CONTENTS 04 Introduction 08 The History 20 The Building 38 The Materials 40 The Neighbourhood 55 Floor Plans 61 The Team 66 Contact 1 The scale of a full city block With its full city block setting, Marylebone Square is a rare chance to develop a bold and beautiful building on a piece of prime, storied real estate in a district rich in culture and history. Bound by Aybrook, Moxon, Cramer and St. Vincent Streets, Marylebone Square is reintroducing a long-lost local street pattern to the area. MARYLEBONE SQUARE INTRODUCTION A Rare London Find What is it about Marylebone? Perhaps it’s the elegance of its architecture and the charm of its boutiques and eateries – or the surprising tranquillity of its tree-lined streets, a world away from the bustle of nearby Oxford Street. In the end, it might be the sense of community and leisurely pace of life that sets this neighbourhood apart. As the city buzzes with its busy schedules, Marylebone takes its time – savouring sit-down coffees in local cafés and loungy lunches in the park. It’s easy to forget you’re just a short stroll away from transport hubs, tourist attractions and all the trappings of big city life. As you find yourself “Marylebone Square idling around the shops on chic Chiltern Street, exchanging hellos with the butcher at the Ginger Pig or sunbathing in a quiet corner of Paddington Square is a collection Gardens, you quickly realise that this is a place where people actually live – of 54 high-end not just commute to, pass through, or visit for a few hours a day. apartments, Essential services like schools and surgeries comfortably sit alongside fine dining restaurants and stylish boutiques. It’s a neighbourhood where you carefully chosen can buy a loaf of sourdough bread and a designer handbag on the same trip. boutiques and At the heart of this scene lies Marylebone Square, a collection of 54 restaurants, high-end apartments, carefully chosen boutiques and restaurants, and a versatile community hall. A modern take on a traditional London mansion and a versatile block, this is refined London living at its very best. Offering classic yet community hall.” contemporary design, and an authentic village feel – right in the city centre. 4 MARYLEBONE SQUARE INTRODUCTION 6 7 MARYLEBONE SQUARE THE HISTORY The farmers’ market Finding the perfect match Every Sunday, as many as 40 fresh produce stalls come together to form Plans were denied, and proposals rejected: some didn’t complement the area’s Marylebone Farmers’ Market. architectural landscape, while others didn’t cater to local needs. A particular kind of venture was required to realise its true potential and reinforce the vibrant, village-like character Marylebone is renowned for. With its proposal to preserve the local farmers’ market in a versatile community hall – and offering a unique “Marylebone selection of boutiques, restaurants and residences – Marylebone Square was Square will the perfect fit. reinstate a lost The missing piece street pattern and As Marylebone has evolved, from a once-scruffy village to a rekindled urban inject life back neighbourhood, one thing has remained a constant: its sense of community. into a rare and But for the past five decades, a crucial part of its urban fabric has been left The Story of a bare. The transformation of this site, from an empty urban space to a sensitively unique space.” designed, desirable neighbourhood square, presents a rare opportunity for residents, businesses and the local community. Marylebone Square, in all its understated glory, will not only reimagine the classic London mansion Treasured Site block but it will also reinstate a lost street pattern and inject life back into a sought-after and unique space. 2 For a piece of once noble land in Central London to remain unclaimed is unheard of. Yet, for the past five decades this prime spot at the heart of Marylebone has been left untouched. Surrounded by lively streets loaded with tales of past generations, this preserved patch of land – taking up the space of an entire city block – has its own story to tell. An unusual provenance It all began in 1966 when London County Council took ownership of the land that, at the time, was home to a block of terraced Victorian houses. Before this, it belonged to The Howard de Walden Estate that to this day are still freehold owners of most Marylebone buildings. After a compulsory purchase order to build a primary school for the community was issued, the terraced Victorian houses were knocked down. However, much to the dismay of the neighbourhood and the estate, the school was never built. Frozen in time Caught up in years of debate and deliberation – and passed from one bureaucratic organisation to the other – the land remained empty. A natural gathering place at the heart of the community, it became the home of the local Back to the neighbourhood farmers’ market – and was otherwise used as a commercial car park. In 1991, The Marylebone Square development it was passed on to Westminster City Council on the condition that the land hopes to capture the spirit of the terrace that once stood here and could not be sold before 31 August 2011 without explicit permission from the was demolished in 1966. Secretary of State for Education. 