For just £535,000 you could own a piece of Modernist architectural history, whose famous past residents include Agatha Christie and a Communist spy
This studio apartment in the Isokon Building is a rare chance to nab a piece of architectural history.
There are only 32 apartments in the iconic building, and the last time a property in the Belsize Park building came on the market was three years ago in 2014.
The block has a Grade I listing, making it one of the most significant pieces of architecture in the country.
Designed by the architect Wells Coates for Hampstead furniture entrepreneur Jack Pritchard, the iconic ocean liner shape was created almost entirely from reinforced concrete.
Completed in 1934, it was initially conceived of as an experiment in minimalist urban living.
Each flat came with a small kitchen, whilst a dumb waiter connected the residential floors to the larger communal kitchen downstairs.
In 1937 the communal kitchen was converted into the Isobar restaurant, frequented by north London intellectuals of the day including artist Henry Moore and sculptor Barbara Hepworth.
Famous past residents include Bauhaus émigré Marcel Breuer (who designed the Isobar), author Agatha Christie and art critic Adrian Strokes.
The Isokon also attracted shadier characters. Dr Arnold Deutsch, the Soviet secret police agent who recruited the Cambridge Five lived in Flat 7 during the 1930s, and in the 1960s the Communist spy Jürgen Kuczynski also lived in the building.
The block of flats fell into disrepair in the 1990s before eventually becoming derelict until 2003, when it was restored to all its Modernist glory by Avanti Architects.
This simple studio apartment comes with a fully fitted kitchen and an open plan living area.
White walls reflect the bright exterior architecture and the use of plywood to divide the space harks back to its founding design principals, when this Modernist material of choice was used in the original flats.
Orignal features have been preserved where possible, and the flat comes with its own balcony overlooking the nature reserve.
With an illustrious history, a place in Britain’s architectural history and an NW3 postcode this property is sure to garner a lot of interest.
At just £535,000 it’s even within the realm of first time buyers and even comes in well under the £600,000 limit of the government’s Help to Buy scheme.
Isokon Flats, Lawn Road, NW3 is on the market with Savills for £535,000
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