The craftsmanship and gardens of Regent's Crescent
Featured in the Financial Times
A Masterpiece in Modern Living: The Transformation of an Architectural Icon into Bespoke Contemporary London Homes. How expert engineering and artisan craftsmanship brought an historic London landmark back to life for a new generation of residents.
When Regent’s Crescent opened its grand front doors to a new generation of residents last year it became London’s only Grade I listed new-build, a worthy accolade for a remarkable landmark. Originally designed two hundred years ago by master architect John Nash for his royal patron the Prince Regent, the entire crescent, a sweep of 390 feet, has been painstakingly rebuilt to offer 68 apartments and 9 Garden Villas, each unique in every measure and set behind a magnificent Regency façade. Residents of these luxurious homes have the privilege of living in a piece of English history, painstakingly recreated with exemplary craftsmanship of the highest order.
Rebuilding an entire Regency crescent with due deference to its history and Grade I listing, yet following exacting modern-day standards requires an intricate blend of traditional skills and innovative methods. At Regent’s Crescent, developers CIT and architects PDP London worked closely with Westminster Council and Historic England, securing permission to rebuild the Nash masterpiece and reaffirm the Regency heritage whilst also employing cutting-edge building techniques.
Lost chimney stacks were added and for the first time in decades the grand front doors – 14 in total – were reinstated, marking the clear divisions of the original townhouses. Fanlights were repaired and missing ones replaced with the original decorative features recreated by highly skilled artisans in York. The result is simply superb: a beautiful Regency sweep complete with stone steps, smart railings and classical symmetry, topped off by a clean expanse of stucco render just as Londoners would have seen in 1820.
The jewel in the crown is the curved façade itself, built according to Nash’s original design without movement joints in an unprecedented feat of modern engineering. Each brick in the self-supporting, five floor façade was hand selected before the entire structure was tied back to the modern frame.
Interiors by renowned design house, Millier, showcase the same mix of traditional practices and modern technologies. Detailed beaded panelling and moulded cornicing merge seamlessly with concealed underfloor heating and advanced AV systems while acoustic anti-vibration systems ensure residents are not disturbed by underground trains. Throughout the build, sustainability and a low carbon footprint were at the fore, encompassing green walls and roofs and ensuring the project not only preserved the past but also surpassed all statutory requirements on carbon reduction.
“The nineteenth century townhouse is a fabulous part of English architectural history found in cities from London to Edinburgh,” says Ian Law, Partner at PDP London. “These were wonderful spaces to live in with grand receptions rooms, high ceilings and beautiful proportions.”
Millier’s interiors emphasis those proportions. Expanses of natural stone and wood, alongside a calm mid-tone palette give a respectful nod to the Regency grandeur while adding the warmth and contemporary aesthetic that elite modern-day buyers expect.
Unusually for today’s residential developments, each residence has bespoke and unique interior details and every layout is unique, some with open-plan living areas and others offering greater privacy including separate studies. Two to five-bedroom residences include duplexes on the third and fourth floors where receptions rooms span the full depth of the building providing a south-facing terrace at the rear and a front aspect overlooking Regent’s Park. The highest ceilings are on the ground and first floor where grand Regency arched windows let light pour in. These are extraordinary entertaining spaces, elegant and imposing, set well back from the road with a green backdrop provided by the treetops in the park opposite.
The 9 Garden Villas, two to four-bedroom homes, are a romantic take on traditional mews houses, a thoughtful contemporary compliment to the historic crescent. They sit in peaceful 1.5-acre private gardens, the creation of leading landscapers Bowles & Wyer, where a wealth of mature British trees, expanses of lawn and adroit planting provide residents with year-round interest and seclusion.
The gardens include a remarkable subterranean Georgian Ice House, discovered during construction and now fully restored and awarded ancient monument status, the same level of protection as Stonehenge. Residents also have rather more up-to-date leisure facilities in an exclusive 9,000 square feet lower ground floor space including a large pool, spa, private cinema and business centre. Round-the-clock concierge and security will operate the underground valet-parking and offer a seamless lifestyle for residents.
“Regent’s Crescent is a London landmark, wonderfully singular in so many aspects from its royal architect to its location by a royal park,” says Chris Richmond, Head of Sales at CIT. “As developers, we understand that we’re custodians of an important piece of London’s historical landscape and have a responsibility to Londoners to replace part of their heritage and to future residents to create magnificent homes. Everyone who has purchased here, both British and international buyers, values this history highly.”
From the crescent’s iconic columns and portico, through the formal entrance with its dramatic staircase and on into the residences themselves, the supreme craftsmanship is evident throughout. The refined and elegant homes at Regent’s Crescent are the culmination of a supreme level of cooperation between many expert agencies over many years. Today, the project offers a superb home in one of London’s most exceptional buildings, truly a masterpiece in modern living for a new generation.