With panoramic London views, richly crafted interiors, and the South Bank’s cultural landmarks at its doorstep, the new Albion Nord penthouse at SEVEN offers a private world at the heart of the city
The perfect city home has always been something of a contradiction. We want to be at the centre of things, but not consumed by them; to have culture, community, and energy at our doorstep, yet enough privacy to retreat into a world entirely our own. Montaigne called it the arrière-boutique: a private realm held apart from the demands of the world outside.
Any true-blue Singaporean knows that such a quality can feel ever so elusive. On a space-starved island, is it any wonder that the two worlds often feel mutually exclusive?
If you’re a discerning buyer looking beyond Singapore for an exquisite home that brings together exceptional design, cultural vitality, and intimate opulence, there is no more compelling proposition than the newly released Albion Nord penthouse crowning SEVEN, the final residential building at London’s £1 billion Southbank Place development.
Positioned on the South Bank beside the Thames, SEVEN sits within one of London’s most culturally charged quarters, with the Royal Festival Hall and Southbank Centre along the riverside promenade and the National Theatre and The Old Vic only a short walk away.
More importantly, the penthouse represents the latest—and most elevated—addition to Southbank Place, the culmination of a decade-long, £1 billion regeneration that has reshaped the prominent 5.25-acre riverside site into an exquisite residential and cultural quarter. Developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Qatari Diar and Canary Wharf Group, Southbank Place has been meticulously put together to deliver a complete neighbourhood of exceptional homes and architecture.
A Private World
With interiors by award-winning London studio Albion Nord, the penthouse has been conceived as a private sanctuary, where generous open-plan spaces, neutral palettes and fine textural details bring a natural sense of sophistication to life above the capital. And really, what could be better than taking in panoramic views of the River Thames, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben through full-height windows?
Accentuating these views are interiors that favour warmth and tactility over ostentation. In the four-bedroom penthouse, recently released to market for £20 million, exposed travertine and concrete are punctuated by darker timbers and warm-toned polished plaster, delivering a space that feels both rich and refined. Elsewhere, mohair and sheep shearling add a touch of warmth while softening the home’s striking geometric surfaces.
More impressively, this attention to detail goes beyond aesthetics, with the penthouse drawing inspiration from the cultural history of the very ground on which it stands. Southbank Place occupies the site of the 1951 Festival of Britain, a landmark celebration of British design and craftsmanship whose spirit Albion Nord has woven into the interiors through locally made furniture and artisanal pieces.
From a hand-blown Carricks glass pendant that presides over the living area and a woven rug inspired by the flow of the Thames, to a handcrafted Stride & Co desk and bespoke Albion Nord dining table, the furniture within the penthouse oozes an elevated allure while giving the home an unmistakable character.
The studio, of course, has gone the full nine yards, sourcing antiques and specially commissioned artworks by the likes of Anne Griffiths, Philip Maltman and Danielle Creenaune to lend the rooms a sense of history and personality. Even the bedrooms have been individually considered, with bespoke wall-to-wall headboards, commissioned art and soft furnishings giving each its own distinct palette and mood.
Intimate Connection
A home of this calibre must be as pleasurable to inhabit as it is to behold. Spread across the 12th and 13th floors of the building, the four-bedroom duplex has been arranged to move seamlessly between grand entertaining and moments of seclusion. A sculptural spiral staircase connects the two levels, while a glazed mezzanine draws natural light into the central gallery below. Downstairs, the principal living and dining spaces flow into an open-plan kitchen finished with marble worktops; a private study and guest suite, meanwhile, offer quieter corners when the mood calls for retreat.
Then again, with London laid out beyond almost every window, staying indoors hardly feels like withdrawing from it. The wraparound terrace opens onto an extraordinary panorama and offers the perfect space to soak in the morning light or enjoy a quiet hour at the desk with the London skyline for company.
Should you decide to steal a moment away, however, you’ll find Southbank Place’s 17,000 sq ft private health club just below. Designed by Goddard Littlefair and operated by Educated Body, the sprawling wellness retreat encompasses a 25m swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms, an expansive gymnasium, and specialist workout spaces, alongside relaxation pods, treatment rooms, and a hair and beauty studio.
And when the mood calls for something livelier, the South Bank’s theatres and cultural institutions are all within easy walking distance, while Waterloo Station—served by National Rail as well as the Jubilee, Northern and Bakerloo lines—is directly accessible on site, placing the rest of the capital comfortably within reach.
With the rest of Southbank Place already fully sold, the Albion Nord penthouse represents a rare, near-final opportunity to buy into this coveted address. It is a compelling proposition in any great metropolis, and an especially seductive one for those of us accustomed to the relentless density of Singapore: the freedom to dip in and out of city life entirely on one’s own terms. At SEVEN, London can be as close as you desire—and, when you wish it, simply a magnificent view beyond the window.
SEVEN, Southbank Place
London SE1 7GZ
London, UK
+44 (0) 20 7001 3600
[email protected]
