Frobisher Place, Peckham, London, SE15

Architecture & Interior

The Pioneer Centre, the vision of Sir Owen William, unlike anything across the borough of Southwark, is a local landmark and the legacy of George Scott Williamson and Innes Hope Pearse who pioneered “The Peckham Experiment”, an initiative for local residents to enjoy health & well-being and promote social interaction.

Today, it’s a small sanctuary of boutique homes that embody the spirit of the original architecture.

With a commanding second floor corner of the primary building, this former two-bedroom apartment has been skilfully reinvented. Its interior walls have been replaced with volume & light that streams through loft studio space through oversized Crittall windows that wrap themselves around one half of the entire room.

The monochrome styling pops with colour courtesy of some of the owners’ design detail whilst the shiny rubber flooring reflects the sunshine pouring in through those epic windows.

The hugely practical wall of Vitsoe shelving delineates a path between the bathroom and living space providing ample desk space for home working along with a ladder like library.

A series of discrete doors just inside the apartment’s entrance provide homes for a washing machine, storage and a generous walk-in wardrobe neatly arranged with more Vitsoe shelving and hanging space.

Outside

Directly above and enjoying pretty much the same footprint of the apartment, a private roof terrace basks in sunshine and captures uninterrupted 360-degree views of the surrounding roof and green canopied skyline.

The pool, gym and tennis court are a full-time fixture and for the exclusive use of The Pioneer Centre residents. Surrounding the scheme, parking is allocated for residents with additional guest spaces sitting between the secure gates fronting the road.

In the neighbourhood

A halcyon retreat it may be, but from those gates, there’s a growing list of go-to places to enjoy social engagements. From coffee shops under the arches at Queens Road station to artisan fare in New Cross and the numerous pubs, bars and restaurants of Queens Road, Nunhead Village and Peckham Rye

Transport & Connections

There’s a neat triangle-like network of stations surrounding The Pioneer Centre. Nunhead Station hosts both Thameslink and National Rail services to Central London, The Windrush line stops at Queen Road Peckham enroute to Highbury & Islington taking in Canada Water, Whitechapel (for connecting Elizabeth Line services) and Shoreditch High Street. London Bridge from New Cross Station takes around 5 mins via Southeastern. EPC rating: D.