London Fields
Now that Spring has sprung, London Fields has reprised its role as the barbecue and picnic venue of choice in the locality. It will be a couple of months before the wild flower meadow can be enjoyed, but there is still plenty for visitors to do, with the Lido and tennis courts for the more active, the outdoor table tennis table for those seeking a more gentle pursuit, or nearby Broadway Market which seems to offer something for everyone.
Broadway Market
Recently voted one of Europe’s hippest streets, Broadway Market continues to thrive and in the last month or so has seen the addition of a Japanese bar and kitchen (OKKO, serving modern Japanese cuisine), an artisan bakery (the Pavilion, selling its own locally made bread and baked goods and serving locally roasted coffee) and Australian skincare store Aesop. The street is fast becoming a one-stop shop for everything from your daily bread to that special gift – and not just on Saturdays when the now famous market attracts locals, Londoners and tourists alike, eager to soak up its authentic and eclectic ambience.
Upcoming events
BusktheBox
Stroll along to buskthebox in Shoreditch to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon soaking up the rays and enjoying the local talent. Building on last year’s inaugural success, this outdoor venue is sure to repeat its popularity. For those wanting to join in, auditions are by 15 second audition on Instagram.
#buskthebox, from 6 April, boxpark.co.uk
Street Feast (reopens 1 May, running to 24 September)
Dalston Yard opens its doors again on 1 May to host the popular outdoor eatery Street Feast every Friday and Saturday from 5 to midnight. This vibrant food market will have twenty food stalls and eight bars this year, offering al fresco dining and a party atmosphere. Also look out for a similar venue, Shoreditch Yard, coming soon…
#dalstonyard, from 1 May, streetfeastlondon.com
#shoreditchyard
Run Hackney (Sunday 10 May)
Following a successful debut last year, Run Hackney returns on 10 May. The route starts and finishes on Hackney Marshes, runs through the Olympic Park, and takes in much of Hackney. The course is flat, so suits beginners and keen competitors alike. For details see runhackney.com
runhackney.com
Field Day (6 – 7 June)
Now in its ninth year, this weekend festival in Victoria Park is a showcase for indie and alternative acts. On the bill this year are Caribou, Ride, FKA Twigs, Todd Terje, the Olsens and legendary punk Patti Smith.
The construction work continues apace, and the new suite of site offices has been erected towards the southern end of the site.
The piling is complete and the basement to the Hackney Road building (HA) is almost finished. Works to retain the stone archway to this building have also been successfully undertaken. The basement car park has been fully excavated, and work has started to erect the walls and columns. The two tower cranes which are to be used throughout the build are now in situ; these will be used for loading out materials and removing waste from the site.
Work has now started on the second half of the permanent steel frame to the HA building, and on the roof to the electricity substation. The base and brickwork to the latter are already complete.
Following the successful launch of the duplexes and penthouses in mid-February, there is only one unit remaining for sale at Mettle & Poise. This spacious fourth floor penthouse on the top floor of the historic Hackney Road building has three bedrooms and three bathrooms in addition to a triple aspect living room. The loft style interior offers plenty of character, and this penthouse also has a terrace off the main living space and second bedroom.
With all other apartments now sold, Rydon is embarking on the final release at Mettle & Poise, comprising a selection of penthouse and duplex apartments. These carefully crafted new homes have been woven into the fabric of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Hackney Road E2.
The penthouses, which have superbly appointed interiors, will offer stunning views of the London skyline. The majority of duplex apartments each feature their own private street level entrances on vehicle free Goldsmiths Row, adjacent to Haggerston Park and the Hackney City Farm. With private outdoor space and three bedrooms on the first floor, the duplexes provide similar accommodation to a traditional house, but with all the benefits of modern apartment living.
Rydon, in partnership with Family Mosaic, is developing the new homes, all of which will be compliant with the London Housing Design Guide, developed by the Mayor of London, and Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.
Located on an historic site in the heart of East London, Mettle & Poise is situated between Broadway Market and Columbia Road, within walking distance of Shoreditch. Hoxton Station is a nine minute walk. This is an enviable location, and the development offers outstanding value for the area.
The successful launch of the first phase, held at the nearby Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, saw a large number of local residents purchasing apartments. The launch for the penthouses and duplexes, again aimed at the London market, will be held at the Ace Hotel in nearby Shoreditch on the 12th February.
Tom Rigby, Development Director for Rydon, commented:
“We’re delighted to bring to the market this final phase of penthouses and duplexes, offering purchasers an opportunity to own a truly unique property in this area, with the added feature of private outdoor space or incredible views of London. We expect demand for these thoroughly modern apartments, which capture the charm and character of the site’s rich history, to once again outstrip availability.
The carefully planned redevelopment provides 188 new homes, 116 of which are available for private sale, with a range of one, two & three bedroom apartments, penthouses and duplexes.
