The Stage, Galliard’s £750m Transformation Of Shoreditch

The Stage, Galliard’s Shakespeare Theatre site in Shoreditch is launched as the new £750m Culture Village for London

Galliard Homes, in joint- venture with Cain Hoy, McCourt, Vanke and The Estate Office Shoreditch are launching The Stage in Shoreditch, the £750 million transformation of the 2.3 acre site of William Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre, where Romeo & Juliet and Henry V were first performed, into a new mixed-use destination for London.

On the doorstep of three major economic hubs – the City of London, the Old Street Tech City Enterprise Zone and Hoxton, The Stage is located off Curtain Road in the heart of hip and trendy Shoreditch. With a master plan by award winning architects Perkins + Will and interiors by Argent Design, The Stage is designed around a new central 1.28-acre public square that will showcase the sunken remains of Shakespeare’s Tudor theatre.

The new central square, one of the largest to be created in the capital, will be bordered by 400,000 sqft of mixed-use space including cafes, restaurants and shops with four striking new buildings – a 37 storey landmark residential tower providing 412 private sale apartments and penthouses; two office buildings providing over 257,000 sqft of “blue chip” commercial space and retail premises at ground level and a leisure/performing arts pavilion – complete with an existing 19th century railway viaduct located on one side of the new square. The viaduct will be restored with the historic brick arches accommodating 9,000 sqft of new shops and bars fronting the square and the top of the viaduct landscaped into a park with a tea/coffee house overlooking the square.

The historic remains of the Elizabethan Curtain Theatre, dating back to 1577, have been discovered some three metres below the surface of the development. It is planned that the remains and objects found during the dig will be carefully excavated, painstakingly preserved and transformed into a cultural centrepiece within the development.

Under current plans there will be a heritage centre where visitors will have a chance to walk on a glass platform just above the theatre remains view objects from the dig and watch augmented, reality of scenes from Shakespeare plays.

Under current plans, the glass ceiling of the centre (which is below ground) will form part of the new public square, enabling visitors to look down onto the remains of the theatre. Steps leading down to the centre form part of a 200 seat sunken amphitheatre where plays can be performed or people can sit and relax.

London’s oldest Shakespearean playhouse, the Curtain Theatre was opened in 1577 and was home to William Shakespeare’s Theatre Company. It is believed to be where Shakespeare’s plays ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Henry V’ were first performed and where Ben Jonson’s ‘Every Man in His Humour’ was performed in 1598 with Shakespeare himself in the cast. Queen Elizabeth I would on occasion visit the theatre and after her death in 1603 the new King, James I, became the theatre’s Royal patron.

In 1622 the theatre closed because of an economic downturn and almost 400 years later in 2011 excavators from the Museum of London Archaeology rediscovered the remains of the theatre buried beneath a disused Victorian goods yard. Now the remains of the theatre will be preserved and form part of the exciting new future that is The Stage.

The 37 storey residential tower at The Stage will provide residents with the best new address in London and an exceptional lifestyle choice and long-term investment opportunity. Rising 413 ft (126m) in height the tower has floor to ceiling glazing, balconies, high-speed elevators, 32nd level Sky bar and lifestyle amenities and business meeting/hosting facilities. Twin angled glazed canyons cut into and rise up the façade enabling natural light to cascade into adjoining apartments and the communal areas within the building.

With a specification and interiors by multi-award winning designer Nicola Fontanella of Argent Design, the tower will provide 412 luxurious studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments and four bedroom duplex penthouses, ranging from 416 sqft to 2,434 sqft in size with the upper levels benefiting from panoramic skyline views.

For the specification and design of the interiors, Argent Design have been inspired by the vibrant unpolished street-scene charm and café culture style of Shoreditch. This hip and trendy industrial aesthetic has been cleverly harmonised with luxurious West End and Manhattan style finishes creating a look which is a striking unique fusion of cool and fashionable meets luxurious and refined.

At ground level visitors enter the residential tower through a striking, immaculately detailed, double height entrance foyer with lounge, lift lobby and 24-hour concierge reception and services. Combining bespoke furniture pieces, contemporary artwork and feature lighting, the foyer is designed to exude an impression of urban unpolished charm

On the floors above, all the apartments have a bright and airy reception room with floor to ceiling windows and natural Oak wide strip flooring, bespoke entertainment and shelving unit and advanced home entertainment system. The living areas open onto private balconies or terraces.

The open plan fully fitted designer kitchen/breakfast areas are chic and stylish with contrasting textured tobacco wood and matt grey kitchen units, brushed steel plinths, quartz stone worktops and Miele integrated appliances.

The bedrooms have deep and cosy wool mix carpets, floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes with featured mirrored centre panel and mood lighting. The design of the luxurious ensuites/bathrooms was inspired by the plush suites of Manhattan’s Hudson Hotel. Features include large walk-in showers with bronze tinted nickel framed shower screens, stained Oak vanity units with bronze effect inlay, large format floor and wall tiles, bespoke mirrored cabinets and heated towel rails.

