House For Sale £3,750,000
Rising four storeys alongside its Georgian neighbours in one of Clerkenwell’s most desirable locations, Britton Street is an energetic and celebrated example of post-modernism. It was designed by the architect Piers Gough, principal of czwg, for Janet Street-Porter in 1987. It now carries a Grade II listing in honour of its idiosyncratic re-invention of the traditional terrace.
The Building
The design was, by Gough’s account, a distinctly personal one, being an uncompromising reflection of its colourful patron. It occupies a corner plot, left vacant since the Second World War, with a conventional elevation of fenestration in alignment with the neighbouring terrace. The windows, however, are overlaid with interlinking diamond frameworks above log lintels, creating, in contrast, a contemporary lattice effect.
The façade uses four shades of brick, ascending from dark to light to create an impression of receding shadows on the lower portion and ceaseless sunlight on the upper. This is crowned by a polygonal roof of bright blue tiles, in turn, supported by a trio of pediment-like structures, one brick, one glazed, and one hollow, with foliage bursting through the centre from the roof-terrace garden. The structures continue with the shape of the windows on each side as if squares cutting through the brickwork and adjoining to form a barrier around the first-floor balcony. For more information, please see the History section.
The Tour
Complementing its fortress-like appearance, entry is within a gated courtyard intended for off-street parking. The ground floor opens to a hallway with three bedrooms, two adjoining. These have use of an an-suite bathroom and there is also separate shower room, utility room and a cleverly incorporated kitchenette. A stone staircase spirals to the first floor, where the main bedroom, with an en suite bathroom and a dressing room, extends in an arch.
The second floor serves as the main living space, open plan with a birch plywood ceiling and huge windows filled with the foliage of surrounding plane trees. Behind curved walls, echoing the stairs and courtyard wall is the kitchen, which opens onto a semi-circular balcony on the south-facing elevation.
Through the dining area is a door to the external staircase, leading to a decked roof terrace and a further bedroom with an en suite shower, which exists behind the enormous, triangular portion of glazing visible from the front.
The Area
Clerkenwell is renowned for the quality and variety of its bars, pubs and restaurants. Nearby Exmouth Market, Covent Garden and Soho are all within walking distance. The Barbican Centre, with its world-class cultural programme of cinema, music, theatre, talks and exhibitions, is a few minutes walk from the house. Smithfield Market is a short walk away, and under proposals by Studio Egret West, plans are afoot to convert the Smithfield East and West Market buildings into a food education centre and a cultural and entertainment space, respectively, and a site for the relocation of the London Museum.
Kings Cross is easily reached and has become one of London’s foremost regeneration success stories, welcoming the likes of Google, Louis Vuitton, Universal Music and Havas, alongside existing outposts of Caravan, Waitrose, Dishoom, and audiophile bar Spiritland. The Thomas Heatherwick-designed Coal Drops Yard brings Margaret Howell, Tom Dixon and Aesop stores to the canal, along with a fine selection of bars, restaurants and cafes.
The Elizabeth Line has recently commenced service from Farringdon, just a few minutes' walk from the house. This station now offers high-speed transit across the East-West axis of London, extending out to Heathrow via Bond Street (with a direct service from Farringdon to Heathrow scheduled to start in Spring 2023). Farringdon also provides Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines and National Rail services.
Council Tax Band: H
The Building
The design was, by Gough’s account, a distinctly personal one, being an uncompromising reflection of its colourful patron. It occupies a corner plot, left vacant since the Second World War, with a conventional elevation of fenestration in alignment with the neighbouring terrace. The windows, however, are overlaid with interlinking diamond frameworks above log lintels, creating, in contrast, a contemporary lattice effect.
The façade uses four shades of brick, ascending from dark to light to create an impression of receding shadows on the lower portion and ceaseless sunlight on the upper. This is crowned by a polygonal roof of bright blue tiles, in turn, supported by a trio of pediment-like structures, one brick, one glazed, and one hollow, with foliage bursting through the centre from the roof-terrace garden. The structures continue with the shape of the windows on each side as if squares cutting through the brickwork and adjoining to form a barrier around the first-floor balcony. For more information, please see the History section.
The Tour
Complementing its fortress-like appearance, entry is within a gated courtyard intended for off-street parking. The ground floor opens to a hallway with three bedrooms, two adjoining. These have use of an an-suite bathroom and there is also separate shower room, utility room and a cleverly incorporated kitchenette. A stone staircase spirals to the first floor, where the main bedroom, with an en suite bathroom and a dressing room, extends in an arch.
The second floor serves as the main living space, open plan with a birch plywood ceiling and huge windows filled with the foliage of surrounding plane trees. Behind curved walls, echoing the stairs and courtyard wall is the kitchen, which opens onto a semi-circular balcony on the south-facing elevation.
Through the dining area is a door to the external staircase, leading to a decked roof terrace and a further bedroom with an en suite shower, which exists behind the enormous, triangular portion of glazing visible from the front.
The Area
Clerkenwell is renowned for the quality and variety of its bars, pubs and restaurants. Nearby Exmouth Market, Covent Garden and Soho are all within walking distance. The Barbican Centre, with its world-class cultural programme of cinema, music, theatre, talks and exhibitions, is a few minutes walk from the house. Smithfield Market is a short walk away, and under proposals by Studio Egret West, plans are afoot to convert the Smithfield East and West Market buildings into a food education centre and a cultural and entertainment space, respectively, and a site for the relocation of the London Museum.
Kings Cross is easily reached and has become one of London’s foremost regeneration success stories, welcoming the likes of Google, Louis Vuitton, Universal Music and Havas, alongside existing outposts of Caravan, Waitrose, Dishoom, and audiophile bar Spiritland. The Thomas Heatherwick-designed Coal Drops Yard brings Margaret Howell, Tom Dixon and Aesop stores to the canal, along with a fine selection of bars, restaurants and cafes.
The Elizabeth Line has recently commenced service from Farringdon, just a few minutes' walk from the house. This station now offers high-speed transit across the East-West axis of London, extending out to Heathrow via Bond Street (with a direct service from Farringdon to Heathrow scheduled to start in Spring 2023). Farringdon also provides Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines and National Rail services.
Council Tax Band: H
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