Highbury Square

Highbury Square is an apartment complex in Highbury, London. It is a redevelopment of the old Highbury Stadium site, the home stadium of Arsenal F.C. until 2006 when they moved to the newly built Emirates Stadium nearby.[1]

Highbury Square
East Facade of Highbury Square
Former namesArsenal Stadium
Alternative namesHighbury
General information
TypeApartment complex
LocationHighbury
AddressAvenell Road, N5
Town or cityLondon
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°33′28″N 0°6′10″W
Construction started2006
Completed2010 (2010)
OwnerArsenal F.C.
Design and construction
ArchitectClaude Waterlow Ferrier and William Binnie
Renovating team
ArchitectAllies and Morrison
Renovating firmSir Robert McAlpine Ltd.
Website
myhighburysquare.com

History
Main article: Highbury stadium

The former stadium's pitch and key façades from what is evident from the site's history. Its first stands and removal from Woolwich took place in 1913 to designs by Archibald Leitch.[2] Main stands were recast in the 1930s: East and West Stands in Art Deco style, façades of which remain.[3] The venue was the home of Arsenal for 93 years until 2006 (since when see Emirates Stadium).

Redevelopment

The North Bank and Clock End were demolished while the older Grade II listed buildings of the East and West Stands remained as part of the development.[4] The pitch was redeveloped into gardens.[5] Several parts of Arsenal Stadium were retained including the marble halls, the bust of Herbert Chapman and the players' tunnel.[6] It was opened officially in 2009,[7] by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.[8]

Designed by Allies and Morrison, the renovation of the complex has been praised by critics for creating "a feeling of openness and nature" while also providing "protection and privacy".[9] In 2009, Highbury Square's design won the MIPIM Special Jury Award.[10]

Characterisation

Highbury Square has 650 flats, which have a relatively high ground rent and many communal services (a higher-income centred service charge). The square has a public footpath through it and any public approach way, though little open to the sky, means it is arguably considered rather than a green court/courtyard, a garden square - the path was briefly forestalled for better drainage to be made.[11]

In 2009, Arsenal sold 150 to London & Stamford Property at a 20% discount to brochure asking price as dozens of "buyers" (the word is used loosely in this context) failed to exchange contracts (or complete).[12] Arsenal cleared their conversion bill by 2010.[13]

Sustainable Design

The developments design incorporated some of the most up to date thinking to reduce carbon emissions, including the largest solar thermal heating installation of its type in Europe at the time of its construction together with combined heat and power (CHP) plant feeding into a district heating system which serves the whole development.[14]

References
  1. "Highbury Square". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  2. Stuart Free (2010-01-17). "Arsenal Stadium". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  3. "A Conservation Plan for Highbury Stadium, London" (PDF). Islington Council. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  4. Historic England (1997-07-16). "Details from listed building database (1119692)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  5. "Football ground now transformed". BBC News. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  6. "Redevelopment of Highbury Stadium". London: Guardian. 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  7. Media Group, Arsenal (24 September 2009). "Arsenal celebrates Highbury Square opening". www.arsenal.com. The Arsenal Football Club plc. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  8. Alan Smith (2009-09-18). "Alan Smith: Arsenal memories ensure club will always be at home at Highbury". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  9. Rowan Moore (2009-11-04). "Pride of the Gunners: High praise for Highbury Square". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  10. "Highbury Square wins MIPIM Special Jury Award 2009 (FR/UK)". Europe Real Estate. 2009-03-16. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  11. "Highbury Square developers 'stalling' on public footpath access". Camden New Journal. 2010-02-12. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  12. Taylor, Peter (2009-09-28). "Arsenal accepts lowball offer for vacant Highbury Square flats". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  13. "Arsenal property deals send profits to record high". BBC News. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  14. "Highbury Square | Crofton | Building Services Engineering". crofton.consulting. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
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