Arts & Crafts Hampstead flat asks for £475,000

Architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott designed Waterlow Court in 1909 on the edge of leafy Hampstead Heath as a slice of rural idyll on the city’s doorstep. Today the Grade II-listed Arts & Crafts complex is highly sought after among house hunters for its unique and eclectic character.

The development was originally a project of the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, established by Sir Sydney Waterlow in the 1860s and initiated at the behest of Dame Henrietta Barnett, founder of the Hampstead Garden Suburb. Waterlow Court was conceived for an emerging class of single, working women who would benefit from communal living – the original building had a shared kitchen, common area, allotments and a bicycle shed.

The complex is arranged around a courtyard, with the four sides of the building connected by an arched cloister framing picturesque views across the lawn. This one-bedroom flat is listed via Inigo for £475,000 and is on the first floor, accessed via a pretty dog-leg staircase.

Its interior is compact but cleverly arranged to maximise its square footage and character. Leaded casement windows, picture rails and timber beams imbue rooms with a quirky Edwardian character. There are plenty of original features to be discovered, including a feature fireplace with a tiled surround painted with foxgloves, exposed brickwork and handmade terracotta floor tiles.

Modern additions include built-in cabinetry by Roundhouse and a soothing Farrow & Ball colour scheme throughout that picks up the heritage of the space. The bathroom has geometric Moroccan tiles designed by Claesson Kovisto Rune.

The London property is expected to sell very fast, and character comes at a premium.

Another one-bedroom flat is for sale in the corner of the building, priced at £450,000 via Ellis & Co, Golders Green. This one was originally a two-bedroom flat. It still has its beams, doors and fireplaces, but it has been modernised and presented as an all-white canvas.