Pakenham House, Wellington Row, London E2

Positioned just off Columbia Road, this two-bedroom apartment in Pakenham House has been subject to a sympathetic renovation by Ogden Architects. Unfolding over the third floor of the building, the apartment's modernist bones work in tandem with a series of clever design interventions to create wonderfully bright interior spaces. A south-facing balcony overlooks a beautifully maintained lawn, providing the perfect spot to read or enjoy a drink in the sunshine. The building is excellently located for the best of east London, with the cultural hubs of Redchurch Street, Broadway Market and Brick Lane all within easy walking distance.

The Tour

Pakenham House lies just south of Columbia Road. Much like the modernist estates that define the surrounding vernacular architecture, the building's sweeping façade is characterised by London stock brick, with exposed communal walkways framed by clean vertical lines of red brick. A wonderfully bright stairwell with floor-to-ceiling glazing, quarry tiling and steel balustrades ascends to the apartment on the third floor. There is also lift access.

Inside, the plan has been cleverly reconfigured by the current owner. A pared-back aesthetic works in tandem with white walls to maximise the sense of volume throughout, and glazing set above each doorway allows natural light to pour deep into the plan. Meticulously renovated in recent years, the apartment has been rewired, replumbed and fitted with a new boiler for energy efficiency.

An open-plan kitchen and living space occupies the rear of the plan. Natural light pours in through generous south-east facing windows, perfectly positioned to frame leafy views. A glazed door opens from the living space onto a south-east-facing balcony with space to sit in the sunshine. Here, a wall of forest green cladding echoes the verdant view of mature specimen trees and the beautifully maintained lawn below.

A dining area sits opposite the living space, adjacent to a U-shaped kitchen with a black quarry-tiled floor. Large square windows punctuate the front elevation, allowing far-reaching views across multiple elevations to serve as a backdrop. An engineered oak worktop adds a touch of warmth between extensive cabinetry in a charcoal grey hue and a splashback of forest green tiles sourced from Solus Ceramics in Clerkenwell. Further storage is provided by cabinets that face the dining space, as well as two additional cupboards above a range cooker framed by the same green tiling.

Two well-proportioned double bedrooms sit off the central hallway, one of which is currently configured as a home office with open ply shelving and large built-in wardrobes.

Black quarry tiles continue in a sizeable bathroom on the opposite side of the plan. White tiling flows along the walls to frame a combined bath and shower; a separate WC with bespoke oak joinery sits adjacent to the front door. Two generous storage cupboards sit off the central hallway.

Area Guide

Pakenham House is perfectly situated for the best of Columbia Road, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green. Neighbouring locales, including London Fields, Wilton Way, Mare Street and Broadway Market, are a short walk away.

The green spaces of Haggerston Park and Weaver's Fields are within easy reach. Broadway and Columbia Road Markets, with their wide array of independent shops and cafés, are very close by. Particularly popular are Climpson and Sons Coffee, Donlon Books, Pavilion Bakery, Brawn, The Royal Oak and Campania & Jones. Hackney Road is home to an increasing number of popular restaurants and bars, including Morito, Sager + Wilde, and The Marksman. O-Zone Coffee has recently opened an all-day café in the Antipodean vein very close by, specialising in excellent coffee and pastries, as well as an ever-changing brunch menu.

Bethnal Green (Central Line) and Old Street (Northern Line) Stations are equidistant, while Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street are both nearby for Overground services. Rail services are available from Cambridge Heath, and there are good bus links. The City is also within easy walking distance.

Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: approx. 85 years remaining / Service Charge: approx. £2,000 per annum / Ground Rent: approx. £10 per annum / Council Tax Band: C