Glenhurst Court II
Farquhar Road, London SE19
Architect: Austin Vernon & Partners
Register for similar homes"Elegant mid-century materials, with sensitive contemporary additions, set high amidst the treetops on one of London's most popular Modernist estates."
This elegant two-bedroom apartment is positioned on the first floor of Glenhurst Court, an iconic block designed by Austin Vernon and Partners, built between 1957 and 1963. The building forms part of the renowned Dulwich Estate and won a Civic Trust award shortly after its completion in 1964.
The open-plan living space is impressively light, with very large windows that run the length of the room. A sliding door reveals a simple and elegant modern kitchen. The bedrooms at the far end of the living space are large and bright, and have a door that links them creating a versatile suite – the current owners use the second bedroom as a study/meditation room. The block itself is situated in quiet communal surroundings, with leafy treetop views from almost every window. There is a garage included in the lease and parking in the grounds.
The apartment is decorated to a meticulous standard in neutral tones. Solid walnut floorboards run across the majority of the apartment. There are solid oak boards in the kitchen and wool carpets in the bedrooms. Secondary glazing has been added to the bedroom windows. Both the kitchen and bathroom were completely refitted and modernised by the current owners.
An area well-known for its exceptional Modern architecture, the Dulwich Estate occupies approximately 1,500 acres, with numerous private roads that are managed by the Estate. It is noted for its concentration of outstanding 1950s and 60s design, much of it by Austin Vernon & Partners. The mix of houses and exceptional landscaping make for an appealing and unique place to live.
Glenhurst Court sits near Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, which are a wildlife nature reserve, and next to Crystal Palace Park. Other local attractions include the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Horniman Museum and the local town centres of Crystal Palace and Dulwich Village. Crystal Palace, which was included in Lonely Planet’s “Greatest little-known neighbourhoods in the world”, is a short walk away, and is a vibrant area with award-winning restaurants and bars as well as having a thriving arts and music scene.
Gipsy Hill and Sydenham Hill stations are less than one mile away, with frequent links to London Victoria and London Bridge.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease: approx. 127 years
Service charge: approx. £1,250 per annum
Buildings insurance: approx. £560 per annum
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
Glenhurst Court is situated in part of a large area of land in South East London that has been maintained for over 400 years by the Dulwich Estate. In the 1950s the estate ran into difficulty. The area had been badly damaged during the Second World War, and lease lengths were running so short that banks were no longer happy to lend on the houses and selling was becoming more and more difficult. People were leaving the area and renting their houses out.
In 1954, Austin Vernon & Partners were called on to design a scheme that would rejuvenate the Dulwich Estate. Vernon himself had formerly been a pupil at Dulwich College from 1898 -1901 and so knew this area well, whilst his uncle Frederick Austin Vernon (1882-1972) had already been the surveyor and architect to the Dulwich Estate.
By 1957 Vernon’s first scheme of building was completed. The blocks on Farquhar Road were the first to be built and they proved to be such a success that a second scheme began, encompassing the nearby Lymer Road (including Glenhurst Court) and beyond. Over the next 20 years more than 2,000 new homes were designed by Austin Vernon & Partners, resulting in a remarkable area of 1950s and 60s-era architecture.
The houses and flats were designed to a high standard, with use of large expanses of glass, open rooms and central heating. Also quite remarkable was the landscaping that was planned for the estate. The roads were separated from pedestrian areas and large areas were given over to communal gardens and spinneys. The result was an estate which was and remains beautifully designed, verdant and peaceful.
