Isokon Building II, Lawn Road, London NW3

This beautiful studio apartment lies on the first floor of one of London’s foremost modernist icons, the Isokon. Designed by Wells Coates in the early 1930s, the building lies on Lawn Road in Belsize Park and is painted a bespoke shade of white-ish pink. It has been home to many artists and writers over the years and, in recognition of its singularity, was awarded a rare Grade I listing. This apartment upholds its earliest charm, with original fittings and views out to the leafy surroundings.



The Architect



Wells Wintemute Coates (1895 - 1958) was a Canadian architect primarily known for his work in England. Although he completed only a few projects in the UK, including the Isokon and Embassy Court in Brighton, his designs are considered to be among the finest examples of pre-war British modernism.



The Building



Designed by Wells Coates for Jack and Molly Pritchard, the Isokon Building (or Lawn Road Flats) opened in 1934 as a progressive experiment in new ways of urban living. It was the first block ever to be built chiefly using reinforced concrete.



The Isokon was the subject of an exemplary restoration by Avanti Architects in 2004, which restored it to its former glory. The building’s list of illustrious former residents includes Agatha Christie, founder of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius, and artists Marcel Breuer and László Moholy-Nagy. For more information, see the History section.



The Tour



The building’s trademark walkways snake up to this apartment’s private entrance, located on the first floor. It opens to the living space, where marmoleum floors and white-painted walls create a seamless backdrop that allows a plethora of original features to shine.



The space at the front is presently used as a living, dining and study area; a wall of built-in bookcases provides plenty of room for a private library. Sliding stained plywood doors - original to the apartment, and complete with metal hardware - reveal a sleeping space beyond. Windows in both spaces, on perpendicular aspects, fill the home with light and frame leafy views.



The kitchen is next to the front door and has neat cream-coloured cabinets below and above a hardwood countertop. There is an integrated oven and a fridge, and a sink well-placed beneath a window.



A sliding door in the sleeping area opens to a bathroom with an especially generous amount of storage. It has a square sink, the same counters and units as the kitchen, and a bath with a shower overhead. There is also a neatly stored washing machine.



The Area



Lawn Road is a tree-lined street within a short walk of Hampstead Village and the shops and restaurants in Belsize Village, Haverstock Hill, South End Green and England’s Lane.



Hampstead High Street has a plethora of boutiques, cafés and eateries, including Oddono’s gelateria, Ginger & White, Gail’s and the famous Hampstead Crêperie. Several charming pubs are nearby, including The Horseshoe, The Flask and The Hollybush.



Hampstead Heath is a short walk away and one of London’s finest green spaces, renowned for its sprawling woodland walks, elevated views of London, and freshwater swimming ponds. Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park are also close by.



The apartment is a five-minute walk from Belsize Park station (Northern line) and Hampstead Heath Overground station, which runs services on an east-west axis.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: Approx. 168 years remaining/ Service Charge: Approx. £3,000 per annum / Council Tax Band: B