Harbord Square Archives

October 16, 2025October 16, 2025

Omnifix and Omniss set to open second site in Canary Wharf

Brand’s coming to 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf will care for, repair and create fashion in the neighbourhood

Omniss and Omnifix are set to open their second site at Wood Wharf - image by Omniss — Omniss and Omnifix are set to open their second site at Wood Wharf – image by Omniss

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While Canary Wharf’s malls are replete with stores selling all kinds of fashion, only English Tailoring makes and sells garments in the neighbourhood.

Soon though the veteran tailoring business, which has spent the last 28 years clothing Wharfers from its base on South Colonnade, will be joined by a new arrival to the area.

As part of Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council’s collaborative project to provide affordable space for local businesses, 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf is set to welcome Asya Ter-Hovakimyan’s two brands – Omnifix and Omniss.

The former offers repairs, alterations, tailoring and customisation, while the latter is the creative label she co-founded in 2016 with Francisco Zhou while the pair were studying at the London College Of Fashion.

Omniss became established at Poplar Works in east London in 2020 as a base of operations, while the genesis of Omnifix came shortly after the pandemic arrived when Asya spotted a gap in the market.

Omnifix founder and Omniss co-founder, Asya Ter-Hovakimyan – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

a high-end solution

She said: “In the UK, alterations and repairs to clothes are generally handled through dry cleaning businesses.

“In London you also have high-level seamstresses and tailors who do work making garments for fashion labels, but don’t tend to get involved with that sector.

“When lockdown happened, we had customers getting in touch with us for help with designer garments – repairs and alterations.

“I realised that, through my work with Omniss, I was in between these two groups and had all the resources to handle complex services like sympathetically re-sizing pieces as well as simpler tasks.

“Initially, this side of the business didn’t have its own name, but it grew so busy through word-of-mouth that I had to work out what to do with it.

“I founded Omnifix with the aim of treating fashion in a different way.

“I wanted customers to be able to bring pieces they loved to us to work on to bring new life to them.

“In December 2022 we’d moved to a bigger space in Hackney Wick at The Trampery and, by March, we were fully booked.

“We had to hire staff specifically to work on repairs and processing new orders and, by this time, we were getting business from all round the UK.

“I’d always seen us needing more space and I’m quite local to Canary Wharf.

“I know the type of people who are here and I think we have something to offer them.

“While we have an online presence, I believe it’s important that clothes exist in the physical world – people want to try things on and it’s important to be able to see them face-to-face.

“Customers can bring us garments where they know something is wrong and we’ll fix it – we’ll listen to them.

“It’s a bit like going to the doctor with your symptoms. We’re here to be empathetic.

“It’s about trust and there’s a sense of community around that as well.

“I always envisioned that we would have multiple hubs to drop off clothes and get advice, but they’ll also be a retail element at Wood Wharf, selling quality fashion in that neighbourhood.

“Some clothes for Omniss will also be made there – that’s important too, because people can be disconnected from how their clothes are manufactured.

“If what someone is wearing takes special machinery and many hours of making to create but they’re only paying £10, then there’s a problem with that model.”

Asya hard at work on a collection for Omniss at the brand’s Hackney Wick Studio. Together with Omnifix, the label will be expanding to Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf – image by Mike Chaney

creating Omniss

Asya has been immersed in fashion from a young age, first learning embroidery in her native Armenia at her mother’s instigation before starting to make clothes aged 10.

She said: “She saw I really loved doing it, but she didn’t really do it herself – she had a conviction that everybody should know how to sew on a button.

“As a girl I learnt about the best fashion schools in the world from her magazines and they were all in the UK. I made it my dream to study in one of those places.

“It was quite a journey to put together a portfolio and apply, because I didn’t know about the system here.

“I did lots of drawings back home and then I got an offer from Central Saint Martins to study a foundation year in art and design.”

From that base, she won a place on the Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear course at the London College Of Fashion, where she met Francisco and started Omniss.

Wave Sheer Blouse, £175 and Wave Suit Trouser, £450, both by Omniss - image by Omniss — Wave Sheer Blouse, £175 and Wave Suit Trouser, £450, both by Omniss – image by Omniss

a foundation in technique

“It was a very technical degree,” said Asya.

“At first I was a bit upset because I was a lot more into the product and I wanted to do more artistic stuff.

