1 August 2005
Crown Estate Conservation Award 2005 - Isokon Flats, London

The Isokon (Isometric Unit Construction), a 1934 Grade l listed modernist block of flats designed by Wells Coates, has been restored for Notting Hill Home Ownership to provide 25 shared ownership flats for key workers and 11 for private sale. The flats are 25m2 with listed interiors, and careful negotiation with statutory authorities and manufacturers was required to permit discreet modern services installations. Measures to satisfy aesthetic and planning considerations include the use of novel flush boiler flues and ventilation through exisiting openings. Early residents of the Isokon included Agatha Christie and exiles from the Bauhaus school. The residents’ bar was designed by Marcel Breuer.