The studio apartments cleverly maximise space and light by doing away with lots of internal walls and instead having spacious open interiors and the use of bespoke clear and frosted glass feature sliding walls to form the dedicated bedroom space. The larger apartments have spacious kitchen/dining areas and master bedroom suites with ensuite bathrooms and some with walk-in dressing rooms. Other features include extended height lacquer internal doors, tile televisions to bathrooms in larger apartments, comfort cooling and programmable mood lighting to living and bedrooms and video security entry system.

The Stage provides residents with a range of exclusive lifestyle facilities. These include 24-hour concierge services; a business centre with advanced I.T. business suites and boardroom; private 20 seat screening room with tiered seating, panelled walls and feature doors with inlay detailing and a fully equipped, games and recreational lounge.

Over 320 feet above ground, on the 32nd level, is the stunning Sky bar and drinks terrace. The central cocktail bar has a striking grooved timber bar and industrial style feature lighting surrounded by cosy leather armchairs and drinks tables. The bar is bordered by floor to ceiling glazing and see-through glass feature wine displays containing champagnes and fine wines. The cocktail bar opens onto a spacious rooftop terrace which provides panoramic views of the surrounding cityscape.

Situated directly adjacent to the residential tower within the Hewett building will be the new luxurious health club at The Stage. The health club will provide cardio workouts, one-to-one training, toning, spa treatments, kettle bells, juice bars, chilled towels, changing facilities and every other high-end fitness detail. Inspired by the famous Cistern Basilica in Istanbul, the luxurious spa will include spa treatments, steam room and sauna. Residents at The Stage will benefit from complimentary three-year fitness club membership with luxury health club operator arranged by Galliard Homes.

All these facilities will combine to provide residents with outstanding lifestyle opportunities. After morning coffee and breakfast in their apartment residents can go downstairs and enjoy a stroll in the new London square and visit the local cafes and shops. They can then visit the health club and exercise in the gymnasium or relax in the spa. After lunch in one of the local restaurants, they can host a business meeting in the business centre or have drinks in the Sky bar before going to the boutique cinema to watch a movie. In the evening they can have dinner in one of the local restaurants or enjoy supper at home in their apartment.

The main construction works for The Stage are anticipated to commence in April 2016 with final build completion scheduled for Q1 2019.

Stephen Conway, Chief Executive of Galliard Homes said: “The Stage will provide a world class new destination for London. At its heart will be a new central square, one of the largest public open spaces to be created in the capital, bordered by historic and new buildings providing cafes, restaurants, shops, offices and new homes. For apartment purchasers it offers the best new address in London and an exceptional lifestyle choice and long term investment opportunity.”

Jonathan Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer at Cain Hoy Enterprises said: “The Stage is the best and most exciting regeneration project in London. At its heart will be over one acre of new public open space bordered by cafes, restaurants and shops which will create vibrancy and provide a sense of place. The development is adjacent to the new Amazon Headquarters which is set to accommodate up to 5,000 employees, and the location is on the doorstep of three major economic hubs, The City of London, the Old Street Tech City Enterprise Zone and Hoxton. The location and the quality and mixture of uses make The Stage a perfect long term investment for both residential buyers and commercial tenants. We anticipate interest in the new homes, shops, offices and cultural space at The Stage from brands and businesses from around the world.”

David Galman, Sales Director of Galliard Homes said: “The regeneration of this Shakespearean site will elevate the status of Shoreditch to that of the uber-cool Meatpacking district in downtown New York City. There are lots of links with Manhattan, the Brooklyn-based Mast Brothers have opened London’s first bean-to-bar chocolate factory a stone’s throw from The Stage. The Gansevoort Hotel Group, responsible for the celebrated Meatpacking and Park Avenue hotels, are delivering a brand new establishment on Curtain Road, whilst Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is set to open a hotel and restaurant on Willow Street. These new establishments alongside The Stage will turn Shoreditch into the “new Notting Hill”, a highly desirable neighbourhood to live, enjoy leisure and work.”

The 8,000 sqft on-site sales and marketing suite for the new development is located in three of the historic brick arches in the Victorian viaduct. Designed in the style of a VIP private members club, with a palette of industrial chic colours including petrol, charcoal and metallic, the marketing suite will contain a dressed studio and one bedroom apartment, reception and lounge/seating areas.

The marketing suite has been designed as a “must see” venue, with the vault like brick interiors showcasing a collection of pop art by the famous Shoreditch street artist D-Face (Dean Stockton) whose work is popular with celebrities including Christina Aguilera, Beyonce and Jay Z. This is complimented by bespoke furniture pieces and industrial style chandeliers.

The Stage Development in Shoreditch London – Where and How

The Stage is launching on 17th to 20th March 2016, with the sales and marketing suite open daily from 10am to 5pm, located at The Viaduct, Fairchild Place, Shoreditch EC2A 3EN. Prices will start from £695,000. Purchasers wanting to register an interest in apartments at The Stage should contact Tel: +44 (0)20 3770 2154 or visit www.thestageshoreditch.com