“But I came to the conclusion that, if you don’t have the practical skills to bring your ideas to life, it might be easy for someone else to tell you they are impractical.

“If you know how to do it, it’s easier for you to get pieces made the way that you imagined.

“After I met Francisco, we started doing catwalk shows in west London venues such as Mayfair members clubs.

“We were just two students who barely knew anything – finding people to model for us in the tall jeans section of Topshop on Oxford Street.

“Some were tourists who were excited to be involved with fashion students – some even ended up buying our clothes.

“That’s when we realised that, if people liked what we were doing, we should make it into a proper brand and Omniss was born.

“We create collections, taking inspiration from what’s being discussed and what’s going on in the world around us.

“In 2019 it was about how AI would take over the job market – we imagined Omniss as a robot factory.

“Then there was a collection about the sea, when climate change was being neglected.

“One thing I’m very passionate about is making something sustainable, while ticking all the other boxes that fashion is supposed to be.

“Fashion should be empowering and make you feel good. You also need to like it aesthetically.

“Fashion needs to be organic and ethically made by people who are paid fairly. These are the basics.

“The trick is still to make it desirable – that sustainability isn’t the main reason why someone buys something.

“We always try to produce things that are really wearable.

“Running businesses is definitely a lot more hard work than I imagined, but we really care about every product and customer.

“When we get a five-star review we do a little happy dance.”

Omnifix and Omniss will join an ever-growing collection of new arrivals to Wood Wharf including The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, Cafe Seek, Ong Lai Kopitaim, The Island, Awe London, Signorelli and Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa.

Several more businesses are set to open soon including Supershakes, The Lockdown Room, Nora and Mama Li.

Omniss' Broken Heart Jackets, £475 - image by Ominiss — Omniss’ Broken Heart Jackets, £475 – image by Ominiss

key details: Omnifix and Omniss

Omnifix and Omniss are set to open on the ground floor of Wood Wharf’s 8 Harbord Square in the coming weeks.

Details of the former’s services can be found here

Details of the latter’s collections can be found here

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August 23, 2025August 21, 2025

Café Seek, a new Japanese bakery is set to open at Wood Wharf

Pinky Chan and Emily Leung are pouring their passion for food into a dream project that will serve up cakes, savouries and beverages to Wharfers as Harbord Square in Canary Wharf buzzes with life

Café Seek founders Emily Leung, left, and Pinky Chan at their Harbord Square bakery - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life — Café Seek founders Emily Leung, left, and Pinky Chan at their Harbord Square bakery – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

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The customers sipping slickly brewed matcha at Café Seek – following its forthcoming opening – might never know the powdered green tea leaves used to brew their drinks have been painstakingly selected following a field trip to Japan.

But this fact serves as a measure of the effort and attention to detail that founders Pinky Chan and Emily Leung are putting into every aspect of realising their dream project.

Set to open in the coming weeks on the south-eastern corner of Wood Wharf’s 8 Harbord Square, the Japanese bakery promises to be a tranquil haven for local workers, residents and visitors alike.

For Emily and Pinky, the café is the culmination of a passionate journey that’s been years in the making.

“I’m from Hong Kong originally and, while over there, I’d set up a platform for selling organically grown produce online,” said Emily.

“We worked with farmers on small farms to build a bridge between them and consumers.

“I came to London because my husband was moving here, so I closed down the company and moved here in 2021.

“I was quite lost for a while after that and I didn’t know what to do, but it was always my dream to open a cafe or a bakery and then I met Pinky.”

Citrus Earl Grey Chocolate Cake - image by Café Seek — Citrus Earl Grey Chocolate Cake – image by Café Seek

the start of the Café Seek dream

The pair connected at a market at Kingston three years ago where Emily was mostly selling sweet bakes and Pinky was showcasing her Japanese-inspired breads.

“I’m also from Hong Kong, but I came over in 2018 for my masters degree,” said Wood Wharf resident Pinky.

“Then I worked in financial services in London.

“I decided I also really wanted to pursue my passion for baking, so I began to make some Japanese breads after work.

“When I met Emily, we decided we should open a bakery together, so I left the world of finance. It’s a high-pressure environment, although the income is good.

“When I was working in the industry, I kept asking myself why I wanted the money – what was it for?”