8 9 MARYLEBONE SQUARE THE HISTORY A new nobility Half a mile south-west of Marylebone Square, you’ll find The Grazing Goat pub, whose name forms an unlikely clue to the story of the district. This area was once hundreds of acres of farmland making up the Portman Estate, first acquired by Sir William Portman, Lord Chief Justice to Henry VIII, in 1532. To this day, much of Central London’s most sought after real estate is owned by five aristocratic Regent’s Park families whose claims date back to a time when the land stretching beyond the narrow, twisting streets of Tudor London was meadow and pasture. Today, the story of Marylebone is still being told. In Marylebone Square, there is a new chapter being added to the story of London. This tract of the most treasured turf in the city has until now remained unclaimed. The site lies between the Portman Estate to the west and the Howard de Walden Estate to Great Portland Regent’s Street the east. Marylebone Square captures the grandeur of its surroundings, while Park maintaining the sensitive approach to stewardship characteristic of the area’s famous landlords. Baker Street Marylebone MARYLEBONE FITZROVIA “In Marylebone Square there is a new chapter being added to the story of London.” PORTMAN ESTATE Oxford Circus Bond Street Marble Arch Central London estates Howard de Walden Portman Estate Crown Estate MAYFAIR Hyde Park Hyde Park Estate Grosvenor Estate 10 11 MARYLEBONE SQUARE THE HISTORY Top of the class “Paul McCartney Since the mid-18th century, Marylebone has been home to a diverse range of educational institutions. In the 1750s, the Parish charity school An Enduring Charm and John Lennon was built on the corner where Moxon Street meets Marylebone High Street, wrote ‘Yesterday’ while the St. Marylebone Day School of Instruction and Industry stood a in the attic of 57 few doors down. Today, some of London’s most outstanding schools can At the turn of the 18th century, while the gentry resided in Georgian be found in the neighbourhood, including independent all girl school mansions in Portland Place, the Moxon Street area – ironically known as Wimpole Street.” Queen’s College, private performing arts school Silvia Young Theatre School Paradise Street – was a dark maze of courts, narrow lanes and rickety houses. and the renowned Royal Academy of Music. Yet, even as an underprivileged pocket of town, it had a special appeal. From popular social spots to leading educational institutions, it has always been a place that brings people together, providing residents with everything they need – right on their doorstep. A social hub Over the years, the streets have played host to everything from unexpected retreats to fashionable lodges. Nestled between Paddington Street and Moxon Street was The Grotto, a popular curiosity exhibiting intricate shell-work and a cold bath fed by a natural spring. To the east of the high street was the Rose of Normandy pub, which had been famous since the Stuart era for its bowling greens. In 1738, the landlord set up a pleasure A golden postcode garden, which grew into an eight-acre plot of land later known as Marylebone A hidden pocket of W1, Marylebone is a disarming Gardens. It was a popular place for London’s wealthy to promenade and mix of relaxed and traditional. listen to commissioned works by Handel and Arne. Inspiring creative minds Many famous names have graced these streets. Prime Minister Winston Churchill enjoyed a brandy over the road at the Gunmakers pub. British literary giant Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during his time at Devonshire Terrace just up the road; while Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote ‘Yesterday’ in the attic of 57 Wimpole Street. Marylebone’s musical past is Rich in culture Bowie lends his cool to Marylebone’s still apparent today – each summer, the annual music festival is held at various Manchester Square in 1965. locations around the neighbourhood, luring artistic talent from all over the world. 12 13 MARYLEBONE SQUARE THE HISTORY THE HISTORY Marylebone Through the Years “Iconic images such as the cover of The Beatles’ debut album, Please Please Me, were shot at this famous dwelling.” “Harley Street became home to some of the most well-known medical and “With a cosmetic French surgery influence, the practices in area became the world.” known as St-Mary-la- Bourne.” 1086 1400 1544 1715 1853 1860 1900 1932 1960 1968 2003 2018 WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ALL IN A NAME FIT FOR A KING A GRID FOR GOOD A NATIONAL HEROINE A MEDICAL MARVEL A LOCAL TREASURE A MEDIA HUB A FAMOUS BACKDROP SAVING LIVES BRINGING THE COMMUNITY WORK BEGINS The earliest reference to the A church, named after St.