Langham House Close VIII, London TW10

This carefully updated apartment occupies a coveted ground-floor position on celebrated Langham House Close. Its location is exceptional: Ham Common is just metres away, with the River Thames, Teddington Lock, and Richmond Park all nearby. The estate has been awarded a rare Grade II*-listed status (extremely rare for a postwar development) in recognition of both Stirling and Gowan's exceptional late 1950s design and its subsequent maintenance. The estate is wonderfully green, with communal gardens surrounding the blocks, whilst the apartment has its own private balcony.



The Architects



James Stirling and James Gowan met while working at Lyons Israel Ellis and formed their own practice in 1956. Prior to this, Gowan had worked on the design for the Skylon, part of the 1951 Festival of Britain, and on Stevenage New Town. Stirling - the namesake of a UK-based award for excellence in architecture - had studied under Colin Rowe at Liverpool; he would go on to win the Pritzker Prize, among the most prestigious international architecture accolades.



The Development



The three apartment blocks in Langham House Close were designed in 1955 by James Stirling (1926-1992) and James Gowan (1923-2015) for the Manousso Group as a speculative development. They were built in 1957-58 on a site that was formerly the back garden of a Georgian manor house. All of the apartments are owner-occupied and cannot be let out for more than six months per year.



According to English Heritage, “this mix of vernacular and early modern movement influences with raw Corbusian concrete (far better finished here than in Le Corbusier's work) heralded a new style of architecture in Britain". Catherine Croft, the director of the Twentieth Century Society, has stated that “the flats themselves are striking with ingenious floor plans and geometric concrete fireplaces. They still look very modern and are exciting spaces to live in.”



The Tour



This ground-floor apartment is in one of the "terrace" blocks. The current owner has sympathetically refurbished the interiors in accordance with its Grade II*-listed status, adding Douglas fir flooring and an updated, refined bathroom. The finishes throughout are immaculate and consciously pared back, allowing the building's bones space to breathe.



Outstanding original features - perhaps the only flat on the estate which still has all of the listed features still in their original condition - these include a striking fireplace with an exposed concrete mantelpiece, the ironmongery and kitchen cabinetry. Views from each room extend across the mature communal gardens that surround the building.



Entry is to a hallway with a large storage cupboard. The living spaces lie in front; a reception room is still home to the brick fireplace, whilst the kitchen is fitted with the original cabinetry. A glazed door opens from here onto the balcony.



White-painted walls and a green outlook create a calm feel in the bedroom. Next to the hallway is the bathroom, a serene space with square white tiles, a wooden Japanese bathtub and exposed piping.



The Area



Langham House Close is a short no-through road in a peaceful location just metres from the green expanse of Ham Common. Nearby attractions include the Ham House, the River Thames, Teddington Lock and Richmond Park. Excellent local shopping is available on Ham Parade, within a couple of hundred yards, and the major shopping centres of Richmond and Kingston are easily accessible by public transport. Petersham and the wonderful Petersham Nurseries are nearby, as well as several pubs and restaurants.



Sports facilities are numerous and of a very high quality, with Kingston Riverside Tennis Club, Sudbrook Park Golf Club and The Hawker Centre all in the immediate vicinity. The area is very good for cycling and there is also a Third Space gym in nearby Richmond.



Two bus routes between Richmond and Kingston, the 65 and 371, serve the area. Richmond is well-connected with frequent trains to London Waterloo (a journey time of around 20 minutes) and the District line.



Tenure: Share of Freehold / Underlying Lease Length: Approx. 931 years / Service Charge: £3,300 pa / Council Tax Band: D