The pair quickly began working towards their dream, initially establishing a bakery from their home kitchens and selling goods online.

Pinky said: “We both love Japanese culture – Hong Kong isn’t far from Japan and the chef who first taught me to bake is Japanese.

“At first we did more traditional pastries but that was less popular here.”

Next came the French influence, with Emily and Pinky decamping to Paris for a course in traditional Gallic patisserie.

“I love French techniques – how they combine flavours and textures,” said Pinky.

“The course was very intensive – it was back to school, but the main lesson was to practise.

“We learnt all sorts of techniques, but we found the Japanese flavours are better.”

It’s this fusion that forms the blueprint for Café Seek – fine French patisserie with fillings such as purple sweet potato paste and daifuku.

Offerings include Citrus Early Grey Chocolate Cake, Mango Mochi Coconut Cake, Matcha Opera Cake alongside savoury options such as Japanese Chilli Mayo Sausage Roll and Cheesy Corn Beef Bagel.

Café Seek’s Matcha Opera Cake, with layers of matcha joconde sponge, ganache, buttercream, red bean paste and matcha chocolate - image by Café Seek — Café Seek’s Matcha Opera Cake, with layers of matcha joconde sponge, ganache, buttercream, red bean paste and matcha chocolate – image by Café Seek

building on success in Canary Wharf

“We’re called Café Seek because we want everyone to seek their life – to find themselves,” said Emily, who also lives in east London.

“This is really the main message that we want to share with everyone.

“We’re opening in Canary Wharf because it’s the best option for us – it’s where many of our online customers are from or where they know to travel to.

“People would order from us and come here to pick up their cakes – we had some arrive from places that are quite far away such as Brighton.

“We’re so grateful when customers come all that way for products.”

Pinky added: “Canary Wharf was best for us.

“Half of the space will be our kitchen and bakery and the other half will be for the café.

“We’ll have eight seats for customers and some outside too, with our products all laid out.

“We’ll be serving authentic Japanese teas including the matcha.

“We went to Japan and found small companies to bring their products over and give to our customers to try.

“When you actually go to the places where these teas are grown, you learn more and you can also bring back that knowledge for your customers.

“We did some research before deciding to open in this area and we know there’s a large Asian community here – we’re going to be a part of that.”

In addition to serving customers online and in person, the café will also be offering catering services for parties and businesses locally.

Café Seek’s opening is part of Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council’s project to provide affordable spaces for local companies.

Recent openings at Wood Wharf include Reformer Pilates fitness operation The Island Studio, florist The Flower Club, pet groomer Pawsome, nail art salon Awe London, Italian bakery Signorelli and Wayne Hairdresser Salon.

Forthcoming openings include Malaysian restaurant Ong Lai Kopitiam in the very near future as well as Turkish restaurant Nora in the autumn.

Creamed Sweetcorn Soft Bun - image by Café Seek — Creamed Sweetcorn Soft Bun – image by Café Seek

key details: Café Seek

Café Seek is set to open its doors at 8 Harbord Square in the coming weeks.

The Japanese bakery will sell a wide range of breads and cakes, baked fresh on the premises.

Follow @cafe.seek on Instagram for live updates.

Find out more about the opening here

Pistachio Symphony Cake - image by Café Seek — Pistachio Symphony Cake – image by Café Seek

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July 24, 2025July 24, 2025

Ong Lai Kopitiam will bring Malaysian flavours to Canary Wharf

How Robert Ngo and his wife Mel have built on their street food brand, Eat Lah, to open a new restaurant in Wood Wharf’s emerging Harbord Square area

Ayam Goreng Berempah with the blue Nasi Kerabu, which gets its colour from the butterfly pea flower - image by Ong Lai Kopitiam — Ayam Goreng Berempah with the blue Nasi Kerabu, which gets its colour from the butterfly pea flower – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam

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“I want Malaysians, Singaporeans and south-east Asians to feel at home here and for people who have never tried Malaysian food before to have a really great experience,” said Robert Ngo, co-founder and director of Ong Lai Kopitian – set to open its doors at Harbord Square in Wood Wharf soon.

“I knew I didn’t want a simple place with four walls and a kitchen where we would just cook food.

“We’ve spent a long time and a lot of money and effort on the fit-out.

“I believe restaurants are really important, not just places to eat, but places to hang out at – somewhere for the community.”

