We have just completed the fit-out of five luxury build to rent apartments in Clerkenwell, London. The apartments are located in St. John’s Square, neighbouring The Zetter Townhouse Hotel and at the heart of the creative design district.

The fit-out uses a low carbon approach. Circular Principles were implemented at the earliest stage, such as identifying an opportunity to use natural clay plaster from Cornwall as the feature finish in the main bedrooms.

The majority of materials specified in the fit-out were of recycled content with materials being sourced from within the UK where possible, such as the waste wood chip worktops in the kitchen. From the carpets and underlay made of recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles, which provide a luxurious feel to the bedrooms, to the high recycled content of the tiles in the bathroom, the materials and lifecycle are considered at every opportunity. The LED lighting is via smart building control and can be reprogrammed to suit certain uses and required lighting levels without having to change fittings or use excessive energy.

Health and wellbeing of the future occupants was an equally important driver from the outset, with a constant eye on the internal air quality, from the VOC content of the kitchen cabinetry to the last coat of low VOC paint on the walls. The living room uses low embodied carbon Clayworks to the ceiling and Graphenstone paint to the walls and bulkheads.

These apartments have been designed with high quality detailing throughout which will make for the best experience for the future occupants, whilst the natural and robust materials will weather and age beautifully over time.

Written by Amber Luscombe
Photographs by Samuel Stephens