As we near the end of a challenging 2020, we must never forget London’s extraordinary spirit in the face of adversity – the resourcefulness, the determination, the connectivity. Ours is a city built from its reinvention after various historical crises and, once again, we have adapted to a new world and keep evolving every day. The capital’s resilience to the pandemic has been astounding. Communities rallied. Businesses pivoted. Well-loved eateries responded by embracing a Parisian café culture which continues to flourish, despite the cooler weather, today. Drive-ins, street markets, garden concerts, takeaway venues and outdoor galleries kept us going through Autumn. And now millions of us are wrapping up warm and braving Winter’s cold to see our friends ‘al fresco’. The city’s misty parks are abuzz with activity. Everyone acknowledges a sense of togetherness. We stand as one in awe of the NHS as it fights the invisible virus and cares for our sick. And yet we socially distance in order to protect it. We recognise how lucky we are and are grateful to be Londoners.
Looking back, the Year 2020 offered us the pause to reflect upon the importance of where and how we live. At Northacre, we received record numbers of enquiries, each of them from focused buyers with a much clearer understanding of what they need from their homes.
Throughout different states of lockdown, we have come to rely on technology to keep us connected. Not only has it help us to stay in touch with clients, colleagues, friends, and family all over the world, it also has allowed us to invite you into our developments, in a virtual sense, and to get to know our project partners via our ‘Northacre at Home’ series.
Now, we look forward to the New Year, an easing of restrictions and a time when we can welcome you to No. 1 Palace Street and The Broadway in person. In the meantime, we are always here, our offices remain open and we endeavour to showcase our work in the most suitable and safest means possible.
Finally, I hope you are able to spend the festive season with your loved ones. On behalf of the whole team at Northacre, I wish you good health, a merry Christmas, and happy New Year.
CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro
As we tentatively emerge from Lockdown 2.0, we have been warned to stay sensible this holiday season. In order to keep shielding our vulnerable and protect our front-line workers, the best thing we can do is stay at home and limit the amount of contact with others. Whilst this may put a dampener on the most exciting time of year, there is no reason we can’t still get into the spirit of the holidays from our sofas with beautiful and uplifting virtual carol concerts, online performances & virtual experiences.
RADIO CITY ROCKETTES – AT HOME HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Christmastime in NYC is a glamorous affair – just ask the Radio City Rockettes. Although they won’t be able to show off those high kicks in-person this year, New Yorkers can catch the Christmas Spectacular Special right at home on NBC following the lighting of the Rockefeller Centre tree.
CARERS TRUST ONLINE CAROL CONCERT
Streamed from St John’s Smith Square in London, this beautiful concert on 10th December will support the charity’s work to benefit unpaid carers. Some highlights include readings from Hugh Bonneville, Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, plus beautiful seasonal music from the acclaimed City of London Choir.
A 360° VIRTUAL TOUR OF CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE, BERLIN
Berlin is usually home to many festive Christmas markets and while that won’t be the case this year, you can still virtually visit the market at Charlottenburg Palace, thanks to this 360-degree tour. If you happen to have VR glasses at home, this tour also comes with a version formatted specifically for VR technology, allowing you to really immerse yourself in the middle of all the Christmas cheer.
London’s Christmas lights are recognised all over the world over for their artistic inventiveness across some of the city’s most iconic Streets. Explore London by night in a 90-minute guided tour among the illuminated streets in all their glimmering splendour.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: NUTCRACKER ONLINE
The holidays might look a little different this year, but San Francisco Ballet wants you to be able to keep your traditions (or start new ones) with Nutcracker Online. Stream the San Francisco Ballet’s spectacular Nutcracker in HD through Thursday 31st December.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING WITH BREAD AHEAD
The joy of baking and decorating your very own gingerbread house is precisely what this time of year is all about. The smell of spiced dough cooking, festive decoration and hopefully a little fun along the way. Baking kits are delivered to your door, ahead of your baking workshop.
Christmas has always been a time for giving and this year is no exception. Instead of sending out “happy holidays” cards this year, we have decided to make a donation to Carers Trust, which could help to support an unpaid carer with an emergency grant. We wanted to align with this specific charity to recognise their incredible efforts in supporting unpaid carers throughout this pandemic. Carers Trust is a major charity that works to improve support services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of unpaid caring for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has a mental health or addiction problem. Through their 123 locally based Network Partners, the organisation is able to support unpaid carers in their homes with the provision of replacement care, and in the community with information, advice, emotional support, hands-on practical help, and access to much needed breaks.
This festive season, please give a little to help a lot. Join us in donating to a worthwhile cause and making a big difference in the community by clicking here or by emailing fundraising@carers.org.
As a perfectly indulgent Christmas treat, why not visit our friends at Bvlgari Hotel London who are offering a secure and sophisticated location to enjoy the city’s festive lights and luxury boutiques this December.
