Hopewell Yard
London SE5

SOLD

Architect: David Quigley

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“David Quigley’s joyful design reimagines traditional Victorian architecture with a postmodernist twist”

This unique two-bedroom apartment extends over two floors of an old Victorian omnibus station. The building was renovated in 1990 by David Quigley, and the interiors have been carefully arranged to maximise space, light and impact. The apartment sits between the green expanse of Burgess Park and the Camberwell Green Conservation Area.

The Building

Originally a Victorian omnibus terminus, Hopewell Yard was creatively redesigned by David Quigley in 1990. Unapologetically postmodernist in style, the decorative exterior elevations are characterised by the polychromatic brickwork, brightly coloured balustrades and window frames and the luminescent render composed of crushed seashells. Together they establish a richly textured façade, described by the architect as ‘urban wallpaper’, accentuating the art deco motifs repeated throughout the design.

The Tour

The approach to the apartment is through a series of progressively more intimate spaces, from the street, into the private courtyard and then winding up the external stairways and balconies to the apartment. The journey into the heart of the Victorian structure is punctuated by the flashes of colour and detail that characterise Quigley’s design.

Entry is to a voluminous lobby with a soaring pitched roof, the space illuminated by a skylight above. In the main reception room, the eye is immediately drawn to the two sets of French windows leading onto the terrace and filling the room with light. The contemporary kitchen and abundance of glazing establish a modern living space, while the carefully preserved pattern and patina of the original Victorian brickwork celebrate the building’s layered history.

Mirroring the structural elements of the entrance lobby, the kitchen is a dramatic double-height space with a bright skylight framed by wooden beams, which articulate the space. The blue cabinetry is topped with a copper worktop, and a thin slate splashback wraps around the kitchen.

The main bedroom is upstairs and embraces the industrial materials of the original building, including brick and woodwork. The current owners have introduced bespoke storage, set into the pitch of the roof, to create a spacious and efficient main bedroom. Sliding shutters sit alongside the low-level windows and the wide porthole window at the centre of the room. The second bedroom is on the lower floor and has direct access to the terrace through a glazed door.

A family bathroom sits off the main entrance. Space under the stairs is utilised to provide utility cupboards away from the main living spaces, and light patterned tiles and a neutral palette make this a bright space; there is a bathtub with a shower overhead.

The apartment has an allocated parking space in the courtyard and the underground garage. There is also covered cycle storage in the communal courtyard.

Outdoor Space

A large south-facing terrace spans the full width of the apartment with views over the internal courtyard. From here, the lively details of Quigley’s design can be observed from a quiet vantage point. There is plenty of space for a dining table and chairs, along with planters and pots. Recently redecked, the area has a beautiful finish and feels tucked away from the action of Camberwell Green, just five minutes away.

The Area

Camberwell is an exciting neighbourhood, kept young at heart by the presence of Camberwell College of Art. The area has traditionally been home to lots of creatives; the studios of Anish Kapoor, recently designed by Caseyfiero Architects, and Raqib Shaw are both nearby, and The South London Gallery, designed by 6A Architects, is a short walk away.

An excellent selection of independent restaurants, cafes and delis are all within walking distance of the apartment, including The Daily Goods coffee shop, Theo’s Pizza, the esteemed Silk Road restaurant and The Camberwell Arms pub.

Burgess Park is a five-minute walk away and has tennis courts, two community gardens, and an expansive lake home to a varied array of the city’s birdlife.

Denmark Hill station is a 15-minute walk and runs London Overground services to Shoreditch (25 minutes) and Clapham Junction (14 minutes). There are also Overground services to Clapham High Street (four minutes), for connections to the Northern Line, and Canada Water for connections to the Jubilee Line. There are numerous buses from Camberwell to both Oval and Elephant and Castle, providing links to the City and Central London.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: approx. 91 years remaining
Service Charge: approx £1,550 per annum
Ground Rent: approx. £370 per annum
Parking: There is resident’s parking in the courtyard and in the underground garage
Council Tax Band: C

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

The site at Hopewell Yard was first established as an early Victorian omnibus terminus. At the centre of the transport nexus, the bus route improved the ancient link between Southwark and the City and onto the West End.

It was not until 1990 that David Quigley’s imaginative design gave the site renewed purpose and flair. Working with the original Victorian structure, Quigley developed a courtyard design celebrating the original proportions of the space and referencing its quirks, like the remaining horse ramps. The decorative exterior elevations are characterised by polychromatic brickwork, brightly coloured balustrades and window frames, and the luminescent render composed of crushed seashells. Together they establish a richly textured façade described by the architect as “urban wallpaper”; accentuating the art deco motifs repeated throughout the design.

The unapologetically postmodernist design was thoughtfully executed by Quigley, who previously worked with Farrell and Grimshaw on Charles Jenck’s Thematic House, an excellent example of postmodernist domestic architecture.

He went on to work with Robert Venturi, champion of the postmodern movement, who undertook the Sainsbury Wing extension at the National Gallery. Venturi’s seminal work Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture offered a strong riposte to the modernist credo ‘less is more’, promoting the philosophy ‘less is a bore’. Certainly, his influence is seen in the celebration of decorative detail, which characterises Quigley’s work at Hopewell Yard and his other residential work like Grange Walk in Bermondsey.


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