At the time of its construction, the pioneering Churchill Gardens Estate was the largest urban design to be constructed to the plans of a single firm of architects. The carefully considered apartment blocks were built in the 1950s and 1960s, to a design by Powell and Moya. This two-bedroom apartment is on the fourth floor of Sheraton House and has been recently internally restored to bring a light, contemporary touch that retains the building’s modernist spirit. The apartment has a private, west-facing balcony, and there are extensive gardens, designed by the architects themselves, surrounding the estate’s buildings. The Churchill Gardens Estate is positioned on the north side of the River Thames, facing the newly reinvigorated Battersea Power Station and conveniently placed for Pimlico’s fantastic amenities.

The Estate

The design for this estate was the result of an international competition, the first of many such schemes to procure the best quality housing for the country’s post-war needs. The winners, Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, were recent Architectural Association graduates aged just 24 and 25 respectively. Their ambitious scheme proposed generously sized flats and carefully laid-out grounds and services that would set new standards of housing; all in all, 32 blocks of flats, maisonettes and terraced houses were to sit alongside a community centre, day and nursery schools and shops.

This apartment is within one of the taller blocks, designed with the Bauhaus principle of Zeilenbau (‘line construction’) in mind, with buildings arranged on a north-south axis and perpendicular to the river to maximise the sunlight that each home receives. Also of note is the estate’s early district heating scheme, which used excess heat from the power station opposite. Parts of the estate – which were celebrated as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain – and its gardens are now Grade II-listed.

The Tour

Sheraton House sits at the centre of the estate, a perfectly symmetrical marriage of brick and glass rising from concrete pilotis. It was part of the second phase of the estate, built in 1954-55, and epitomises the forward-thinking design of its time; smart modernist details can be seen throughout the communal parts of the building. A lift rises to the fourth floor, where this apartment sits in the corner of the building.

Inside, the apartment retains its original layout. The central corridor, with a lovely curved wall, leads to the kitchen and living space on the left. These have recently been opened to each other and are flooded with light via the west-facing balcony adjacent. The kitchen has solid oak worktops and concealed appliances within its cabinetry, which contains the space in a U-shape.

The living room is a wonderfully bright space, with wooden floors and neat, inbuilt cabinetry. A concerted effort has been made to retain original details where possible – such as lovely brass door furniture and cast iron radiators – or to complement these with carefully chosen alternatives where needed.

There are two bedrooms of equal size on the eastern side of the plan, perfectly placed for the morning light; one is currently used as an office. The WC and shower room remain separate, nestled in the corner of the plan.

Outside Space

This apartment has a wonderful west-facing balcony with views over the estate gardens. Here, the Grade II-listed landscaping is well maintained, and the open green spaces surrounding the estate’s blocks are loved by residents during the summer. These were conceived by the architects as outside rooms, or public squares, without strictly defined borders. Hard landscaping uses a mix of traditional and modern materials – yellow stock brick, concrete, granite setts and painted steel – introducing varied scale and texture to the public realm.

The Area

Churchill Gardens estate is positioned on the north bank of the River Thames, allowing easy access to the Thames Path.

Nearby Pimlico has several great local restaurants, cafés and shops including the Michelin-awarded A.Wong, local favourite Little Bread Peddlar, the no-frills Regency Café, Gail’s, and Grumbles. The Pimlico Road design district is home to The Orange, while the draws of Chelsea and Belgravia are also close by.

Just 10 minutes on foot across Chelsea Bridge is the newly opened Grade II*-listed Battersea Power Station, home to an excellent array of high-end shops, restaurants, and a cinema.

Opposite Battersea Power Station are the exquisite green spaces that make up the 200-acre Battersea Park. Laid out between 1854 and 1870 and Grade II*-listed, the park has an extensive frontage and a riverside promenade to the Thames. It is made up of a wonderful assemblage of gardens, sprawling lawns, a boating lake, a children’s zoo, the Pump House Gallery, and sports facilities. The Pear Tree Café is set beside the lake and offers vibrant evenings of live music, with food by ex-Petersham Nurseries alumni Annabel Partridge and Will Burrett.

Although much of London is within walking or cycling distance, there are outstanding transport links within close proximity. For the Underground, Pimlico (a 13-minute walk away) offers Victoria Line services, Battersea Power Station’s station runs the Northern Line, and Sloane Square has Piccadilly, District and Circle Line services. Victoria Station is 23 minutes away on foot (Victoria Line, Circle and District Lines) and runs mainline rail services towards Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

Lease Length: approx. 88 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £3,100 per annum (of which £1,100 covers heating, while the rest includes, communal cleaning and gardening plus management maintenance)
Ground rent: approx. £10 per annum
Council Tax Band: C

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.