Ong Lai is joining a rapidly emerging part of Canary Wharf based around independent businesses.

Already Italian bakery Signorelli is drawing Wharfers down to Union Square, with another new restaurant – Nora – coming later this year.

There’s also Wayne Hairdresser Salon, floristry from The Flower Club and beauty services from Awe London as well as recent arrival The Island Studio offering Reformer Pilates classes.

So what does Ong Lai bring to the mix?

Well, firstly, kopitiam means coffee shop, so there will be plenty of robusta-based brews on offer with beans imported from Malaysia.

But there’s also the food and hospitality, something that’s in Robert’s blood.

Robert Ngo of Ong Lai Kopitiam outside his soon-to-open restaurant - image by Jon Massey — Robert Ngo of Ong Lai Kopitiam outside his soon-to-open restaurant – image by Jon Massey

a journey into food

“I’m a first generation Chinese immigrant child – I was born in Hackney and raised in Leyton,” he said.

“When I was five, my dad opened up his first restaurant and, at his peak, he had about four takeaways – I was already in the kitchen from a very young age.

“By the time I was seven I was washing dishes, even though I was only as tall as the sink, so I was always around my parents doing business in the food and beverage environment and my dad was always getting me ready to take over the operation after my studies.

“But being young and naïve, I told him I had other ideas.”

After realising aerospace engineering wasn’t for him, Robert embarked on the lengthy training necessary to qualify as an architect.

But then the Credit Crunch dealt a double blow.

The family business suffered a serious financial hit and Robert took a break from his studies to work as an architect’s assistant.

By the time he returned to education part-time, he realised the recession had damaged the industry to an extent that made finishing his training financially unattractive.

Instead, after a brief flirtation with estate agency, he went back into architecture working his way up in computer aided design to run a team of five people, rounding off the first decade of his career.

“I’d always been creative but that working environment wasn’t,” he said.

“People were coming in, doing the hours and getting paid silly amounts, but the environment was quite toxic. I needed a different outlet.

“I came home everyday hating my life and myself.

“My wife, Mel, got the worst of it – hearing me complaining.

“She said I should quit my job and start my own food business.

“The lowest point of entry was street food so I went all-in and spent about £7,000 getting a van and gazebos – I did everything properly, buying all the right equipment and created a decent brand.

“That’s how it all started.”

The restaurant will offer plenty of vegan options, including Kolo Mee with tofu and okra - image by Ong Lai Kopitiam — The restaurant will offer plenty of vegan options, including Kolo Mee with tofu and okra – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam

Eat Lah and blue rice

Co-founded with his wife, Eat Lah began serving Nasi Kerabu, a dish built around vibrant blue rice flavoured with herbs and spices that originated in Mel’s native Kelantan in Malaysia.

Following a steep learning curve that has included street food markets as well as spells at Boxpark in Croydon and Canteen at Design District, the brand now operates around a professional prep kitchen, allowing it to trade at multiple locations as well as at events.

It’s a regular at Canary Wharf’s Thursday pop-up Lunch Markets, for example.

Positive feedback from customers on the quality of the food, plus a desire to offer something more complex than street food setups can has driven the couple to establish Ong Lai.

Menu experiments in Croydon and, more recently, at a pop-up in Canning Town, proved the viability of the concept and Robert and Mel began searching for a space in 2024.

The restaurant will serve kopi - coffee - specially imported from Malaysia - image by Ong Lai Kopitiam — The restaurant will serve kopi – coffee – specially imported from Malaysia – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam

opening Ong Lai Kopitiam

“We looked all over, but mainly in east London and then we were approached by an agent for Canary Wharf Group who was looking for independent businesses for Wood Wharf,” said Robert.

“We wanted somewhere that we could build the new concept from the ground up.

“Ong Lai means: ‘Prosperous fortune come my way’, but it also translates as ‘pineapple’ in Chinese. At New Year they have big pineapples as decorations, so we’ve used the fruit in our branding.

“The reason we created that name is that Malaysians and Singaporeans know what it means – it’s an inside joke.

“For people who don’t know, it’s a good conversation starter.

“The design is based on a traditional kopitiam with interior design by a Malaysian agency.

“Ong Lai is about being creative,” said Robert.

“Doing festivals, markets and office catering, Eat Lah always revolves around the blue rice, but we’ll be doing much more than that in the restaurant.