Enjoy the holiday season in style with their two-night Bvlgari Gem shopping experience, staying in a spacious Suite and relaxing with spa treatments for two in the private Onyx Spa Suite, chauffeur driven transfers and a Gift Certificate to spend in a Bvlgari Store
To find out more about this offer or to make a reservation, please click here or email the Bvlgari Hotel reservations team london@bulgarihotels.co.uk. Or click here for more information on their festive celebrations.
No. 1 Palace Street’s second show apartment is now complete and ready to welcome people in. The lateral apartment of 2,075 square feet is in the French Renaissance section of this iconic heritage development with architecture by Squire + Partners.
To learn more about this exquisite project, we spoke to interior designer Natalia Miyar who helped transform the space into a home:
- Describe the Renaissance apartment to us. What were the notable differences you drew upon when dressing this space over the contemporary apartment next door?
- This apartment has incredible architectural spaces with panelling, moulding, and interesting details within the interior architecture. It required a very different approach so we used a combination of vintage and contemporary pieces and worked with a lot of different furniture styles and that made sense with the architecture of the apartment. For example, it has a traditional fireplace but a contemporary bathroom. It has a harmonious diversity with the architecture, and you can see that’s reflected in the dressing of the space.
- Tell us about the colour palette within the apartment.
- This apartment has a light and delicate colour palette and with its grand entrance provides such a wonderful showcase for vibrant art pieces. We let the art do a lot of the talking and the selection is diverse. The living room palette is quite soft, we used a lot of natural materials and organic shapes. It’s an assembly of different pieces that have come together well.
- What is your favourite space within the apartment and why?
- The sitting room. I love the way it feels. The different architectural elements of the room lent itself to an interesting seating arrangement and I love the little alcove, which we used for displaying a bust on a plinth which created a great focal point, but equally it would work well as a seating area. What I loved is that we were able to create these really stylish moments and the room, despite its grandness, still feels cosy.
For a glimpse inside the new show apartment, please click here
As we adhere to government guidelines in relation to Covid-19, we would like to reassure you that we are still able to offer viewings that are compliant with social distancing guidance.
To register for a private viewing of No. 1 Palace Street, please get in touch.
There’s no place like home. The phrase has always been true, but especially so in the last six months. What used to be a spot to return to after a long day now serves multiple purposes to people all day, every day. The home is now an office, school, restaurant, gym, playroom and more.
Covid-19 has accelerated a trend which puts our homes at the centre of our lives. This shift has encouraged us to review the design and functionality of our rooms. For years, open concept floor plans have been popular, but now we are shifting back to more traditional layouts with spaces that can be closed off to create specific cocoons – home school classrooms, playrooms and, as 64% of Knight Frank’s Global Buyer Survey respondents attest to their importance, offices too.
66% of Knight Frank’s respondents said they also value gardens and outside space after the lockdown period emphasised the real connection between wellbeing and the Great Outdoors. And with Tier 2 rules across London banning socialising indoors, gardens across the city have become the new reception rooms and places to entertain.
When asked what luxury consumers are looking for in 2020/2021, Northacre CEO Niccolò Barattieri commented “Lockdown has served as a pause for thought and given us time to reflect on what we value most. True luxury now is living in a home surrounded by friends and family, with green outdoor spaces and magnificent city views, as well as the best cultural and lifestyle offerings all within a short walk.”
There is no doubt that Prime Central London will reap the benefits of this post-Covid focus for residents and homeowners. JLL’s residential forecast for 2021 reports that “prices and rents will begin to grow again in 2021. As the downturn begins to abate wealthy global investors will turn their attention to Prime Central London, one of the world’s most exclusive housing markets, as they did after the Global Financial Crisis. “
In summary, our affection for where we live has significantly deepened in 2020 and it has become this year’s ultimate luxury good. With the right design and a prime location, we can make our home a place of solace and a continual source of pride.
The recent change to the rules in London means that right across the capital, we are wrapping up warm and braving the cooler climes to see those friends and family not in our bubble. Whilst we’ve already taken to the pavements, terraces and gardens this year in order to meet loved ones safely, this time around it’s all about the heaters, the quality of blankets and the warming candlelight. This month, we’ve put together a list of our favourite Tier 2-friendly dining options as well as the most indulgent deliveries for those who prefer to stay cosy at home.
The Macallan Manor House at Rosewood London
The Macallan Manor House is the newest addition to Rosewood London’s dining scene – a beautiful winter terrace in partnership with renowned whisky brand The Macallan. Inside, guests will be welcomed into a warm and comforting room filled with designs inspired by and harking back to The Macallan’s newly opened distillery. The walls showcase detailed maps of Speyside, the location of the distillery, and copper hanging lights are a nod to the copper stills used in the whiskey making process
Mayfair’s Michelin starred restaurant has launched a brand-new outdoor dining space offering views over Green Park. The terrace comes with heaters and parasols and Head chef Ollie Dabbous has created some new dishes, including steamed day-boat turbot and crushed nasturtium broth, to keep the chills at bay.
