Lower Square, Isleworth

There is a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the riverside quarter of Isleworth and the winding lanes that lead to Northumberland House and the arboreal Lower Square. Behind the 18th and 19th Century elevations of Church Street and the walkways intertwined with tributaries like the River Crane and the Duke of Northumberland River, some more recent additions to the architectural landscape enjoy the Thames frontage.

Osprey House was built in the late 1990s as part of a successful effort to regenerate the historic waterfront. All of the apartments in the building have two-bedroom plans, but this particular space has been recently renovated in comprehensive fashion to a design by award-winning architects Pike & Partners.

It is behind one of the historic facades of Lower Square that the building is accessed, through a gated, vehicular tunnel that leads to a waterfront car park and surrounding lawn. The exteriors are thoughtfully planted and compliment the brown-brick facade and intriguing turret that stands like an architectural hinge to the two main wings. The internal communal part of the building is a wonderfully nineties affair with its spiral staircase and glass brick elements.

The apartment is situated on the first floor and is designed to make the most of its orientation, providing an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space filled with westerly light and views beyond a private balcony to the River Thames, Isleworth Ait and Old Deer Park beyond it. Its river view and elevated position make it incredibly tranquil and allow its balcony doors to remain permanently open during the warmer, dry months of the year.

The kitchen has been replaced with clean white cabinetry, Corian worktops and a hot water Quooker tap, and uses the space with great efficiency in the detailed aspects of its design. Engineered oak has been placed over acoustic treatments to the concrete floorplate. Bespoke joinery has been added along the northern wall, in the dining space and in the entrance hall. The refurbishment has also resulted in an overall improvement in thermal efficiency.

The two bedrooms both have new built-in wardrobes and the larger of the two benefits from a large bay window with space for a desk. The two shower rooms, one of which is en suite to the principal bedroom, have also been refreshed with new fixtures, fittings, tiling and joinery. Both offer a colourful punctuation to the otherwise serene and calming palette.

The apartment has access to residents-only communal gardens and there is coded access to the waterfront walkway. This particular apartment also has two designated parking spaces within the secure car park.


Nearby

Old Isleworth is a charming village with many of the everyday essentials and some lovely cafes like South Street Ice Cream, which does great coffee, and Elvis and Ivy for healthy breakfasts. It has a popular, old-fashioned patisserie in Joseph’s and the Isleworth Deli and Bakery just north of South Street. There is also a most wonderful and rare offering in O Croquete, a once-weekly, small-batch Portuguese croquete maker on Lion Wharf Road. There are plenty of great pubs in the area like the Town Wharf which is on the doorstep, and the London Apprentice a little further north along the riverside walk.

This part of south-west London is renowned for its parks and open spaces. Syon Park, the garden of Syon House, once home to the Duke of Northumberland, was designed by Capability Brown in the 18th Century and is open by admission during the summer months. Old Deer Park lies across the river, and Richmond Green and Richmond Park are easily reached to the south.

St Margaret’s and Richmond are both convenient transport routes to and from the apartment and between them they offer so many great restaurants, riverside pubs and all the shopping one could wish for.

Transport

Lower Square is well situated to benefit from separate rail lines into London. Isleworth station is a ten-minute walk and St Margaret’s is even less by bus, both for services into London Waterloo. Richmond is equally easy by foot, bike or bus and runs more frequent services. For routes West and South West, and to Heathrow, the M3 and M4 are all close by.