Ten Trinity Square, one of the City’s most desirable addresses

One of Britain’s most iconic buildings – a multi-million renovation is about to make Ten Trinity Square one of the City’s most desirable addresses into the bargain. By Stevie King

Designed by celebrated architect Sir Edwin Cooper in the early Twenties, Ten Trinity Square has had more than its share of history in the making moments. Standing tall at the south-eastern edge of London’s Square Mile with front line views across the River Thames and Tower Bridge, the building’s classical facade hints at trade links going back to Roman times; the Beaux-Arts architecture and interiors reflecting the confidence of London when it was the world’s largest port and one of the great international centres of trade and finance. Perhaps its finest hour was in 1946, when the property’s Grand Ballroom played host to the inaugural meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Fast forward to 2016, and the neoclassical masterpiece is perhaps undergoing its most ambitious transformation to date. Six months of intense negotiation to secure conditional planning permission followed by five years of painstaking restoration work, and the results are nothing short of palatial; the property sympathetically transformed by Beijing-based developer Reignwood Group into a Four Seasons hotel with 41 fully-serviced residences and a private members club and spa.

Much of the original fabric has been retained; the opulent high ceilings designed by Sir Edwin, the intricate mouldings and carved panelling - even the fairy-tale staircase has been restored to its former glory. “We wanted to reflect the building’s stately pedigree and of course the unique Thames-side location, but with a collaborative blend of traditional and contemporary, mixing classical Englishness and Chinese culture,” reveals Martin Kemp, of Martin Kemp Design; the agency selected to furbish the show apartment and mastermind the top-floor penthouse. “Keeping the spirit of the property alive was paramount. Part of that design journey meant taking the time to understand why things were done the way they were within the original design and articulate that. Our choice of natural materials successfully complements rather than vies for attention with the original wall panelling, ornate plasterwork, timber and stone.”

The result is an array of clean-lined aesthetics throughout the spacious residences. Beautiful oak herringbone flooring and intricately selected marble has been used throughout, while the high-spec bespoke kitchens are characterised by their Englishness. In contrast, the bathrooms are of an Asian-fusion influence; while classically British black lacquered entrance doors and private, marble-washed foyers complete the picture.

If the luxury apartments aren’t enough to whet your aspirational appetite, the Bruno Moinard-designed private member’s club certainly will, featuring a grand ballroom and the world’s first private Château Latour wine room outside of France. Guests can also luxuriate in the grand spa, designed by Joseph Caspari. Housed within the building’s soaring Corinthian columns, its design has been inspired by historical Roman and Turkish baths. “I want guests to feel enchanted, as though they’ve entered a timeless temple,” Caspari comments. “The spa should be a playground for adults, capturing their imagination and creating a portal into the past. Once guests enter, they are not only changing space, but also changing time – a complete contradiction to the movement of the City.”

But how much would you pay for a slice of history? A one-bedroom flat will set you back £5 million, even more for a five-bedroom penthouse at the top of the building’s great tower. International and some lucky British buyers will be lining up to snap up these aspirational dream homes, ensuring that the Grade II-listed building’s future is secure.

Adds Joseph Caspari: “Your heart really skips a beat the first time you see the building. The public spaces all contain their own strong sense of voyage and history, and, essentially it’s this alchemy that has been transcribed into the present day life of the building. It’s a great symphony, an opera that’s been brought to life.”

For more information, visit tentrinitysquare.co.uk.