_Industrial cool: Live in one of London's former warehouses and factories
Throughout the ages, London's industrial prowess birthed fortunes founded on ambition and enterprise. During the height of the Industrial Revolution swathes of land and factories were committed to the churn of progress and modernity.
Thick smoke blanketed London - from the Gasworks in Chelsea and King's Cross to the Docklands' and South Bank's storage warehouses and granaries to the East End's textile factories and breweries.
But with every heyday there comes the stark reminder that time and tide waits for no man.
In the 20th Century's dotage traditional industry and associated trade dwindled - outsourced to cheaper locations across the UK; industrial land and buildings stood abandoned and decaying, melancholic memorials to once prosperous industries.
However, since the 80's, London's defunct manufacturing buildings - its granaries, power stations, factories and warehouses - have been revived and re-imagined into unique London living spaces that celebrate their original incarnations with the added benefits of 21st Century mod-cons, luxury craftmanship and industrial era accoutrements.
Fancy living in one of London's former industrial buildings or an ersatz warehouse style new development? Take a tour of some of London's unique homes in former industrial buildings currently on the market with Knight Frank.
King's Cross Gasholders
North London
All but a few of London's Gasholders are obsolete. Built in 1860's the King's Cross 'Siamese Triplet' gasholders once stored gas for surrounding areas only to fall onto hard times over a century later.
Decommissioned in the 90's, the dramatic Grade II listed trio of Gasholders were rebooted by award-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre and interior designer Jonathan Tuckey in a remarkable feat of contemporary design and cutting-edge engineering.
The 145 luxury studios, apartments and penthouses follow the cylindrical shape of the original wrought-iron frames creating a completely unique industrial-to-ultra-luxe residential development overlooking the Regent's Canal and the bijou Gasholders park.
Large investment has turned the once down at the heel King's Cross into a hip destination area, which is now home to internet giant Google and some of London's best bars and restaurants.
Interested?
Long & Waterson
East London
Originally constructed in 1958 as workshops for furniture-markers and carpenters the Long & Waterson site has also served artists, photographers, fashion designers and textile makers over the years.
Two refurbished workshop buildings have been incorporated into a fashionable New York loft-style residential scheme of 119 ultra cool lofts, apartments and penthouses with the newly-built Waterson building providing further accommodation for Shoreditch's image-conscious.
The building's original steel framed floor-to-ceiling crittall windows have been revived in a nod to the development's industrial heritage with natural light flooding each apartment.
Featuring top tier resident-only amenities and interiors designed by New York based ODA Architecture, home owners can also enjoy an on-site library, wet and dry saunas, state-of-the-art gym, private cinema and an NYC-inspired high line garden.
Shoreditch, once home to a thriving textile industry, now houses some of the capital's most talked about bars, restaurants, clubs, boutique hotels and galleries.
Interested?
Chelsea Waterfront & Lots Road Power Station
South West London
What was once the Lots Road Power Station sited in SW10 - a coal, oil and gas-fired power station on the Lots Road in Chelsea - will be the sleek centrepiece of a new riverside neighbourhood and prestige development - Chelsea Waterfront.
Built in 1905 to power the London Underground and decommissioned since 2002, the listed industrial relic has been saved from the wrecking ball, skillfully rebooted to house 260 apartments under a wider masterplan devised by architect Sir Terry Farrell.
A big draw is the station's original industrial features - the gargantuan Edwardian arched windows, huge floorspace, iconic twin chimneys and cavernous interiors which are being crafted into unique luxury apartments with stunning river views.
The conversion of the Lots Power Station is part of the wider redevelopment of a once inaccessible 11.3 acre hectare site which will be home to a covered 'high street' with restaurants, cafés, shops, water gardens, three pedestrian bridges, riverside promenade, health club and two public squares.
Released in development phases, in total, there will be 10 new buildings creating just shy of 1000 new homes. Completion is due in 2019.
Interested?
Deptford Foundry
South East London
Deptford Foundry's sits on the site of a Victorian-era metal works - once producing a variety of metal goods from propellors to man hole covers - with apartment buildings' names - Alloy, Casting and Molten referencing the site's industrial roots.
The impressive new industry-to-housing development in characterful Deptford, designed by Rolfe Judd Architect and developed by Anthology, is one of the South East London district's stand out residential developments.
A big draw is each apartment's high ceilings with the site's industrial past providing inspiration for unique cast iron fixtures and fittings.
With focus on creating a new neighbourhood that harnesses and reflects the energy of this creative pocket of London , Deptford Foundry will feature 276 properties in eight buildings. Each one, two and three bedroom apartments features a private decked balcony or terrace plus communal landscaped areas and courtyards.
Deptford is a thriving cultural and artistic hub in South East London less than a 10-minute walk from both New Cross station and Deptford High Street with direct connections to London Bridge (6 minutes), Cannon Street (13 minutes) and Greenwich (12 minutes).
Interested?
From the same developers, Anthology, comes Hoxton Press in Hoxton, East London, just a short walk to The City and Zone 1 Old Street.
Two striking hexagonal residential towers designed by world-renowned architect David Chipperfield and Karakusevic Carson Architects sit on the former site of The Mullord Brothers' Printing Press, which created intricate Victorian-era lace paper and playing cards between 1860 and 1920.
Each luxury one, two and three-bedroom property gives a nod to the site’s industrial heritage; from the double-glazed aluminum windows to the engineered oak flooring throughout.
Penthouses are also available and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, wrap-around brick balconies and a roof terrace all overlooking the iconic London skyline and beyond.
The development forms a significant part of the wider regeneration of the Colville Estate, between Shoreditch Park and the Regents Canal.
The area is in high demand and is recognised for its 19-hectare Shoreditch Park and variety of popular restaurants bars and galleries with Hoxton and Shoreditch continuing to be the pinnacle of cool in the city.
The Regents Canal is used by locals to commute and socialise but also to access other cultural hubs such as Broadway and Columbia Road markets along with Victoria Park.
Interested?
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Two bedroom apartment for sale in Wapping E1W
Offering high ceilings with original beams and vaulted ceilings this light-filled riverside apartment is set in a landmark warehouse - The Listed Building - within a private cobble stoned courtyard located on the Thames Path.
Interested?
Knight Frank markets some of London's most unique homes - from properties in former industrial sites to glittering new penthouses, Victorian-era mews houses and historic government and military buildings. Find what you're looking for and contact one of our London offices.