Mettle & Poise is being marketed through Currell New Homes and JLL.
Peter Murray, Residential Development Director at JLL comments: “Following strong market performance during 2014, Mettle & Poise has been a runaway success. Launched to the UK market only, many of the apartments have been purchased by those living in the Hackney area demonstrating a real confidence from domestic buyers in the local market and proving that Hackney is a residential destination in its own right. Those that have bought and expressed interest have been attracted by the character of the development along with its excellent location, high quality specification yet affordable price point.”
The design by award-winning architects HTA Design LLP has been developed to complement its location by incorporating the original and historic façade, on Hackney Road, which is being retained and refurbished as a permanent reminder of the site’s long and rich history.
The building was first used as a hospital in 1870, with the creation of the buildings along Goldsmiths Row, and later Hackney Road at the beginning of the 20th century. A series of alterations and extensions continued from the 1930s through to the 1970s.
Mettle & Poise is situated within a conservation area and is adjacent to several Grade II listed properties.
For more information and to view the specifications, visit www.mettleandpoise.com.
Now it’s getting chilly, it’s time to think about getting ready for Christmas. But there’s no need to tangle with the West End. The plethora of designers living in the East End means there are plenty of local events offering opportunities to stock up on presents or just get into the festive mood…..
Christmas Wednesdays at Columbia Road (Wednesdays, from 26 Nov)
Get a head start on your Christmas shopping by heading down to Columbia Road on a Wednesday evening. For the ninth year running over 50 of the shops will be opening every Wednesday from 26th November to 17th December, from 5 to 9pm. As most of the shops usually open only on Sundays, when the busy flower market can make shopping tricky, this is an ideal opportunity to snap up lots of lovely original presents for your nearest and dearest.
You can avoid the crowds of Westfield or the West End and potter along, mulled wine in hand, browsing the cornucopia of original gifts on offer. With art, food, fashion (old and new), jewellery, home wares and many other potential presents for sale in this eclectic range of independent shops, you’re sure to find something for everyone from Uncle Bob to Baby Tom.
Winterville in Victoria Park (from Tuesday 2 December)
A couple of miles to the east of M&P, Victoria Park will be transformed into ‘Winterville’ from 2nd December until 1st January. Promising to be a ‘magical town’, this month long event will include an ice rink, fairground, horse drawn carriages, a food hall and a Christmas market. Entry will be free, but ticket will be on sale in advance for various attractions and a range of events, such as the Roller Disco.
Hackney City Farm Christmas Craft Fair (Sunday 7 December)
There will be craft stalls, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts at the Hackney City Farm Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday 7th December from 12 noon – 4.30pm.
Columbia School Winter Snow Fair (Wednesday 10 December)
Columbia Primary School is holding a Winter Snow Fair on Wednesday 10th December from 3.30 to 5.30pm. Promising lots of stalls and great fun, this is an event for all the family.
East London Design Show
Always an exciting opportunity to get your hands on products direct from designers before they hit the high street, the East London Design show is back at the Truman Brewery this year for its 21st anniversary. Open from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th December (late nights Thursday and Friday till 9pm) this event showcases a wide range of independent product, interior and jewellery designers. Admissions £5, concessions £3, under 16s free.
Construction work will begin in the New Year, as the demolition which began in June this year draws to a close. As expected this has been a long and complicated process; the hospital comprised several derelict buildings, built piecemeal over a hundred years or so, with scant information about their construction. One unexpected item was the Victorian time capsule discovered earlier this month.
The work began in the early summer, following the specialist removal of asbestos. As the Hayward Building and the Goldsmith Row buildings were both so near the cycle and pedestrian routes along Goldsmiths Row, a full height sheeted scaffold was erected to prevent any debris falling outside the site. The demolition of the seven storey concrete Hayward Building was the most dramatic; this is now almost complete.
Meanwhile, in order to preserve the original Hackney Road façade, we have been carefully constructing a steel frame within the original structure, and the gradual removal of the remainder of the building has just begun.
There was an exciting moment earlier this month when we discovered a glass time capsule behind the foundation stone. This contained three newspapers dated May 1902, a catalogue of donors, and a hymn sheet and ribbon from the opening ceremony. These items are currently in the safekeeping of the Hackney City Farm, which is involved in a local history project to celebrate their 30th anniversary next year.
We will be burying a new time capsule within the new development, which may now include the 1902 newspapers. The catalogue, hymn sheet and ribbon will be given to the Royal London Hospital Museum. The site of the new capsule will be marked by a decorative piece of salvage from the original building.
