Centre Point’s amenities by Conran and Partners unveiled
A rich selection of finely tuned amenities for residents is now almost a given for any self-respecting luxury development; yet there's always one that truly pushes the boat out and offers something that the others don't. Such is the case with London's iconic Centre Point development – the UK capital's famed tower, which has been recently transformed from neglected brutalist office building to coveted, contemporary residential scheme that bridges old and new through a sensitive restoration by developers Almacantar and design studio Conran and Partners that respects its original modernist spirit.
The high rise, which was designed by Swiss-born architect Richard Seifert and completed in 1966, had long been a poster-development for ill-fated modernism. For all its architectural merits – its forward-thinking structure in terms of engineering was made of state-of-the-art, pre-cast structural components – it remained sadly underused and largely unoccupied for decades, until Almacantar bought it in 2010.
Now, after a highly anticipated face lift and with some 82 apartments, the 34-storey office tower has been converted for residential use, featuring apartment interiors by Conran and Partners and Morpheus; and its residential offerings come with a carefully curated and designed facilities spaces for residents to boot.
The residences at Centre Point were unveiled last year, with Conran and Partners creating interiors options for the apartments too.
There's a club lounge, which all residents can use to sit, relax and party, as well as a book-able private dinning area; there's also a spa and a screen room, which can transform and adapt into various configurations. Perhaps the most striking feature however, is the swimming pool. This not only is an impressive 30m long, but it also allows for natural light to seep in from discreet windows and views out into Oxford Street below – which is a rarity for central London.
‘Our design invites residents to be both observers of – and participants in – the city', says Tim Bowder-Ridger, senior partner at Conran and Partners, who worked on the project. ‘Protected from the hectic activity of life at street level, they can experience a strong sense of tranquillity in the very heart of London.'
Contemporary design that feels modern (but also welcome and homely) is prioritised throughout, with customised details, pieces of furniture and cabinetry making the experience truly bespoke and seamless. At the same time, the spaces are dotted with specially commissioned installations by renowned artists such as Richard Wentworth, Conrad Shawcross, Gavin Turk, and Ceryth Wyn Evans which elevates the interiors to match the calm and tranquillity of a home with the high aesthetic and cultural references of the Centre Point Residences' savvy owners.
One of the project’s highlights is the 30m long swimming pool with natural lighting and discreet views of Oxford Street - a rare treat in central London.
The swimming pool is situated at the lower end of the tower, just above the entrance plinth.
Facilities for residents include a club lounge...
...featuring bespoke installations by artists such as Richard Wentworth, Conrad Shawcross, Gavin Turk, and Ceryth Wyn Evans.
A spa on site underlines the scheme’s commitment to providing an oasis of calm and tranquillity for its residents.
INFORMATION
For more information visit the Conran and Partners website
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Roland and Karimoku expand their range of handcrafted Kiyola digital pianosThe new Roland KF-20 and KF-25 are the latest exquisitely crafted digital pianos from Roland, fusing traditional furniture-making methods with high-tech sound
-
Fulham FC’s new Riverside Stand by Populous reshapes the match-day experience and beyondPopulous has transformed Fulham FC’s image with a glamorous new stand, part of its mission to create the next generation of entertainment architecture, from London to Rome and Riyadh
-
A contemporary Mexican hotel emerges from a 16th-century ruin in MéridaA renovation project by Zeller & Moye, Mérida’s new Hotel Sevilla wears its architectural interventions lightly, mixing new brutalist elements into listed interiors and a palm-filled courtyard
-
Fulham FC’s new Riverside Stand by Populous reshapes the match-day experience and beyondPopulous has transformed Fulham FC’s image with a glamorous new stand, part of its mission to create the next generation of entertainment architecture, from London to Rome and Riyadh
-
This modern Clapham house is nestled indulgently in its gardenA Clapham house keeps a low profile in south London, at once merging with its environment and making a bold, modern statement; we revisit a story from the Wallpaper* archives
-
Step inside this perfectly pitched stone cottage in the Scottish HighlandsA stone cottage transformed by award-winning Glasgow-based practice Loader Monteith reimagines an old dwelling near Inverness into a cosy contemporary home
-
This curved brick home by Flawk blends quiet sophistication and playful detailsDistilling developer Flawk’s belief that architecture can be joyful, precise and human, Runda brings a curving, sculptural form to a quiet corner of north London
-
A compact Scottish home is a 'sunny place,' nestled into its thriving orchard settingGrianan (Gaelic for 'sunny place') is a single-storey Scottish home by Cameron Webster Architects set in rural Stirlingshire
-
Porthmadog House mines the rich seam of Wales’ industrial past at the Dwyryd estuaryStröm Architects’ Porthmadog House, a slate and Corten steel seaside retreat in north Wales, reinterprets the area’s mining and ironworking heritage
-
Arbour House is a north London home that lies low but punches highArbour House by Andrei Saltykov is a low-lying Crouch End home with a striking roof structure that sets it apart
-
A former agricultural building is transformed into a minimal rural home by Bindloss DawesZero-carbon design meets adaptive re-use in the Tractor Shed, a stripped-back house in a country village by Somerset architects Bindloss Dawes