Dunboyne Road, London NW3

Set over two floors, this dynamic three-bedroom maisonette lies on the Grade II-listed Dunboyne Road Estate between Belsize Park and Hampstead Heath. The development was celebrated architect Neave Brown's first commission for Sydney Cook's renowned Camden Architects Department. This apartment retains many of its original features and has been reimagined in a way that resonates with the estate's utilitarian exterior, utilising clean architectural lines and quality materials.



The Estate



Considered to be the first application of the low-rise high-density UK housing schemes, Dunboyne Road Estate (formerly known as Fleet Road Estate) was Neave Brown's first commission for Sydney Cook's renowned Camden Architects Department. Designed between 1966-7, it was awarded a Grade II listing in 2010 in recognition of its pioneering contribution to the Camden housing schemes of the 1960s and 1970s. In their later years, Neave Brown and his wife made this estate their home and were an active part of the community.



The estate was inspired by traditional terrace houses. Each has its own external front door and private, open-to-the-sky external space. The concrete construct was finished with a simple external palette of two main elements: dark-stained joinery and a continuous external surface finished in white render.



The Tour



Entry to this home is via one of the estate’s iconic walkways. Its private front door opens into the kitchen, which adopts a crisp, geometric scheme. Bespoke plywood units are paired with a grid-like splashback and Caesarstone countertops. Appliances include a built-in Bosch dishwasher and a Neff induction hob. Above the sink is a long, black-framed window that draws plenty of natural light into the kitchen and its adjacent dining area.



Beside the front door, a utility room provides space for shoes and coats. Large original cupboards can also house a washing machine. Additional storage can be found under the stairs.



A continuation of the kitchen’s warm wooden tones, the staircase that ascends to the upper level retains original hardwood bannisters, which have been preserved and accented by custom-made black metal balusters. Upstairs is a generous living area, with five-finger parquet flooring (matching the oiled oak of the staircase) and floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors to a private terrace. The room rings with light, a quality enhanced by the matt-white concrete blockwork throughout.



The maisonette has three bedrooms; the principal is on the upper level, with built-in plywood wardrobes commissioned to mirror the original cabinetry elsewhere in the home, a trademark of Neave Brown. A sliding door extends the room into an adjoining study, and a second sliding door can extend the room into the adjacent living space. An en suite shower room has terrazzo tiles and wooden cabinetry, which repurposes original plywood doors and frames.



Downstairs are the remaining two bedrooms. Both are bright spaces with wide windows. Another sliding door here divides the spaces, creating a larger single space when left open. An adjacent bathroom is finished with beautiful salmon-pink tiles from Villeroy and Bosch.



Outdoor Space



Glazed doors on the upper level open to a generous balcony with plenty of room for dining and potted plants. Greenery is woven through the estate, making for a particularly restorative view.



The Area



Dunboyne Road is surrounded by a plethora of independent shops, pubs and restaurants. It is well-positioned to enjoy the delights of Belsize Park and its beloved England’s Lane, as well as South End Green at the end of Parliament Hill in Hampstead.



Local favourites include stalwart Giacobazzi’s Deli, which creates freshly made Italian pasta, and Watchhouse and Redemption Roasters for coffee. The centre of Hampstead village is also nearby, with its excellent variety of larger shops and restaurants, including Planet Organic, Ottolenghi and an Everyman cinema. We've written about how to spend a weekend in Hampstead in our Journal.



The Heath, as it’s known, is five minutes away on foot, with its wide open grass and woodlands offering some of London’s most beautiful walks. Freshwater swimming is a year-round activity at the men's, ladies’, and mixed Bathing Ponds. There are also tennis courts, cafés and Kenwood House, a wonderful 17th-century house and gallery. Known for some of the best panoramic views in London, Parliament Hill is also host to a brilliant weekly Saturday morning farmers' market at the southerly end of the park.



There are plenty of schools nearby, including Gospel Oak and Abacus Belsize primary schools. College Francais Bilingue De Londres can be found in Kentish Town. Popular private options include Channing, Highgate School and South Hampstead GDST.



Seven minutes away on foot, Belsize Park (Northern line) is the closest Underground station. Hampstead Heath (Mildmay Line) runs Overground services and is less than a 10-minute walk away. Gospel Oak, 10 minutes in the other direction, runs the Mildmay and Suffragette lines.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: Approx. 98 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £3,000 per annum (includes heating and hot water, exterior maintenance and repairs, buildings insurance and care of communal facilities) / Ground Rent: Approx. £10 per annum / Council Tax Band: E