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One Park Drive – The Jewel in the Crown of Canary Wharf

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We had a chance to explore One Park Drive, where the first residents have started to throw Covid-safe housewarming parties. The real estate world is used to adjectives that big up buildings and developments, but it is an understatement to say that this is the true jewel in the crown of residential developments in Canary Wharf.

The magnificently designed facades and public spaces of the building are matched by an impressive amenity offering and some exquisite interior detailing. Even if you are used to the constant efforts by Canary Wharf Group to raise the bar over 30 years rebuilding the Docklands, this is as close as it gets to perfection.

This is the second building in Wood Wharf, the new district in the estate, where homes are offered for private sale. The other two high-quality residential buildings, 10 George Street and 8 Water Street next door are Build-to-Rent developments now opened and managed by Vertus

The first private sale building was designed by world class architects Stirling Prize-winning Stanton Williams. 10 Park Drive was completed in 2020 and is now almost completely sold out.

The iconic 58-storey One Park Drive is the first UK residential skyscraper with exteriors designed by Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron, and its understated organic shapes set it apart from the elegantly austere orthogonal commercial buildings of the Docklands.

The 205-metre gateway building offers views across the city, South Dock, Canary Wharf and the River Thames.

The building occupies a prime site, surrounded by water on 270 degrees and high quality landscaped space and access from Park Drive and Harbour Quay Gardens.

The lower floors of this elegant building offer an expertly designed collection of spaces that make the building a true liveable slice of the city: G.A Group hospitality specialists have designed a library, lounge, cinema, and ante-room with a bar, bringing a cultural and leisure offering that links the residential building with the external landscaped promenades.

In our era of online shopping and grocery deliveries, the portered building offers smart parcel boxes and a secure area for deliveries.

The design team assembled by Sir George Iacobescu for this stellar building has delivered quality in droves, and the close attention of the developer is obvious in every detail – from the stunning stacked cube cladding to the black marble centrepiece wall at the reception.

The ground floor library doubles up as an ideal informal business meeting space and can be booked for private events.

The ante-room and bar are a fabulous foyer for the sumptuous 18-seat cinema room.

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

The ground floor and piano-nobile of the tower are expertly arranged to make the most of the surrounding landscape and waterfront. These are no tick-box sales brochure facilities cramped on a basement: they are prime location waterfront spaces that make One Park Drive the residential cornerstone of Canary Wharf and a gateway to to its new district Wood Wharf.

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

Half of the first floor is under the spa complex that offers everything you would need for relaxing. The panoramic waterfront views make this space unlike any building amenities we’ve seen in London.

The first floor, unencumbered with access needs, is occupied by male and female dressing rooms, the spa area, a pool complex that includes a 20m pool, sauna and a steam room.

Also on the first floor, there is a magnificent gym kitted to the hilt with top of the range TechnoGym equipment, where we spotted one of the first residents having a session with a private trainer.

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

Above the podium of the bar, cinema, gym, and spa sit the 484 apartments, stacked in four distinct tiers of differently sized units:

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

The nine floors directly above comprise the Loft section with large apartments and generous wraparound terraces, designed by London interior designers Bowler James Brindley.

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

Dressed apartment bedroom with doors opening to the balcony with views over Canary Wharf.

Photo: Lee Mawdsley

Loft apartment’s wraparound balcony.

Above the Loft section sit the 22 floors of the Cluster section, comprising smaller studio, one and two-bedroom apartments, arranged like a sugar cube cluster.

The Bay style apartments occupy the 25 floors above these, commanding some impressive views over the surrounding curved balconies that are stacked at different angles. Both the Cluster and Bay apartment interiors are by designers Goddard Littlefair.

The skyscraper is topped by seven duplex penthouses, with interiors designed by Herzog and de Meuron themselves, and which will be completed in 2021.

Examples of the floor plans. From left: 2-bedroom Bay Apartment, 1-bedroom Cluster Apartment and 2-bedroom Loft Apartment. Click on the image to view larger size.

Harbour Quay Gardens on South Quay next to One Park Drive.

This is a unique waterfront location, with far-reaching views and carefully landscaped public spaces and facilities surrounding the tower. It has a plethora of retail and restaurant options a stone’s throw away.

Your nearest grocery store is Amazon Fresh at 8 Water Street next door and the nearest restaurant a new Hawksmoor opening at 1 Water Street pavilion in December 2021. Canary Wharf Shopping Centre is home to over 300 shops including brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith and The Kooples.

The nearest tube station in Canary Wharf (Jubilee, DLR) is just 5 minutes’ walk from here. Elizabeth Line opening next year will take you to Bond Street in 13 minutes and to Heathrow in just 39 minutes.

It is fair to say that residential buildings have less of an impact in the city than public buildings, such as art galleries. But like with their understatedly revolutionary intervention at Tate Modern in the South Bank, Herzog & de Meuron’s Wood Wharf building will stand the test of time. The elegant One Park Drive, this genuinely iconic London skyscraper, will become Europe’s high rise residential benchmark for decades to come. As residential values go, investing in top-quality architecture and developments is as good as it gets. And it doesn’t get any better than this.

One Park Drive apartments are now over 70% sold. Prices for the remaining 142 apartments start from £850,000 for a one-bedroom, £1.155 million for a two-bedroom and £1.675 million for a three-bedroom apartment. 

For availability and contact details visit One Park Drive sales website.

See also: One Park Drive development profile on Buildington for more photos, history and team credentials.

Please note that all property prices in this article are subject to change. You should always contact the sales representative for the up to date information.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented on this page is up to date and correct, Buildington accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in the information, or if the information is not current.

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