focuses almost entirely on this apartment if you want to look it up. I’ve done that recently and, to be honest, it hasn’t changed a great deal all these years on. It doesn’t necessarily add to the value, but it is a great talking point for the owner.
The agent describes Cliff Road Studios as having a ‘beautifully reserved façade’ to the street, which is a description I quite like. The front elevation features a pale concrete render and ‘ribbons of glazing’ at each of its five levels.
An entrance foyer is bright and tiled with extensive glazing to the rear, offering views of the communal gardens and with recently reinstalled internal spaces to lock bikes.
You can access the apartment from there, where a staircase leads up the first floor, or to one side of the foyer, via the apartment’s private courtyard terrace on the ground floor. Entry via the courtyard is through some lovely glazed Crittall doors, accessing the kitchen and dining rooms, which sit beneath the mezzanine level above.
A fairly minimalist space, but also areas that don’t lack personality. Note the fitted shelving along one side and the long kitchen counter in thick volcanic stone along the opposite wall. Stainless steel cabinets with the odd splash of yellow suit the kitchen well.
Beyond that, the living room opens out with impressive double-height ceilings extending 33ft. overhead. Banks of angled skylights also provide treetop views of the communal gardens.
Head up the open-tread timber staircase, and you find yourself on the mezzanine level. That’s made up of a large double bedroom space with hardwood flooring, clerestory windows, and sliding pocket doors to a dressing room and a bathroom. Again, minimal and stylish.
Or you can head outside and take advantage of the communal gardens, which are laid to lawn, with mature trees and shrubs at their borders. Great for summer entertaining and access directly from the living room, the outside is always on hand. Note that this is one of only two apartments with a private courtyard too.
Fancy moving on? This one has just gone back on the market, with an asking price of £945,000.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
