Property of the Week: Tour de France presenter’s studio flat in Soho is ingeniously designed
Simple living in the messy heart of London – that’s what this extraordinarily modern studio flat offers in Soho for £699,000.
Owned by ITV’s Tour de France presenter Gary Imlach, it’s a perfect pied-a-terre tucked away in a gated period building on Broadwick Street.
To get to it, you need to climb a set of external metal stairs to the first floor, like a dogged NYPD cop. Once in, the whole property is one room measuring only 415sqft but it manages to pack in all your essential living needs.
Architect John Nordon transformed the space from a two bedroom property, opening it up into a studio “to maximise the feeling of space.” Nordon, who currently works as the design intelligence leader for Woods Bagot European Studio, got to work on the project in 2003/4.
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A handmade oak unit was installed, serving the function of two rooms. Set at an angle, it has kitchen units on one side with a concealed shower room on the other, with space to fix a heated towel rail to the wall
Up at the other side of the room next to the window, there’s a fold-down double bed, room for a couple of armchairs and a wall of storage with sliding doors. Then a poured resin floor was laid down throughout.
Imlach bought the property in 2005 as a temporary London base, and has had great success letting it out for short stays.
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Now, it’s on the market with nearly 160 years left on the lease. Its location in the heart of the West End, with its restaurants, shops and creative companies, is sure to be a draw. There are good connections, too, as it’s less than a 10 minute walk away from both Piccadilly Circus station and Oxford Circus station.
The arrival of Crossrail, the high-speed rail network, at Tottenham Court Road station is expected to drive up prices in the area, too.
Price: £699,000
Call The Modern House on 020 3795 5920 or visit themodernhouse.com
