It’s been a dismal spring thus far – grey, drizzly and windy. But as I walk up Victoria Street one March morning, the clouds part and glorious sunshine illuminates Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and their new neighbour, The Broadway, in front of me, postcard-perfect.
I enter The Broadway through a side entrance on Dacre Street; although the first residents have moved in, there are still builders milling around making finishing touches to the development. The lobby is futuristic without being harsh; fluid lines and organic shapes abound in greys and neutrals, and a sculptural light installation brings the space together.
I’m in Cullinan East, one of six towers that make up The Broadway, which sits on the former site of New Scotland Yard and, originally, the orchards of Westminster Abbey. Each pair of towers is named after a famous diamond (Paragon, Sancy and Cullinan) – the design nods to this, with lozenge-shaped windows, a whiff of art deco, and interiors inspired, apparently, by the distinctive lines of 1920s jewellery.
First, I’m led to the spa and pool area – an underground space of low, warm lighting and oatmeal shades. The pool is a not-insignificant 25m long, accompanied by a gym and personal training studio (The Broadway possesses a total of 16,000 square feet of wellness amenities). A games room, also subterranean, bridges the gap between design-led and feelgood with eccentrically-shaped armchairs and a fun gallery wall. Luxury credentials are ensured with an all-wood ping pong table and gold-plated foosball.
The real purpose of my tour, however, is to see the 4,672 sq ft penthouse. Designed by Minotti London, this four-bed, four-bath residence also comprises a self-contained, one- bedroom apartment. The views from the 13th floor are staggering – a who’s who of London landmarks; there’s the Abbey, The Shard, the Houses of Parliament. I can even see as far as the MI5 building and BT Tower.
The vibe of the apartment itself is subtle and sophisticated with an ever-present overtone of perfectly-pitched luxury. It’s not too flashy, but clearly expensive in a quiet, self-assured way. Minotti London has appointed artisan hotshots like Rodolfo Dordoni, Marcio Kogan and Inoda + Sveje to furnish the space.
The living room features white modular seating of the sort that would make you never want to drink red wine anywhere near it. This is atop a soothing herringbone rug and alongside low-level, Japanese-style coffee tables. The connected dining space yields more calming neutrals, with a marble Linha Fina table surrounded by swivel chairs. A chandelier from Canadian studio Gabriel Scott brings the wow-factor, made up of glassy allotropes that recall the building’s namesake.
The kitchen is light, bright and airy, featuring the uncluttered lines of the ‘Japandi’ style. Indeed, here is an asymmetrical sofa courtesy of Japanese-Danish duo Inoda+Sveje. The space also features a kitchen island, countertops and splashbacks in stormy grey Calacatta marble.
The master bedroom is a veritable sanctuary, again comprising couture craftsmanship, not to mention those blockbuster, double-aspect views. The aesthetic is expressed in soft shapes and all-important details: the curved form of a Dordoni pouffe, the simple proportions of the bed, a full-height bronze mirror in the dressing area. The remaining sleeping quarters continue the ‘‘60s Scandinavia’ vibe with minimal furnishings, mushroom shades and metal accents.
The grace of the aesthetic never wavers, and that includes the spaces connecting the rooms. Here, find Nendo benches, Oluci (Italy’s longest-running lighting company) fittings and lacquered shelving units.
The Broadway brings a level of elevated design befitting this super-prime address (I duck into St James’s Park station, two minutes away, as the rain inevitably starts again). From the knock-out lobby to the subdued environs of the penthouse, it’s a seriously impressive space, and with 70 units remaining, there’s plenty of time left to register your interest.
Two-beds at The Broadway start from £2.75 million, three-beds from £3.85 million and four-beds from £10 million. Visit orchardplace.london.
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