Embassy Gardens, an Overview

Putting it bluntly Embassy Gardens and the Nine Elms regeneration area is the most exciting and extensive regeneration of a central London area since the development of Canary Wharf in the 1980’s!

With the American Embassy being the key occupant of the area; its sheer scale, boisterous optimism and typically extravagant individuality has brought instant credibility to a forgotten, mile-long wasteland running along the banks of the River Thames. It is therefore no surprise that investors and property purchasers have been stampeding like American Bison to become owners of some of the most sought after property in London.

Embassy Gardens comprises approximately 15 acres and will deliver up to 2,000 new homes ranging from suites and one bedroom flats to three bedroom duplexes and Penthouses. Many boast spectacular views directly overlooking the Thames while others have a view of the newly landscaped, private gardens.

A History of Embassy Gardens

Bugger history. This stretch of the Thames has for too long been a boring, desolate, brown-fill site for one to worry about its past.

One cannot say this too many times or over-emphasise the point. The American Embassy is moving to Nine Elms and there is no getting away from it, it will be the focal point for the area bringing with it jobs both in and around the embassy, new businesses, new bars, cafes and restaurants and perhaps most exciting of all, US Marines. Seriously though, while Embassy Gardens is of course being touted as a new hub for Londoners and Multi-nationals alike, the dominant presence of the American Embassy cannot fail to be a significant influence on the area. With the architects of Embassy Gardens already citing New York and Boston architecture as being inspirations for the Capital & Ambassador buildings, then it would be expected that this part of London will become an American outpost in Central London.

It is rumoured that the Americans are very much to thank for recognising the potential for the re –development of Nine Elms as it was apparently their instance of extending the Northern Line to Battersea that fuelled the grandiose vision of the regeneration. (Cynics have been heard to whisper that they [America] refused to pay anything towards this extension despite also supposedly insisting on a ‘secret access tunnel’ from the underground station to the embassy.) Certainly, no project involving America would be complete without a little harmless conspiracy theory and only adds a covert glamour to the project!

That is not to say however that this area of London will only appeal to friends from across the pond. Rumour also has it that one of the worlds’ other great economic forces, China, is to house their embassy at Nine Elms. This would bring two of the world’s greatest political dichotomies into very exciting proximity and help to cement London’s reputation as a truly global city. Of course, embassies have existed for many years around the world but in this case, there does seem to be an undercurrent of one-upmanship in play, though at the time of writing the rumours have yet to be confirmed.

Living & Investing In Embassy Gardens

‘Swank’ a popular word in America could be used to describe the marketing around the Embassy Gardens project; the luscious brochure, the magazine style website, the general fanfare that has surrounded it’s very inception all exudes a swanky euphoria.

Download the 100+ page brochure for Embassy Gardens and you will be seduced by the photos of stylish and sophisticated bars and restaurants, peopled by stylish and sophisticated customers and served by stylish and sophisticated staff. Enter the grand lobby of Embassy Gardens and you will be greeted by a stylish and sophisticated reception team and the lifts to all floors will take you to your stylish and sophisticated Apartment, with you’ve guessed it… stunning views. And yes I confess I am seduced. And so will you be… We will want it. We want the floor to ceiling windows. We want access to the private resident’s gym and yoga studio. We want to be Patrick Bateman and Anna Wintour’s Lovechild. We want Robert Longo prints adorning our walls and Annie Leibovitz snapping away at our parties. But investors and occupiers also need to know what will the apartments actually be like? Thankfully dig deeper into the EG website or call your local estate agent (such as Garton Jones) and you can find out more.

The external architecture has been inspired by Manhattans Meatpacking District. Think large warehouse spaces, warm masonry exuding a permanence and stability mixed with modern innovations to ensure environmental sustainability.

Inside, 1950’s New York apartments are cited by Global design studio, Woods Bagot. Purchasers can be assured that the interiors of the Embassy Gardens development will be some of the most luxurious yet functional interiors in any London apartment. Walnut parquet flooring and marble tiling provide a retrained timeless classicism while hand-glazed, bevel-faced, feature wall tiles add practical wow factor.

Embassy Gardens & Beyond

With its 24 concierge service, on-site cinema, residents library & lounge, leisure complex, business suite and more, the EG website proudly boasts that Embassy Garden residents need never go out!

Admittedly with restaurateurs such as the Inception Group, (the quirky visionaries behind Maggie’s Bar and Bunga Bunga,) opening as part of the Embassy Gardens complex, one will not have to travel far to discover the trendiest new London Hangouts. However for the less agoraphobic, Embassy Gardens lies within walking distance of many of London’s key destinations. The Nine Elms area itself promises to become one of London’s newest cultural hotspots and already pop-up restaurants and artistic events have been taking place in temporary spaces within the area.

The Kings Road and Sloane Square are both just a short cab ride for those returning to Embassy Gardens laden with shopping bags. Westminster and Battersea are also within walking distance, the Battersea area being a well established ‘village’ within London with its own microcosm of suitably chic shops, bars and restaurants. One suspects however, that residents of the Capital, Ambassador & Legacy buildings are likely to have an international outlook, and Embassy Gardens is very conveniently located to commute to London’s main airports as well as the private heliport in Battersea.