A Charming Conversion

As we navigate daily quarantine life, old habits are replaced by technological advances from Zoom video chats with family and online gyms to virtual pubs and even church services going online. For potential buyers still looking for a new home, virtual tours have been on the rise, with Zoopla recording online viewings up by 215% in the first two weeks of lockdown.

One developer that will soon be offering this is Cullen & Davis, who is mixing the traditions of a century old former Edwardian church in Woodside Park, with new when it launches its latest scheme Bower & Barnabas virtually.

Gothic-styled St Barnabas Church, originally built in 1912, has been transformed into 21 stunning apartments, some with ceilings as high as 18ft tall, stained glass windows and original stone arches. Potential buyers will be able to log on to see inside the church for the very first time in May and tour the transformation that has seen a complete redesign of its 7,000 sq. ft. interior, while keeping its original framework, by architect J.S Alder, intact.

Cullen & Davis will offer one, two and three bedroom homes with mezzanine levels and a variety of layouts including open plan living, dining and kitchen areas, spacious bedrooms and bright, marble-effect bathrooms.

Work to the building includes protecting 18 large travertine stone floor-to-ceiling columns while adding 30 windows in the original style and an extra 19,000 sq. ft. of internal living space for modern life. The virtual tours will be made using Reevo360 technology and include one to ones with a sales advisor.

John Collins, Director at Cullen & Davis, who has been involved with the building’s transformation from the outset, said: “If there is one thing we can take from this lockdown it’s that a home has never been more important. Buyers who were looking for property before the lockdown in the UK are still interested in moving home and planning their future so we have made the decision to keep going with the original launch date while being respectful and mindful of social distancing requirements, and keeping all involved parties safe. As such, we are offering virtual tours with real-life videos of the show apartment so buyers can see the transformation of St Barnabas, while staying at home.

“Living in a quirky building such as a former church, is appealing and we believe we have divided the space inside creatively to offer a selection of apartments with some expansive spaces and the feeling of grandeur inside. Well executed church conversions like this don’t come around every day and every apartment in the building is completely unique, so once they have gone, they’ve gone.”

The red-brick building in the traditional Gothic style may look ‘old’ on the outside, however interiors are a mixture of high quality, modern finishes with elegant touches of the building’s past, from high ceilings, delicate architraves and stone beams to engineered oak flooring, recessed LED lighting and fully integrated, bespoke kitchens and appliances.

The garden suburb of Woodside Park lives up to its name with plenty of woodland, grasslands, allotments and nature reserves on the doorstep. For those who like the great outdoors there is plenty of opportunity. Hampstead Heath and Alexandra Park are also close by as well as South Herts Golf Course, an equestrian centre, cricket ground and tennis club.

For those who like a more bustling scene, Finchley High Road is a 10-minute walk away offering shops, cafes, restaurants and independent businesses. Families looking to be close to excellent schools will not be disappointed with a selection of great primary and secondary schools nearby.

The homes, close to the peaceful surroundings of Woodside Park are designed to provide professionals and downsizers with a quirky home, all within commuting distance of central London. The development is situated just a 2-minute walk from Woodside Park Station with trains on the Northern Line direct into London Euston in 20 minutes or London Waterloo in 32 minutes, making Bower & Barnabas great for commuters.

Prices start from £485,000 to £1,000,000+ and the government’s Help to Buy scheme will be available on selected plots. For more information, please visit www.bowerandbarnabas.co.uk/ or call 0203 143 8200.