Page 32 - Sphere No.15 (Nov 2005)

P R O P E R T Y
THE FACE OF LONDON is changing.
The banks of the River Thames, neglect-
ed for decades as they drifted into indus-
trial decay, are again reclaiming their
place in the hearts of residents and city
planners alike.
Today, prestigious cultural landmarks
compete for attention with luxury proper-
ty developments, especially south of the
river where the opening of the Tate
Modern art gallery on the site of a decom-
missioned power station has helped tilt
London’s cultural centre of gravity.
Take Albion Riverside, for example.
This development is much more than a
residential complex. It is designed to be
the heart of a vibrant new neighbour-
hood, expanding modern urban living
options in the busy capital.
The widely acclaimed structure,
famously dubbed “The Glass Dough-
nut”, was designed by the world re-
nowned and award-winning architect
Lord Norman Foster, whose other mas-
terpieces include the passenger terminal
at Chek Lap Kok Airport and the HSBC
building in Hong Kong, the Bilbao Metro
in Spain and more recently the Swiss
Reinsurance headquarters “Gerkin” in
the City of London.
Albion Riverside lies between the his-
toric Albert and Battersea bridges, offer-
ing phenomenal views of the Thames. It
has all the hallmarks of a Lord Foster
creation: calm, airy interiors encased in a
stunning visual exterior. “The alumini-
um and glass curved design gives the
building maximum view, as well as
ensuring a high degree of privacy,” said
Dr Edmond Ho, Executive Director and
General Manager of Hutchison
Whampoa Properties (Europe).
Completed in early 2004, the building
has set a new standard for urban living,
attracting a strong following among
celebrities and the super rich normally
associated with the affluent strong-
holds of Belgravia, Knightsbridge and
Kensington north of the river. The
Albion Riverside development won the
Best Apartment Building award at the
THE
TALK
of the
TOWN
A remarkable Hutchison property development is
changing the way Londoners think about their own city By Andrea Li
Address: 8 Hester Road, Battersea,
London, SW11 4AP.
Number of units: 196 apartments,
including 13 penthouses.
Size: 1 bedroom (550-750 sq ft) to
4 bedrooms (2,000 sq ft). Penthouses:
3-6 bedrooms (3,000-8,500 sq ft).
Amenities: Gym, swimming pool,
underground car park, 24-hour concierge
service, private podium garden.
ALBION RIVERSIDE FACT FILE