Sky Gardens, an Overview

While many developments claim to be unique after viewing a few of them you realise that uniqueness isn’t well, unique. But Vauxhall Sky Gardens really does deserve that epithet as it brings a whole new concept of sustainable living in to the centre of London.

Vauxhall Sky Gardens is as it sounds: A garden, in the sky, in Vauxhall. The fact that the gardens will be part of an exclusive development open only to residents in what is fast becoming the coolest property hotspot is almost a given.

But just in case you missed one of the biggest trends of the property market, let us remind you of the sumptuous yet functionally designed apartments. Made up of 1, 2, bedroom layouts, each apartment in the Vauxhall Sky gardens has been overseen by Yoo Interiors, the much feted design company founded by designer bad boy Philippe Starcke and property entrepreneur John Hitchcox.

With nature, light and space being the watchwords for the development from the outset every apartment benefits from a wonderful winter garden while a veritable ‘club tropicana’ of residents gardens awaits its guests on the 8^th and 35^th floors of this homage to modern living with seriously green credentials.

A History of Sky Gardens

Glass and greenery and inside, outside have long been intertwined throughout architectural history and Vauxhall Sky Gardens is a natural extension of the two within a modern interpretation. However local history may provide you with an insight into this context…

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, which existed for over a century, were at once synonymous with decadence, playfulness and nature. Its garden’s attracting folk seeking amorous assignations amongst the secluded walkways and sunken ha-ha.

The gardens also had a number of resplendent follies including a room built by Sir Samuel Morland around 1667. “The inside all of looking-glass, and fountains very pleasant to behold, which is much visited by strangers: it stands in the middle of the garden, covered with Cornish slate, on the point of which he placed a Punchinello, very well carved, which held a dial.”

In more recent history, Vauxhall was the planned site in the 1960’s for the ‘crystal span’, a structure that was intended to become all at once; a three lane bridge over the Thames, a luxury hotel, the new ‘Tate’ and a series of roof gardens. The concept was hugely popular with the public but less so with a tightly budgeting government who hit a proverbial glass ceiling.

It is no surprise then that these whimsical and historical attributes have been woven into the very core of Vauxhall Sky Gardens. From the Rococo style entrance lobby to the three gardens that provide residents with a mix of open green space, secluded areas of shade and a place to relax and view London as if from a verdant, floral cloud.

The key difference is that Vauxhall Sky Gardens is exclusive, open only to those privileged few who invest. And if some people miss out? Such is life, they will at least still be green. Green with envy.

Living & Investing In Sky Gardens

Vauxhall Sky Gardens rises is a 34 storey verdant tower, of luxurious apartments, private residents gardens and it’s crowning glory: the entire roof top is given over to being an almost eco-environment, with the developers claiming that every aspect of plant life, water usage and natural ventilation feeds back in to supplying energy and sustainability to the development.

But, being green does not mean Vauxhall Sky Gardens has compromised on style. In fact the opposite is true as it is the attention to detail and luxury that make it such a pro-environmental development. For example, each apartment is designed so that daylight hits all key living areas during the daylight hours to reduce the need for artificial lighting and of course ensuring all fittings and fixtures are of the highest and most efficient standard.

This means the interiors designed by Yoo Studio, (the company behind such apartments as Lodha Estrella in Mumbai, designed by Kelly Hoppen, Echo Brickell in Miami and The G-Yoo development in Istanbul,)have the highest quality fittings from designer names that the design elite have come to trust and rely on. Duravit sanitary ware, Siemens appliances, engineered timber flooring and energy efficient heating systems all contribute to the finishing touches that take life from the pleasantly simple to the blissfully divine.

One and two bedroom flats average at about 450 and 750sqft and are designed to provide maximum living space and natural light yet maintain an intimacy for one to relax and feel at home. After all, it is the magnificent views of London that are on display not your domestic life.

With the residential apartments starting on the 9^th floor (commercial premises and leisure facilities make up the first 7 with the two storey garden on the 8^th) Vauxhall Sky Gardens offers views of London to all residents, while not all can be of the river or London’s green spaces, the integral winter gardens to all apartments means that every resident can enjoy relaxing, looking out over rooftops whatever the weather.

The 1^st floor podium garden provides a natural and safe play area for children while parents can work out with a personal trainer efficiently recommend and arrange by the dedicated 24hr concierge service. The aim is to make living in Vauxhall Sky Gardens as efficient a staying in your favourite Hotel while also truly making Vauxhall Sky Gardens your home.

Sky Gardens & Beyond

Looking out at the magnificent views from your apartment in Vauxhall Sky Gardens one cannot fail to be struck at how green London actually is as this city famously made up of small villages over the years conglomerating into the buzzing metropolitan mass that it is today still retains their individual identities and offer up something for everyone. And, living in the zone one central location that Vauxhall Sky gardens sits means that everything that London has to offer is literally in ones backyard!

Stepping out from the grand rococo entrance lobby brings you out onto the newest, and to date largest, regeneration area ever in London. But we know you are grown adults and so we feel that, the restaurants, shops and galleries that this new neighbourhood offers is best explored by yourself.

Instead, let us take you down the less salubrious side streets and alleyways that lead you to bits of London that make it the world’s most higgledy-piggledy Capital City.

Wander five minutes the ‘wrong way’ from the new Nine Elms district along the Black Prince Road and you will come to the Zeitgeist pub, somewhat ironically named as it so clearly isn’t the zeitgeist and yet is a hugely popular haunt with white collared locals and media hacks who work locally and is even more popular with London’s Teutonic residents who travel for miles to watch German Football matches and partake in Kochwurst.

A wrong turning in the same direction will take you to a series of inner-city gems. Not least the Vauxhall City Farm providing school children with horse riding lessons and the chance to get a ‘whiff’ of the countryside. Opposite is the original site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, now somewhat lacking in Ha-ha’s and walkways though it is increasingly being utilised by Vauxhall One the organisation responsible for much of SW8’s rejuvenation. Nearby is the Teahouse Theatre, a seemingly ‘quaint’ tea shop yet nightly it provides a backdrop for Vauxhall’s artisans, conversationalists and mass-debaters.

Falling out of the Teahouse after a little too much err, crumpet, and follow the road back onto Kennington Lane and normality (almost) resumes as you wander safely home past the wonderfully monolithic St Peters Church whose organ rivals Westminster Cathedral’s and boasts an enthusiastic and well attended musical following.