Around twenty years ago, at the start of my career, I was working at The Sunday Telegraph. We were housed in The Tower, One Canada square in Canary Wharf. The view from the 11th floor stretched out over a vast empty industrial area and the construction of The Dome (that’s the O2 to you young-uns!) it was pretty much a wasteland.

I met my husband whilst working there, we used to meet in the canteen for coffee (very romantic I know!) and watch in wonder as the Dome was being constructed. The icing on the cake was when the huge cover was stretched across the amazing structure to complete it. We used to speculate what the area would be like in the future, it looked like a Island of opportunity.

Soon after, we bought our Victorian terrace in South Woodford, London. The views from our loft extension extend down to the very much changed landscape that now surrounds this area. We have watched it change over the years with delight and wonder.

Fast forward twenty years, and the O2 is now just one of the amazing buildings at Greenwich Peninsula, an exciting new destination emerging in this riverfront location. 150 acres of former industrial land are being transformed into a dynamic new London district.

The Peninsula’s first settlers are moving into modern urban neighbourhood which stretches across an area twice the size of Soho. A future with 15,000 new homes, 13,000 new jobs and 7 diverse new neighbourhoods. With a leading-edge digital media university Ravensbourne, a new Design District opening in 2020, and a 5km garden walkway, this promises to be the capital’s most boldly modern landscape, all wrapped by the Thames.

There will also be affordable homes, with a quarter of all properties being in this category. Art Galleries, hotels, bars, restaurants are already popping up, just some of the perks of this new buzzing area. There will of course be some stunning new living spaces on offer, all set next to London’s exciting new Design District and North Greenwich tube.

Upper Riverside, one of seven neighbourhoods within Greenwich Peninsula, is a collection of modern riverside homes. No.3 Upper Riverside is one of the family of five striking buildings by SOM architects, the practice behind New York’s new World Trade Centre. The stepped glass prisms are angled towards the water’s edge, with far-reaching river and city views.

Each of the five riverside structures will have a different design feel and are being conceived by different interior designers. Building No.3, with it’s unusually shaped 126 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, lofts and penthouses are being created by the internationally renowned interior designer Sophie Ashby. The new chapter is being introduced with a specially created show apartment to showcase the bespoke interiors. I was lucky enough to visit* there on Thursday, where I met Sophie, some of her team and got an insight into the vision for the project.

Studio Ashby have been inspired by the unique riverside surroundings. A colour palette of dusty blues and rich muted greens alongside the use of brass and stone reflect the elemental river throughout the seasons. Oak doors feature intricate panelling, warm oak flooring with visible grains and knots adds warmth and a homely feel while a mix of black and brass ironmongery, prominent in the bathroom, has used for a sophisticated urban aesthetic.

Being a true sucker for soft furnishings and the like, I headed straight for an amazing embroidered cushion, but hey, this was a show flat right? So these were just props to decorate… I was wrong, this is a show apartment with a difference. Studio Ashby has worked in partnership with five Independent British artisans, to create The Peninsula Collection.

The collection features an eclectic range of handcrafted pieces, each inspired by the unique riverside setting of Greenwich Peninsula. Natural materials, raw earthy tones, wildlife and botanicals feature heavily throughout the pieces. The Galvin Bothers have crafted a bespoke 12-seater waney edge dining table with a raw, bark edge made out of solid oak, accompanied by a unique Modular Bench.

Emily Rose Potter has produced a selection of intricately detailed embroidered cushions in turquoise, gold and burgundy velvet with illustrations based on wildlife from the Thames. There’s also a collection of 12 unique mugs, featuring organic, layered glazes in four different colourways designed to complement the modular dining chairs by Pottery West

These lights shades are part of the collaboration too, three different shaped lighting pendants have been created by Naomi Paul. Each delicately handwoven in a new paper yarn material. There’s also Art work Norwegian photographer, Thea Lovstad, who has created a series of stunning landscape and details prints from the surroundings of Greenwich Peninsula.

Considered eclecticism lies at the heart of Sophie Ashby’s design approach. Mixing clean lines with one-off retro pieces and antiques. Whilst precision and detail are paramount, the heart of each new home is comfort and beauty. Sophie has ensured that each home offers an opportunity for the owners to stamp their own personality on the space.

The perks of living within Upper Riverside also include membership to an exclusive club. Which boasts, cinemas, roof terraces, cosy lounges, an honesty library, communal work spaces and dedicated wellness floor designed by Tom Dixon’s design research studio.

I was truly in awe of this new development, a fresh new area and design district is ticking all the boxes for me. I’ll be back for a visit and update of the progression soon. It was amazing to see what has and will become of the wasteland we used to gaze out on twenty years ago. I feel so honoured to live in such a wonderful, diverse city, I really do.

Amy x

For more information please visit upperriverside.co.uk unit prices start from 525k.
Also visit greenwichpeninsula.co.uk 
The pieces within the Peninsula Collection are available to view at the Upper Riverside show apartment at the Greenwich Peninsula Hub and are available to buy online.

Photographed, written and compiled by Amy Davies Pereira of Little House In London. 

*Although this post is sponsored, all views and opinions are my own. I only work with bands I truly love and rate.

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