Gore Road, London E9

This garden apartment has been impeccably renovated by its current owner. Bookended by front and rear outdoor space, its rooms are bright, warm and welcoming, filled with bespoke joinery and considered contemporary touches. It makes up part of John Spence's Crown Estate, perched on the edge of the open, leafy expanses of Victoria Park.

The Building

Designed by little-known but distinctive architect John Spence, the Crown Estate on Gore Road was built in 1966 as a contemporary recast of the traditional London terrace. The estate is landscaped with intelligent gardens, orientated around communal grounds. The materials used are buff-coloured London stock bricks, with metal sliding windows and zinc roofs. Casually modern, but knowingly mirroring the traditional townhouse, the estate is a prime example of the postmodern.

The Tour

The flat is found on the lower ground floor, set back from the street behind a front garden. The hall is home to a bijous office area, where bespoke ply joinery by Lozi conceals a pull-down desk. There is ample storage here for coats and shoes. Cork flooring extends underfoot, leading to the living space behind.

Full-width windows light the living area, appointed in neutral tones and with new white blinds. Lighting has been hung from industrial-style steel piping, adding a contemporary touch. Tucked in one corner of the open living space, the kitchen has been renovated with Jetsam Made bespoke joinery, with soft birch plywood cabinetry playfully framed by distinctive green steel. The room feels at once sociable yet calm. Built-in appliances include a dishwasher and a fridge/freezer.

At the rear is the double bedroom, which looks out through a large casement window onto the wonderfully green garden through a framework of emerald bamboo. The window spans almost the entire width of the wall, ensuring a palpable sense of connection to the outdoors especially when opened wide in the summer months. The bedroom has built-in wardrobes for storage.

The bathroom, with its elegant walk-in shower, is lined with Bert and May tiles and makes continued use of Jetsam Made cabinetry. It has an internal window onto the utility/laundry space beyond, allowing for airflow when required.

The apartment has new radiators, a new boiler, new lighting throughout and a Hive heating system. Beautiful new doors with fluted glass have also been introduced, in harmony with the estate's origins.

Outdoor Space

The welcoming front garden has built-in bench seating, shielded from the road by mature trees. It makes an excellent spot to sit and enjoy an evening drink.

The rear garden is secluded by a fence that merges seamlessly with the leafy surroundings, built from slender strips of timber panelling. A gorgeous acer stands at the back, marking vibrant seasonal change. The estate’s commitment to promoting biodiversity has attracted a rich cast of birdlife to the immediate surroundings.

The Area

Gore Road stands on the perimeter of sought-after Victoria Park. In Victoria Park Village, there is a wonderful array of organic cafes, shops and delis, including Ginger Pig butchers, The Deli Downstairs, Jonathan Norris fishmongers, Bottle Apostle wine merchants, Pophams café and the eponymous Gail’s bakery.  In addition, there are numerous excellent pubs, including The Hawke, The Hemingway the Lauriston, the Empress and the Royal Inn on the Park. In the warmer months, the village comes alive, attracting residents from across east London to the park’s green open spaces and the vast array of picnic provisions. There is a food market on Saturdays and Sundays.

The choice of local parks is exceptional; the borough of Hackney has the most park acreage in London. Victoria Park, east London’s largest park, encompasses over 200 acres of green space. Designed by John Nash’s pupil Sir James Pennethorne, it was laid out in the 1840s and is now a Grade II*-listed public space. Attractions include the vast boating lake, several activity spaces, tennis courts and the ever-popular Pavilion café at the heart of the park.

A short cycle away lies London Fields and its famed, recently renovated outdoor swimming pool. The nearby Regent’s Canal towpath is a popular destination for flaneurs and makes a quick route by foot or bicycle to Islington or Limehouse. The Regents Canal also gets you to Hackney Wick and the Olympic Park very easily, and Hackney Marshes is approximately 10-15 minutes on bike.

The closest train stations are Cambridge Heath and London Fields, running London Overground services to Liverpool Street in under 10 minutes. Numerous bus routes run citywide from Victoria Park Road and Mare Street, while the Central Line operates from Bethnal Green station, a 5-minute cycle ride or 15-minute walk away. Mile End is a five minute bus to Hammersmith & Circle lines, and 277 and 425 buses take you to Homerton or Hackney Central respectively.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 103 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £1,000 per annum
Council Tax Band: B