The new London skyscrapers are mini-cities

Exclusive new skyscrapers tower up in the London skyline. The affected areas are those on the banks of the Thames, where major redevelopment is underway. They are buildings equipped with every comfort: saunas and swimming pools, boutiques, restaurants and trendy bars, gyms, cinemas, as well as schools for children, offices, parks and metro and train stops. Here are some of the most amazing projects that have recently been completed or are under development.

One Blackfriars
One Blackfriars is located between the Tate Modern and the National Theatre, a short walk from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. One Blackfriars is a 50-story, 170-metre-high tower created by the Ian Simpson Architects firm in South Bank. The majestic building, which will be completed in 2017, involves architects, interior designers, landscape designers and lighting designers. The apartments include gyms, spas, a cinema room, a wine cellar and an executive lounge on the 32nd floor. Developed by St George PLC, which specializes in luxury residences, One Blackfriars offers housing for prestigious customers, with prices up to 23 million pounds. The interiors are designed by Tara Bernerd and Partners and feature different collections depending on the floor: for example, the classic, elegant Royal Collection characterizes the apartments on floors 43, 44 and 45. The Greenwich Suite on the 45th floor is on sale for 18 million pounds, personalized with elegant furnishings and a breath-taking view.

Nine Elms
Nine Elms in South Bank is an important redevelopment project of an old industrial area. It is an emerging district that includes residences, urban areas, office spaces, the New Covent Garden Market, the city’s most important market for fresh produce, and the new American embassy will be opened here in 2017. 39 commercial and residential sites, 15 billion in investments, 20,000 new homes. Nine Elms, which is 8 minutes from Westminster, will be connected to the Northern line in 2020 thanks to the creation of two purpose-built metro stops. Seven design firms are involved in the project: Rafael Viñoly, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Sir Terry Farrell, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Kieran Timberlake, Foster + Partners and Gehry Partners. Work is already underway: you can see updates on an interactive map on the site nineelmslondon.com

Canaletto
Canaletto was presented in 2013 with an impressive 4D video projection and over half the 190 apartments have been sold within four months of its launch. The new 31-story residential tower, which was completed in 2015, is located in City Road, at the crossroads of lively districts such as Clerkenwell, The City, Islington and Shoreditch. The project was created by UNStudio, the firm headed by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos. The tower is characterized by a decoration that adorns the façade, a continuous aluminum ‘border’ which, in addition to its aesthetic role, serves to divide the apartments into blocks. Customers can enjoy refined interiors overseen by design company Goddard Littlefair: as designer Martin Goddard has stated, the interior is linear but a luxury atmosphere has been recreated thanks to the marble details and polished beams. Canaletto offers terraces for every apartments, a cinema, gym, restaurant, entertainment area and an excellent concierge service. The comfort of a home with the benefits of a five-star hotel.

South Bank Tower
Completed in 2016, South Bank Tower is a tower that stands beside the Thames. It boasts forty-one floors and 193 luxury apartments, of which 90% have already been sold, ranging from 2 million to 450,000 pounds. The skyscraper was developed by CIT, the independent real estate brand that has operated in the most prestigious areas in London since 1995. The project is by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, a firm that is famous for having designed The Pinnacle and The Heron Tower in London. The interior was designed by 1508 London, Goddard Littlefair, Studio Ashby and Rachel Winham. The apartments are different sizes: from studios to solutions with four bedrooms to penthouses. The tower also features large terraces, a lounge on the top floor, a business suite, a room with a private cinema, a 20 metre swimming pool, a sauna, Turkish bath and gym. The penthouses are solutions for the most demanding customers: it includes outdoor fireplaces for warming up evenings with friends.