August is upon us and with it, the Chelsea Barracks Seasonal Newsletter. Here we take a look at the construction progress on-site with some extremely visible changes as well as highlight some of our recent partnerships ventures.
The Portland Stone Façade
A mix of history, art and architecture, Belgravia is a grand postcard from the past, yet this exclusive London enclave, always with eye on the future, has a new resident, one that combines that grandiose of the past with the refinement of the present, Chelsea Barracks.
The scaffold has come down and the metaphorical veil has been lifted on this highly anticipated façade. The Portland Stone design is an architectural masterpiece, at once impressive and yet the buildings weave seamlessly into the surround streets as if they have always been there.
With the scaffold for Nine Whistler Square down on three sides, and the scaffold on One Mulberry down on two, Eight Whistler Square will follow in the coming weeks and shortly after the Townhouses will be fully visible.
The exquisite façade of these Squire and Partners buildings showcases the finest stone masonry in London with the bronzed balustrades inspired by the designs of William Morris adding some considered detail to the balconies. These designs follow the botanical theme that runs throughout the development. The exquisite craftsmanship shown by the stone masons is an exciting glimpse into the quality and detail within this groundbreaking development.
General Construction Update
Construction works have been continuing at pace and the visible progress on-site is remarkable.
All 67 residences in Eight & Nine Whistler Square and One Mulberry Square, are now at the critical ‘white box’ stage which means that all plasterboard ceilings are completed and the detailed, high quality fit out works can commence.
The timber flooring has been laid in 25 of the residences and the natural stone bathrooms are complete in all residences with the exception of two Penthouses.
The first two apartments were completed and inspected by the design team at the beginning of August, with all wardrobes and kitchen units -including white goods - installed.
The Garden Squares
Works to the new public garden squares are well underway in all available areas. Over half of the granite planters that run nearly the full 100 m length of Mulberry Square, and will from part of the culinary garden, are now formed. These huge planters will eventually be filled with flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables inspired by the culinary garden concept and designed in the stripes of a Bridget Riley’s Stripe painting.
Work to the drop-off area on the Pimlico Road side of the site has also commenced. This will mark the entrance to Dove Place and is the location of the Conrad Shawcross sculpture.
Works are also well underway on Bourne Walk - which runs parallel to Chelsea Bridge Road - with the structure for the water feature now built.
Work to the drop-off area on the Pimlico Road side of the site has also commenced. This will mark the entrance to Dove Place and is the location of the Conrad Shawcross sculpture.
Works are also well underway on Bourne Walk - which runs parallel to Chelsea Bridge Road - with the structure for the water feature now built.
Conrad Shawcross
At 41, Conrad Shawcross is the youngest Royal Academician, one of the finest honours that can be bestowed of a British artist. His sculptures bestride architecture, engineering, physics and music resulting in intricate and complex designs, often on an unprecedented scale. Unveiling works for the Roundhouse, Dulwich Park and Greenwich Peninsula, Shawcross’s next piece will be situated in Dove Place at Chelsea Barracks, the first in a series of public artwork that will be situated around the garden squares.
Shawcross of the piece: “I did some research into the area and one of the key things was the horticulture, with Chelsea Physic Garden, and the history. The awareness of plants and the distinct history were in my mind’s eye, the piece had to be a sculptural yet natural formation. The piece is very mathematical but has echoes of many things, so hopefully, it will have many reminiscences and oscillate between different meanings for different people”
Masterpiece
Step beyond the marquee and you’ll discover grandiose interiors, breath-taking art, sensational jewels and this year, secret gardens.
Masterpiece London is the world’s leading cross collecting art fair offering the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewelry, from antiquity to the present day. As the Patron Programme Partner for 2018, Chelsea Barracks was responsible for creating the VIP lounge. Inspired by the garden squares of Chelsea Barracks, refreshments were enjoyed under a canopy of thick foliage and seating provided a peaceful afternoon’s refuge from the bustle beyond.
Goodwood
This year Chelsea Barracks has partnered with the renowned Goodwood Estate, home to the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 hundred years. A British institution like no other, Goodwood has sense of timeless poise – a consequence both of its history and its refusal to bend to the jurisdiction of the future.
Be it Goodwood Revival, Festival of Speed or Qatar Goodwood, Goodwood has its very own micro climate, a place unlike any other, where time stands still but the entertainment is explosive.
