Art Deco and Modernist Flats for Sale Across England and Scotland
From a converted art deco hotel in Glasgow to a brutalist apartment in London’s Barbican, a range of striking period properties are currently on the market. Seventy years after it was built, the art deco Strand Building in Clapton was converted into flats, offering a glimpse into the past with modern living.
Glasgow: The Beresford
The Beresford was built in 1938 as a hotel, accommodating visitors to the Empire Exhibition, and was converted into 112 apartments in 2006. Its art deco roots are evident both inside and out. The building features the Beresford sign in a distinctive 1930s font, with bright red detailing against the cream facade. A fifth-floor flat is available, boasting a sizeable open-plan kitchen-dining-living room, a double bedroom, and a shower room. Residents benefit from a concierge service, and the building is situated on Sauchiehall Street, which has undergone major regeneration. Price: £143,000. Contact Rettie on 0141 471 6700.
Clapton, London: The Strand Building
The art deco Strand Building, close to Hackney Downs Park, was originally built in 1925 for Hackney Electricity Demonstration Halls and Offices. Seventy years later, it was converted into apartments. A second-floor flat features a pastel theme with soft green in the kitchen-dining-sitting room, walnut cabinetry with a green tiled splashback, and double doors opening into the main bedroom (one of two) with parquet flooring and a Juliet balcony. Price: £590,000. Contact The Stow Brothers on 0208 520 3077.
Barbican, London: Willoughby House
Part of the brutalist Grade II-listed Barbican estate, next to the Barbican Arts Centre, is Willoughby House. An apartment spanning the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors has been renovated in honour of this postwar architectural period. The open-plan kitchen, living, and dining room is bathed in light from timber-framed windows. Grey resin flooring flows throughout, with stainless steel kitchen units and a stained-glass window at the top of a barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main bedroom. Two balconies complete the property. Price: £1.55m. Contact The Modern House on 020 3795 5920.
Hove, East Sussex
The King Charles III England Coast Path, set to become a 2,700-mile walking route when completed, was opened by the king at the Seven Sisters in East Sussex in March. A few streets back lies an art deco development with white protruding balconies. On the ground floor is a four-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. The current owners have embraced the era, reflected in the bright green kitchen, mosaic-tiled flooring in the long hallway, and a pink feature wall in the sitting room. It is a short walk to the seafront. Price: £425,000. Contact Winkworth on 01273 772 175.
Radlett, Hertfordshire
In this large commuter village, close to shops and the railway station (with services to London St Pancras in 30 minutes), is a residential estate called Darnhills. The mid-century purpose-built apartment block is set within landscaped communal gardens. A penthouse is on the market with three bedrooms and minimalist decor, including oak-engineered flooring and white walls. The heart of the home is the dual-aspect sitting room-dining room with glazed panels sliding back to access the deep, south-facing balcony. Price: £860,000. Contact The Modern House on 020 3795 5920.
