Nova, an Overview

Nova, Nuovo, Nueue, New. The Nova building in Victoria is exactly that, but it could also have quite easily have been called ‘Stellar Apartments’, the ‘Uber Building’ or ‘Subarashī Place’.

Designed with the fashionable, trendsetting property owners in mind, even the Nova development website looks more like a spread from Wallpaper* magazine than your typical real estate brochure.

The Nova is made up of 170 luxury apartments overlooking Buckingham Palace, with a further two, dedicated buildings of office space and a number of exclusive bars, restaurants and eateries. Nova takes its residence in an area that was once a series of back streets, horrid concrete blocks and a popular, but rather seedy gay bar.

Now the Nova development and the Victoria district as a whole, are testament to London being a world-leading city, enticing the crème de la crème of creative and commercial global enterprise.

A History of Nova

If the Nova building represents a new lease of life to this busy, Central London location, then it is surely a case of History repeating, as this part of London has been an area of smart, cosmopolitan residents since Queen Victoria’s day.

The Victorian Era is often regarded as staid and prudish, yet given that the industrial revolution happened during Victoria’s reign, this was a period of significant innovation giving us much of what is loved about London today.

Victoria, as a district of London, is evidence of that. The main thoroughfare, Victoria Street itself was developed to allow easier access from the landed gentry’s country homes directly into Westminster. The grand mansion blocks that sprung up along the route were originally designed to attract wealthy bachelors including scientists, civil servants and engineers.

And so, while the Nova building may be literally translated as ‘New’ it actually continues England’s, and in particular, London’s ability to reinvent itself and maintain its allure as a diverse metropolis attracting global talent, international innovators and cross-continent creatives.

Many of those creatives may well recall a groundbreaking magazine of the same name. Running for over 10 years, Nova magazine described itself as “The new kind of magazine for a new kind of woman”. This London based, yet world-famous magazine heralded a new way of thinking, empowerment of women and an appreciation of art direction and editorial content.

I suspect it is no accident that the Nova Building is called thus. While Nova the magazine, is not in any way associated with the Nova building, I am confident it was the inspiration behind the development.

Living & Investing In Nova

Nova, SW1 uses quality materials, sophisticated finishes and discreet fixtures and fittings to create a luxurious but neutral backdrop. Its developers know that Nova residents have their own distinct tastes, own art collections and own outlook on life. The Nova building may be new, but it is not Nouveau Riche!

In fact, everything in the Nova is more about what is hidden rather than what’s on show. Under-floor heating, recessed lighting, Ceiling-mounted shower-heads, linear recessed led lighting and brushed-chrome finishes, all indicate that for Nova residents, the bulky detritus of daily grind is kept discreetly in the background, ensuring a sense of order and calm is maintained.

Most property developers make sure that a new building will appeal to the widest possible audience, families, bachelors, young couples etc. The Nova Building will also appeal to a broad spectrum of people but with one thing in common. A seriously hardcore appreciation of what is cool, trendy, hip and fashionable.

Names like Bone Daddy, Daisy Green and Jason Atherton populate Nova’s restaurant quarter. Companies such as Advent and Egon Zehnder will be taking up offices in the Nova, and its team of world-leading architects include; Benson +Forsyth, Flanagan Lawrence and Lynch Architects.

None of these names means anything to you?

Then, to be honest, the Nova Building probably isn’t for you. The Nova’s website cites, Margret Thatcher, Burberry and The Daily Telegraph as inspirational mavericks, clearly setting out its stall to attract the sophisticated, intelligent elite. In fact, it goes as far as to describe itself: ‘A development built by mavericks for mavericks’.

It is up to you to decide if you think the Nova is referring to you or not.

Nova & Beyond

Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station, Houses of Parliament and Burberry’s head office are all just a hipster’s swagger from the Nova Building. Such is its proximity to London’s main attractions and amenities that commuter distances seem almost irrelevant.

That’s because Nova is part of an architectural movement that is seeing an increasing trend toward residential and commercial space being mixed up, giving a new lease of life to areas that previously may have become deserted at weekends. Nova’s own restaurant and retails spaces promise to deliver destination bars and shops, attracting; after-work socialising, first date dinners, family gatherings and Sunday ‘brunchers’. 

London however would not be London without its more esoteric destinations. Often disparate and down less salubrious alleyways London still has lots to explore away from the main drag.

Charity shops may not be the obvious starting point for wealthy, Nova residents, but for style inspirations, the FARA vintage shop, Retromania, on Upper Tachbrook Street is a higgledy-piggledy hive of retro clothing, vintage objects and nostalgic textiles. In contrast, the charity shop at 19 Churton Street, is more generic in style but still worth a visit for the shrine to retail guru, Mary Portas, in the changing rooms!

More upmarket, are the smaller independent galleries that are dotted about the streets of Victoria and Westminster Whether it’s an old master from Simon Dickinson on Jermyn Street, or contemporary furniture and sculpture from David Gill, on King Street, Cultural connoisseurs can discover art to suit every taste in these intimate and friendly galleries.

Of course, even the best of us have to reign in the credit card sometimes.  So, if a bit of artistic window-shopping is in order, then the Nova building boasts being within walking distance of the Tate Britain and National Gallery, a cab ride to the V&A and a short boat journey up the Thames to the Tate Modern.

Victoria still hosts a number of local, independent cafes, and all around the SW1 area down-to-earth pubs, intimate hotel bars and fashionable boutiques. Nevertheless, sometimes local is just a bit too local. Therefore, nearby transport links include; trains all over the UK, while the Gatwick Express, and trains to Heathrow allow you to be anywhere in the world, anytime you want.

But still, no matter how far you travel, it will be the calm interiors of the Nova Building that you will soon be calling home.