The Corniche offers a bold vision for the future with three towers set along central London’s Albert Embankment of the River Thames.
From the curved arc of a window, you catch a glimpse of the mesmerizing city below. London’s skyline stretches out before you, like a tapestry. Your gaze traces the Houses of Parliament, the round pods of the London Eye, the Tate Britain and the financial districts of Canary Wharf and the City, with the River Thames gracefully ribboning through buildings and historic monuments. Below, a slender path winds toward the South Bank, world famous for its vibrant arts and culture. You feel as if you are floating in your penthouse in the sky, and yet you feel one with your surroundings as your apartment’s walls of glass mirror the sea of curves from the river below.
The promise of such an experience is part of the allure of The Corniche, a new landmark mixed-use development envisioned by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners and St. James, a member of the Berkeley Group. Represented by Coldwell Banker Southbank, The Corniche encompasses three striking towers ranging in height from 15 to 27 stories and providing 253 apartments, along with offices, landscaped gardens, riverside restaurants and cafes, and private residents’ facilities, including a Skyline Club Lounge and roof terrace gym, pool and spa. The groundbreaking project has first completions from winter 2017.
“From its central location on the Albert Embankment, The Corniche is perfectly positioned to capture the unique beauty and personality of London,” notes Bernadette Teuma, director of Coldwell Banker Southbank. “It unites everything that has made London one of the most fascinating cosmopolitan cities on the global luxury stage: groundbreaking architecture, art traditions, world-class restaurants and nightlife.”
The elliptical character of the architecture was born out of a conscientious desire to maximize every inch of the towers and orient them around the breathtaking views of the capital city. The apartments were “designed from the inside-out,” according to Foster + Partners, “as the residential units define the proportions and slender volumes of each building, and the generous living spaces extend into the deep bays that give the scheme its distinctive character.”
Celebrated interior design practice Goddard Littlefair sought to seamlessly connect the interiors with the exterior’s free-flowing design by integrating curved forms and uninterrupted floor-to-ceiling glazing throughout. The remaining seven luxury apartments, including two penthouses, range in size from 1,936 square feet (181 square meters) to 5,520 square feet (512 square meters), comprising three en suite bedrooms, as well as an open-plan kitchen and living area.
As Teuma explains: “Traditional window designs, with their flat profile, make it hard to enjoy a whole vista without being close to the glass. By giving the bays a curved shape, the designers created a three-dimensional frame that enhances the ‘cinematic’ quality of the views from within.” Another benefit of The Corniche’s shape and orientation: natural light pours in from every direction, giving each apartment a rare sense of space and depth. The balconies, too, have been oriented in such a way as to frame the panoramic views of the city. Instead of box-like enclosures, the balconies at The Corniche are curved gardens in the sky that allow for wide, CinemaScope perspectives of the river and Parliament with reflective, metallic detailing, designed to catch the sunlight.
Texture, grandeur and space define the interiors, which marry Art Deco heritage with sleek, modern sensibility. A soft, neutral color palette uplifts the mood, while a collection of refined materials creates an abundance of comfort and ease: engineered timber flooring throughout, natural stone walls and floors in baths, Miele kitchen appliances, Dornbacht and Hansgrohe brassware, freestanding baths, a combination of Villeroy & Boch and Kaldewei sanitaryware, and state-of-the-art electronics and lighting technologies for seamless living.
Beyond the interiors, there are a wealth of luxury amenities at The Corniche, including an infinity pool, vitality rooms and the 19th-floor Skyline Club lounge with terrace, plus 24-hour concierge service. Secure basement parking is also provided, as well as access to a range of facilities in the neighboring development, The Dumont, including a cinema, and games room with pool table and 10-pin bowling.
The ultimate cosmopolitan lifestyle awaits at The Corniche. The property is situated on the Albert Embankment, regarded as central London’s last riverside regeneration area and where South Bank’s thriving art and cultural scene unfolds to Battersea. Nearby Albert Embankment Plaza provides a thriving urban oasis of office, retail and restaurants. Convenient transit is a mere seven-minute walk away via the Vauxhall Station, which offers quick north-south travel on the Victoria Line, along with mainline rail services.
Teuma’s final words ring true: “The Corniche presents a bold and confident vision of the future.”
The Corniche
21 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TJ
Three-bedroom apartments start at:
£3.60 million ($4.168 million USD)
Represented by: Coldwell Banker Southbank
Unit 3 Cedar Court, 1 Royal Oak Yard
London SE1 3GA
United Kingdom
T: 020 3600 1906
Bernadette.Teuma@coldwellbanker.co.uk
coldwellbankerluxury.com
Article by Dresden Scott; This article first appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Homes & Estates