Placed atop Sir Terence Conran’s warehouse project, the Boundary Rooftop Bar and Grill is an expansive space perfumed with Provençale herbs and the scents of a wood fire. The perfect destination for long lunches, evening cocktails or cosy suppers, from here you can drink in the spectacular views of the city among the stylish surrounds of the heated Orangery.
Once again the White Company has partnered with The Orrery to deck their sheltered terrace with twinkling baubles, white sheepskin rugs and luxury cashmere throws. This is the idyllic wintery setting to match Chef Igor Tymchyshyn’s festive dishes, from decadent chicken liver parfait and sweet apple chutney to traditional warm chocolate fondant.
There are two terraces on The Trafalgar’s rooftop – one is open air filled with heaters and heart-warming views, the other covered and decorated with cosy seats and buckets of perfectly iced bubbles. Here is a location as indulgent as the menu is enticing – with inspirations from Japan, Korea and more, it boasts an array of delectable dining options to suit every taste.
Inspired by the elite clubs of India, Michelin starred Gymkhana has finally launched a delivery service, so you can enjoy the critically acclaimed dishes from the comfort of your own home. To turn up the heat indoors, order the tandoori masala lamb chops, butter chicken masala or wild muntjac biryani. The restaurant delivers to Marylebone, Mayfair, Paddington, Knightsbridge, Victoria, Sloane Square, St John’s Wood, Primrose Hill and King’s Cross.
It was a typical Autumn day in London when we celebrated the ‘topping out’ of our exciting new residential quarter, The Broadway. On Wednesday 30th September, a select group witnessed the final layer of cement being laid to the sound of cheers and the clicks of photographs that were later shared across social media channels – a much smaller affair than usual due to the city’s Covid-restrictions but a momentous occasion nonetheless.
Today, The Broadway stands at 74.5m (244ft) high offering far reaching views towards Westminster and St James’s and the city beyond. But it is not only the awe-inspiring outlooks that make this project truly unique. The mixed-use development will be comprised of 258 luxury apartments, sophisticated office space and, at ground level, a myriad of retail outlets and restaurants to create a fresh and vibrant brand of city living.
CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro commented on the exciting milestone in the making of Northacre’s first ever mixed-use development, “We fell in love with this site because of its incredible scope and potential for creating something magnificent, something that could merge the valued aspects of the surrounding conservation area with tomorrow’s contemporary architecture and design. It gave us the opportunity to try something completely new and to expand our horizons. It is exciting to be creating one of the largest, if not the largest, high-end residential schemes in London.”
To book a virtual viewing of the whole development or arrange for a private viewing of our showroom, please contact us today.
November will see the next event in the ‘Northacre at Home’ series. The webinar, hosted by property and economics editor Anne Ashworth, will focus on international investment in Prime Central London in 2021 and beyond. Anne will be joined by a panel of global specialists who will all share their insight into investment in our capital in comparison to other key cities around the world.
The expert-led session will look at the macro & micro economic factors that impact investment decisions in this new world affected by Covid-19 and, of course, Brexit. They will discuss the changes to legalities, taxes, exchange rates and policies against a backdrop of rapidly evolving lifestyle-fundamentals such as education, safety, mobility, as well as health and well-being.
Anne will be joined by:
Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro, CEO of Northacre and Mustafa Kheriba, Group Head of Asset Management at SHUAA Capital and Board Director at Northacre.
Additional Panellists include:
Helen Marsh – Partner at Forsters LLP
Rajanya Ravasia – Director at Adventum
Ben Pocock – Director at Barclays Private Bank
Gary Guo – Associate Director at DBS London
Yat Wan Yeung – Senior Client Advisor at Henley & Partners
To reserve your place for this event on 4th November at 10am GMT, please complete the registration form.
We are delighted to unveil a few select images of No. 1 Palace Street’s show apartment and invite you to experience the luxurious elegance in person too. Crafted by one of Conde Nast’s House & Garden magazine’s Top 100 Designers, Natalia Miyar, the apartment is the result of her expertise in seamlessly blending glamour and comfort and a creative vision that reveres the history that surrounds it.
“No. 1 Palace Street is an extraordinary project that combines all the elements of a dream commission – an incredible building and iconic location. In fact, it was the location that really informed a lot of the choices I made. I was inspired to choose and create a number of pieces that celebrated the tradition, heritage and craftsmanship. I think items which are individually handmade carry imperfections that make them even more beautiful.
True luxury for a buyer is having something made just for you – when something has been put together in a truly unique way and no one else can have the same thing. At No. 1 Palace Street, I have put together a home which is so individual and so unique that it really is the truest form of luxury.”
To learn more about Natalia Miyar and the ‘Making Of’ the No. 1 Palace Street show apartment, we have created a preview for your enjoyment.