Star of St James’s

Abode2 takes a tour of Obbard's new apartment collection at No.1 St James’s, London for Berry Bros. & Rudd

The new collection of luxury rental apartments is located in one of London’s most iconic addresses overlooking St. James’s Palace and adjacent to the historic flagship store of Berry Bros. & Rudd. Individually designed to reflect the distinctive character of the building, each apartment combines curated vintage decor alongside eco-conscious modern furnishings and fittings. This creates a unique proposition that celebrates both the heritage of St. James’s, as well as providing modern amenities and services - including a wine concierge service - for a truly unique central London living experience.

Property investment and development company Obbard recently announced the completion of its two-year renovation project of No.1 St James’s, London. Acting on behalf of landlords Berry Bros. & Rudd, Obespoke, Obbard’s in-house design studio, has overseen the redevelopment of the five-storey site with an interior concept that pairs sensitively considered interior design and responsibly sourced furnishings with modern amenities and technology. The result is a unique collection of luxury city apartments that reflect Berry Bros. & Rudd’s commitment as custodians to this unique corner of St. James’s, while also highlighting Obbard’s intention to distance this historic building from other modern rental developments.

“Understanding the neighbourhood’s specific appeal and the demographic that these apartments will attract, No.1 St James’s has been created to offer bespoke, one-of-a-kind interiors with modern amenities such as air conditioning and concierge services, whilst paying attention to today’s relevant issues of sustainability,” says Hugh Obbard, founder of Obbard. “The end concept is quintessentially English, where St James’s rich heritage works alongside modernity through the merging of individually sourced vintage decor and modern fixtures sourced from environmentally responsible brands which use cutting-edge efficiency to avoid unnecessary waste.”

Being offered for long-term rental, fully furnished units range from 487-1,548 square feet in size, with one, two and three bed options available, each with views of St James’s Palace. A two-bedroom penthouse comes with a private outside roof terrace with far reaching views across St James’s Park. Each apartment will be serviced by its own dedicated porter, as well as having access to a wine concierge service provided by Berry Bros. & Rudd’s flagship store during store hours. Residents are also able to hire Berry Bros. & Rudd’s private dining rooms at No.3 St James’s and have access to their main wine events, held throughout the year.

Obespoke worked in partnership with Anthro Architecture and interiors consultant Kate Watson-Smyth to realise the interior design concept. They have taken inspiration from their detailed research on local grade-listed architecture and interiors, including those of Berry Bros. & Rudd at No.3 St James’s, which has been on site since 1698. Individually designed and curated, each unique apartment incorporates a mix of reclaimed furnishings, textiles, antiques and artworks - including items from Berry Bros. & Rudd’s own archive. These have been layered alongside modern fittings and finishes from studios and brands that have a responsible approach towards their environmental impact.

“We wanted this development to appeal to those that are attracted and inspired by the heritage of this neighbourhood, so we have purposefully avoided creating ultra-modern interior schemes, instead curating spaces that will have a timeless longevity to them due to their consideration of surrounding listed architecture,” says Patti Patrick - Head of Design & Development at Obbard. “No.1 St James’s is a stunning historic property set in an unparalleled location, and we wanted this re-development to celebrate just that, so we’ve spent our time creating individual interiors that will continue to add to the narrative of this unique building.”

No.1 St James’s is now available for viewings.

www.obbard.co.uk