Much care is being taken to salvage materials where possible, and many have been given to the Hackney City Farm for reuse in their garden. Where salvage is not possible, we aim to recycle all materials, including wood, metal, concrete and bricks. We crush these materials on site and they are either stockpiled for reuse or removed for use elsewhere. We will be using 30,000 of the original bricks in the construction of the new building behind the Hackney Road façade.
We are on schedule to begin the construction early next year, and are looking forward to seeing this next reincarnation of the site take shape, providing 188 homes for both private sale and affordable housing.
It was a long hot and busy summer at Mettle & Poise, as the first and second phases of the launch exceeded expectations. With the spacious duplexes and premium penthouses scheduled for launch early next year, at present there are only two apartments remaining available for sale.
Both launch events were held at the nearby Town Hall Hotel; a venue which exemplifies perfectly the marriage of architectural heritage and thoughtful new design as seen in the Mettle & Poise apartments.
Buyers were attracted not only by the range and quality of the properties on offer, but also by the opportunity to make a home within this unique development, combining as it does the best of the old and the new. Purchasers appreciated the historical integrity of retaining the original façade, and the careful creation of complementary new buildings with thoroughly modern interiors.
The location also proved to be a major draw. The appeal of being so close to the bright lights of the City and Shoreditch, yet right next to the green spaces of Hackney City Farm and Haggerston Park proved irresistible. The fact that two of London’s best local shopping streets and markets are on the doorstep was undoubtedly also an important factor.
It has also been an exciting time on site, with the demolition continuing apace, and the erection of the building wrap giving a promise of how the Hackney Road building will look in a couple of years’ time. Considerable efforts have been made to recycle and salvage materials, and recently a Victorian time capsule was found behind the foundation stone. The demolition phase is expected to conclude by the New Year.
So, in the meantime, whilst you’re hunkering down for those cosy nights in and party nights out at Xmas draws near, we’ll be gearing up to launch the limited collection of luxury penthouses and spacious duplexes early next year. We’ll keep you posted.
Ensuring the historic site of Mettle & Poise preserves it roots, we have fully embraced the site’s heritage and importance as a local establishment. From day one we knew we wanted to celebrate the grandeur of the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital building and area. The best place to start was the name – and with Mettle & Poise we have combined both the past and future – Mettle represents the area’s resilience and strength, whilst Poise demonstrates the elegance and sympathetic addition the development will bring to Hackney.
We also want to ensure every buyer is aware of the history when considering their investment – so we have centred our advertising and branding around ‘owning a piece of history’. This will be present from the outset with the property’s striking façade, which will stay largely unchanged, allowing for its original charm and character to remain. The homes within will reflect the aesthetics of its grand exterior, whilst benefitting from all the mod-cons and high specification you would expect from a modern London apartment. Tribute to the hospital also lies in the Mettle & Poise logo, taken from the original Queen Elizabeth Hospital gates, which will be another long standing reminder of its legacy.
These homages to the past guarantee its east London heritage will withstand.
We talked to Dick Mortimer, Group Director of Property Services at Family Mosaic.
Why East London?
East London is such an exciting place to live and work that we were keen to create some further living space for local residents and those wishing to move into a dynamic, evolving area of London.
What is your favourite thing about the area?
It has to be the history – it is prevalent wherever you look. Our site is situated on one of the most historic streets of London, Hackney Road, where the majority of industrial workers in London were based. The area hosts over 1000 listed buildings and conservation areas; from the iconic Hackney Empire to the grade 1 listed Old Tower of the former Church of Saint Augustine.
Describe your perfect day in Hackney?
It would be wandering around Broadway Market – you can get lost for hours in there!
What will the Mettle & Poise development bring to Hackney?
The building itself, after its careful restoration will remain a significant part of the history of Hackney and that is something we are very proud of and committed to. It is also creating an additional opportunity for local residents to stay in the area and will further encourage investment – all of which in turn, benefit the local community and its residents.
After several months of preparation, we are pleased to announce that Mettle and Poise will officially launch on the 18th of September from 12pm at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. The two day sales exhibition will be held in the hotel’s De Montfort suite, a stunning double height space that helps to reinforce the history of the local area.
The Town Hall Hotel is located on Patriot Square, E2 9NF which is within a few minutes’ walk of Bethnal Green tube station and just an 8 minute walk from Mettle & Poise.
The launch will be hosted by sales agents Currell and JLL, along with representatives of developers Rydon and Family Mosaic. We welcome those interested in owning a piece of East London history to the event, and invite you to share a drink and discuss your property requirements with us. Within the exhibition there will be detailed floorplans, a physical model of the development, specification, location details and images of how the completed scheme will look.
There are a range of carefully crafted apartments to suit a host of lifestyles and budgets from suites and mezzanine lofts, through to 3 bedroom duplexes and penthouses.
The sales event coincides with the launch of the Mettle and Poise website which contains further information about the development, as well as the specification, floorplans and availability.
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