Roksanda fashion house designed this artsy, feminine London penthouse in King’s Cross’ upmarket The Gasholders luxury development – take a look inside
A one-off apartment designed by Roksanda Ilincic and decorated with works by mostly female artists including Caroline Denervaud, Alana Wilson, Christine Roland, Claire Norcross and Suzanne Wallgren – in the regenerated area around King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations that includes heritage buildings, A-grade offices – and Harry Potter’s mythical Platform 9 ¾
A generation ago, London’s King’s Cross was a semi-derelict post-industrial district, known for rampant drug trafficking and prostitution by the 1980s. But the land around King’s Cross station itself, and neighbouring St Pancras station, was too valuable for a city strapped for space to build new offices and homes, and a multibillion pound, 67-acre regeneration began in the 2000s.
Anchored today by the St Pancras International railway station (where the Eurostar terminates), the renewed King’s Cross area is dotted with repurposed heritage buildings and new public squares, home to businesses such as Google, The Guardian and Central Saint Martin’s college, and is also the location of Platform 9 3/4 – a must-see for any Harry Potter fan.
King’s Cross is also the location of The Gasholders, a trio of Grade II listed buildings – 19th century gasometer guide frames – that are among London’s most innovative apartment towers. The singular architecture by WilkinsonEyre and interior architecture by Jonathan Tuckey Design has been complemented in one of its three-bedroom penthouse duplexes by interiors by fashion house Roksanda.
One look at The Gasholders reveals its irregular shape and layout, a fundamentally appealing challenge for any designer, but as a former and current resident, “Kings Cross holds a very special place in my heart”, says Roksanda founder Roksanda Ilincic. “I’ve been approached by developers in the past, but this location really prompted me to do it. Gasholders London is an iconic landmark … The cast iron gasholder conversion is revolutionary.”
In her work on the penthouse, Ilincic aimed to create what she describes as conversations between rooms rather than simply spatial flow, rooted in her own fashion aesthetic. A scan of the latest Roksanda lines reveals the bold geometries, colours and sculptural elements are indeed well represented in the flat.
Perhaps most prominent is Ilincic’s defining female perspective. “The notion of shelter, protection and modern femininity is deeply rooted within my design ethos and how I approach fashion and clothing. For this project, I set out to create something that has a direct connection to this and translates this notion. I wanted the penthouse to feel like a sanctuary, a place which provides solace, comfort and that also inspires you. It was important for me that the apartment is immediately welcoming as you enter it, with balance between timelessness and modernity.”