LIVE/WORK
WHAT IS IT?
Ahh, the mystique of Live/Work. So many misconceptions, so much uncertainty. We promise - it’s really not that complicated.
Essentially, Live/Work properties do exactly what they say on the tin: in essence, they allow someone to both have their home life and business operate under one roof.
Not many people realise, that, generally speaking, there’s actually nothing wrong with running a business from your home, even if it is a ‘typical’ house, or flat (providing there are no terms in your lease restricting commercial activities that is). You can carry out your work from your living room, garage, garden and even register your company’s office at your home address.
The complications with this arise however, when, in the eyes of the law, you are materially changing the use of the property from what it’s planning status is (i.e. C3 residential to B1 office) through your working actions. This can get you in trouble with local authorities and can lead to quite severe consequences.
Want to know more? Read the history, or find out if it’s for you.
LIVE/WORK - SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES
DeHavilland Studios
One of the first and still one of the best, DeHavilland Studios in Clapton, Hackney, is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest examples of Industrial Art Deco Architecture. Built to a striking design by Sir Owen Williams in 1932, the building gets its name from Williams’ client at the time – The DeHavilland Company, who used the building as a manufacturing plant for aircraft, with parts for the famous Spitfire being built there during the Second World War.
In 1996 the building was converted in to 41 Live/Work apartments, originally sold as shells with an off-street parking space included in the price.
The units have incredible loft features such as double height ceilings, vast crittall windows, exposed concrete pillars and ceilings, with the top floor flats also benefiting from private terraces.
A note from Pete:
“The beauty of this building, we think, is not just the building, it’s the community.”
Haybridge House
Located quite literally over the road from the aforementioned DeHavilland Studios in Clapton, Hackney (so close in fact, that the two developments share a car park), Haybridge House is late Victorian build, which has had many uses over the years. It’s original purpose however, was a wood factory, producing all manner of children’s toys, from motorcars to rocking horses. This is where its associated tag among us loft enthusiasts as ‘a converted toy factory’ comes from.
Also converted in 1996, and similarly to DeHavilland again, the development was sold as shells to 21 lucky owners, again, with an off-street parking space included in the price, as well as a cobbled communal garden with outdoor seating. Units in the building range from 1100 sq/ft to 3400 sq/ft, and have features such as factory crittall windows, exposed brickwork and many have mezzanine levels.
A note from Pete:
“Again, mirroring DeHavilland, it’s the community that we love about this building - not so intrusive so you can’t enjoy your own space, but close enough that the residents in the building form a genuine community.”
Havelock Walk
Even by the standards of London’s unique and diverse loft market, the story of Jeff Lowe, the internationally renowned Sculptor, and his transformation of a rundown street in Forest Hill to a vibrant creative community, is one for the history books.
Lowe had been looking for cheap warehouse space in which he could work on his large abstract sculpture and make a home. Havelock Walk fit the bill, and in 1987 he bought his first unit followed by several more over the next ten years. Each one was converted into Live/Work studios and often sold on to other artists. As shells, their new owners could create the spaces they needed for both their professional work and personal needs.
Fast forward to today, and Havelock Walk is now home to a vast array of artists, sculptors, ceramicists, architects, photographers and craftspeople. They include Royal Academician David Mach, who is now one of the UK’s most successful and respected artists; visual artist and mental health advocate Liz Atkin; resident photographers Wayne Parker and Lenka Rayn produce haunting landscapes (Parker) and portraits (Rayn) from their unit at the end of Havelock Walk; and musician Dizzee Rascal, whose studio can be found on the cobbled street.
In the 30-plus years since Jeff Lowe bought his first unit, Havelock Walk has become more than a street of Live/Work spaces. Havelock Walk is now a thriving community of artists, often collaborating with each other; and a community of families, many with children born and raised there.
Throughout the year, visits to studios are often by request only. But twice a year the studios’ doors are opened, and this creativity explodes onto the street with Havelock Walk’s popular Open Studio Weekends. Colourful bunting leads visitors to original art and crafts for sale, alongside street music, street food and the families of Havelock Walk.
A note from Pete:
“What we love about this street is its charm and character - also, owning a full freehold warehouse is a rarity in London, and this is one of the few propositions that allows you to do this.”
The Jam Factory
The history for this one is told through the development’s title! Sir William Pickles Hartley incorporated his jam-making business in 1884 and established a manufacturing base on Rothsay Street in Bermondsey in 1902. When production at the factory ended, the future of this fragment of London’s architectural and industrial history was threatened. To conserve the factory building, world renowned architects Simpson Haugh (the practice behind London’s One Blackfriars and Manchester’s Beetham Tower) converted it into a mix of uses to serve a new community.
The existing buildings were sensitively adapted to provide 96 apartments, 35 penthouses and 48 Live/Work units, which currently serve everything from accountancy firms to graphic design studios.
A note from Pete:
“Aside from the beauty of its Edwardian architectural makeup, what you can’t not love about this place is its ‘SE1 location’.”
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you’re reading this and thinking, Live/Work is absolutely for me, how do I go about buying one? – look no further.
There are hundreds of Live/Work buildings in pretty much every postcode in central London, and given our extensive experience in the market and personal reputation in the developments themselves, we know the majority of them!
If you’re curious about the technicalities of buying a Live/Work property, such as what are the financing options, insurance elements, which lawyer should I use when I do find one, or even if you just fancy a property related chat, please leave your details below and one of the team will be in touch:
Also, if you own a Live/Work property – the same applies! We are fortunate enough to have an address book of clients who we’ve either spoken to, met, or just have a quality relationship with, who are keen to hear about new Live/Work spaces coming to the market.
Alternatively, drop our co-founder Pete a line at info@lofthunt.co.uk and ask for his direct number.