Mono Tower, Penn Street, London N1

This carefully considered one-bedroom apartment is elevated high on the 17th floor of Mono Tower, one of two impressive residential buildings designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects in collaboration with David Chipperfield Architects. Its plan makes excellent use of space, with living areas that open to a long, sheltered balcony with far-reaching views over north and west London. It has easy access to Pitfield Street and Hoxton Market, Colombia Road and Spitalfields Market, with the Regent's Canal a few minutes away.

The Architect

Karakusevic Carson is a studio of architects and urban designers at the forefront of public housing design and major civic projects in the UK and internationally. It has been appointed as architects and master planners by 15 leading London councils, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Portsmouth City Council, Homes England and Olympic Legacy panels.

David Chipperfield Architects was founded by Sir David Chipperfield in 1985. The practice has won more than 100 international awards and citations for design excellence, including the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2007 for The Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach, Germany, and both the Mies van der Rohe Award (European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture) and the Deutscher Architekturpreis in 2011 for the Neues Museum, Berlin.

The Building

Hoxton Press was completed in 2018 and takes the form of two towers that occupy the edges of an irregular plot, which was once home to the Victorian printing press, The Mullord Brothers. The buildings are clad in handmade bricks, with Mono Tower's silhouette outlined in a striking grey. They sit on either side of a gentle hill surrounded by clusters of trees framing views of Shoreditch Park and the surrounding landscape. The site forms a link between Shoreditch Park and the Colville neighbourhood, connected by paving that continues into the ground floor of the buildings, creating a seamless transition between exterior and interior.

The Tour

This apartment is positioned on the 17th floor of Mono Tower, to which there is both lift and stair access. The communal areas are immaculately designed and maintained, with hexagonal floor tiles that mirror the shape of the building. A 24-hour concierge is situated next door in neighbouring Duo Tower. There is also basement bicycle storage and a car-parking space demised to this apartment.

The apartment's hexagonal shape is harnessed to create an easy flow between rooms. Entry is to a hallway, with the bright and flexible reception spaces ahead. This room is orientated to take in north-westerly views across London through an entire wall of glazing that wraps around the open-plan kitchen, living and dining spaces; it also provides direct access to the balcony. Engineered oak floorboards in a light wash add to the airy atmosphere fostered by crisp white walls. Zoned underfloor heating spreads throughout and is run by an MVHR system.

Subtly delineated, the kitchen area is set slightly further back. Its white Silestone worktops incorporate an integrated induction hob, while other built-in appliances include a microwave, an oven and a dishwasher by Siemens, and a Smeg extractor fan. There is plenty of storage above and below the counter, and a full-height cabinet houses a fridge and a freezer.

The main bedroom is a wonderfully light room with far-reaching views. There is a wide, grey-framed window with a deep oak sill that complements a wall of built-in oak veneer wardrobes.

There are several built-in cupboards in the hallway, creating plenty of storage. A large bathroom is also positioned here, where grey porcelain tiles and a frameless glass screen surround a spacious walk-in shower. There is oak detailing throughout, including in the mirror-fronted cabinetry above the sink, which lends the space a certain cohesion.

Outdoor Space

A generous balcony wraps around one side of the apartment, making it the perfect spot for outdoor dining and entertaining. With views north, east and west, the balcony gets a great amount of light. Views extend directly above the Regent’s Canal to Hampstead to the north, Walthamstow to the east and across Primrose Hill to the west. There is space for a seating area, allowing for easy indoor/outdoor living and dining.

The Area

Hoxton is renowned for its exciting mix of restaurants, bars and galleries, including Lyle’s, Rochelle Canteen,Shoreditch House, the Blue Mountain School and Victoria Miro Gallery. The boutiques and cafés of Redchurch Street, the famous De Beauvoir Deli and Towpath Cafe are nearby, with Broadway Market and Angel Islington both a short walk along the canal.

For green space, the seven acres of Shoreditch Park are on your doorstep and Victoria Park and London Fields are beautiful walks away up the canal towpath.

The apartment is also a short walk from Hoxton Square, an early example of one of London's public gardens. Completed in 1720 and designed to emulate existing squares in west London, it was the first of its type in the area. During the 19th century, the square and surrounding streets became the centre of Shoreditch’s furniture and carpentry trade.

There are plenty of transport links within walking distance. Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street stations run London Overground services; Liverpool Street Station provides access to the Central, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines and nationwide National Rail services. Old Street Underground station is a 15-minute walk away, running Northern Line services across the city.

Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: Approx. 242 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £4,000per annum (includes buildings insurance, freehold administrators admin. charges, repairs to shared areas and outside of the building, cleaning services, concierge, sinking fund, bike store and CCTV / Ground Rent: Approx. £600per annum / Council Tax Band: D