According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), ‘observing’ is an act of seeing or noticing something, often with a degree of care or attention. Sadly, it’s often tricky to see or notice much in London because we move too fast, desperate to get from A to B in the shortest possible time; frustrated at slow pedestrians; heads down, glued to our phones, ignorant of the architectural spectacle that surrounds us.
It is why, when it comes to London property, I’ve always prized roof terraces and balconies over standard gardens. You need a view, a vantage point from which to truly appreciate everything that the capital has to offer.
The Observatory, steps from Fulham Palace Gardens, ticks all the boxes with its 360-degree views, courtesy of an expansive roof terrace. The three-bedroom penthouse, located inside a former paint factory, unfolds across 2,700 sq ft. The sense of scale is most palpable in the open-plan kitchen, dining and living rooms that occupy much of the lower level, topped by a soaring ceiling that’s criss-crossed by exposed timber trusses and steel beams.
There are three double bedrooms, all with inbuilt storage (another luxury I can’t live without) and newly-installed Sisal carpets. The two largest rooms come with air-conditioning, which is likely going to become as important as natural light, storage and space in the eyes of London’s buyers in the years to come.
A slim steel and white staircase ascends from the dining room to The Observatory’s namesake feature — a second living room housed inside the extended apex of the glazed roof. Sliding doors at either end of the maple-floored room open out onto the aforementioned roof terrace, which features new decking and an irrigation system. Who said you had to be on the ground floor to have a bountiful garden?
Back inside, there are other features of note, including the double-glazed Crittal windows and downstairs garage. Oh, and don’t forget the Britannia range cooker.
The Observatory is for sale with The Modern House for £2,750,000 — click here for more information and pictures
-
Good things come in small packages: The art of an excellent miniatureWith so many medals to fit on the tiniest miniature she had ever worked on, limner Elizabeth Meek literally had to hold her breath when painting the portrait of Charles III, but the result is a resounding success.
-
Seeking substance and style: Island hopping in the CycladesThere’s more to the Cyclades than headline-making Mykonos and Santorini, says Lucy Halfhead.
-
This converted mill is the epitome of bucolic beauty and its grounds were masterminded by one of the finest garden designers alive todayHunworth Mill is the very picture of bucolic bliss, with exquisite gardens created by Arne Maynard.
-
Yes to padel, no to swimming pools: How to attract a new generation to the countrysideYoung parents are leaving the city earlier than in previous years, according to new research. What are they looking for?
-
A country house for sale that's had a century and a half of blood, sweat and tears poured into itGeneration after generation has lovingly restored Little Onn — and their efforts have paid off in fine style.
-
Papple your wick at this elegant Georgian home in Nottinghamshire which used to be part of an Augustine MonasteryThe Grade-I listed estate is on the market with Strutt & Parker — set in more than 10 acres, it comes with four cottages and a rather grand spiral staircase.
-
Hide from your hay fever in a larch-clad Passive House in Surrey designed by an award-winning architectHeron House might cost more than a pack of Piriteze, but it does come with three bedrooms and you'll save a fortune on bills.
-
This Cornish country home comes with barn, a burial mound, a piggery and a 700-year-old cottageHelland House is a wonderful country home in one of the most sought-after spots in Cornwall, and it's for sale for only the fourth time in the last 300 years.
-
So you want to buy a ruined castle? Here's what you need to knowBuying a property that includes a ruin — whether it be a castle, ancient priory or a crumbling Roman villa — carries undoubted romance, but there are caveats.
-
Jane Austen's uncle's house comes to the market, tucked away in its own conservation areaIn a secluded spot in Sevenoaks, Brittains Farm is up for sale — though it'll need a new owner not afraid of a little hard work.