“We will be doing an elevated version of it as well as Kolo Mee – noodles flavoured with soy sauce and shallot oil, Hainanese Chicken Chop and Malaysian Fried Chicken Wings.

“We’ll also be serving really good pork.

“The name shows we’re leaning more towards the country’s Chinese food – we didn’t want to be a Malaysian restaurant that tries to do everything.

“But this will be somewhere people can come in for an Egg Tart or Kaya Toast with a coffee.

“The beverage side of Malaysian cuisine is not that celebrated over here, so we really wanted to do that.

“We’ll be serving the Kopi black with sugar or with condensed or evaporated milk as well as Teh Tarik.

“These are wonderful flavours that I drink every day when I’m visiting Malaysia.”

Hainanese Chicken Chop will be available at the restaurant - image by Ong Lai Kopitiam — Hainanese Chicken Chop will be available at the restaurant – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam

key details: Ong Lai Kopitiam

Ong Lai Kopitiam is set to open soon at Harbord Square in Wood Wharf.

The restaurant will seat up to 30 diners and will be open daily.

Find out more about the restaurant here

Kolo Mee with Ayam Goreng - image by Ong Lai Kopitiam — Kolo Mee with Ayam Goreng – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam

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March 23, 2025

The Flower Club prepares launch at Wood Wharf’s Harbord Square

Selling cut flowers, plants and gifts, the Canary Wharf shop will also offer workshops and guidance

Florist and founder of The Flower Club, Julia Knyazevich - image by Jon Massey — Florist and founder of The Flower Club, Julia Knyazevich – image by Jon Massey

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“My grandma told me recently that she wasn’t surprised I was starting this business, because I grew up with flowers all around me,” said Julia Knyazevich.

“As a child I lived with her in a little village in the mountains in Ukraine.

“She had a big garden where she’d plant lots of different flowers and I loved it.”

A major change in Julia’s life came at the age of 16 when, speaking no English, she travelled across the sea to join her mother in the UK.

Adapting to her new environment, she studied fashion buying and worked with major brands such as Dior and Tommy Hilfiger before embarking on a career with luxury lifestyle management company Quintessentially.

Now she’s decided to transform a passion into a business.

“After the pandemic, I spent time travelling, including a long period in Thailand,” said the West India Quay resident.

“I also studied floristry. It’s a discipline that’s always developing, with new trends constantly emerging and I had the idea to start a business.

“While travelling, I’d organised a big birthday party for my husband in Italy – I was looking for a company to help with that, but I couldn’t find one so I decided to do it myself.

“I really enjoyed the process of finding all the decorations and flowers for the long tables and creating the event.

“My husband suggested I should start my own business, so I have.”

The Flower Club is set to open this spring in Canary Wharf - image by The Flower Club — The Flower Club is set to open this spring in Canary Wharf – image by The Flower Club

a clutch of independent businesses

The Flower Club is one of a clutch of independent businesses that are opening at 8 Harbord Square over the coming weeks.

Wayne Hairdresser Salon opened its doors this month, with nail bar Awe London also coming soon.

Julia’s venture will sell fresh cut flowers and decorative items as well as some plants.

Her brand is inspired not only by the flowers in her grandma’s garden, but also by one of her favourite places in London.

“I absolutely love Petersham Nurseries in Richmond,” said Julia, who moved to the Canary Wharf area in May.

“When I visit the nurseries, I never want to leave. It’s not for everyone because some people prefer classic bouquets to the more unusual arrangements and installations they create.

“For The Flower Club – a name inspired by Thai cafe The Coffee Club I used to visit while living there – my preference is to use a technique that involves positioning flowers in a bouquet to reflect the way they grow in the wild.

“The aim is to create something that looks natural rather than artificial and it’s better for the flowers because they last longer.

“When I do arrangements I like mixing flowers with fruit or vegetables. It might sound crazy to some people, but it’s something different.

“I also get a lot of inspiration from the Cotswolds. I love visiting the area every few months and looking in the flower shops.

“My aim for Canary Wharf is to bring something similar here.”

Julia has been inspired by her grandmother's garden and the work of Petersham Nurseries - image by The Flower Club — Julia has been inspired by her grandmother’s garden and the work of Petersham Nurseries – image by The Flower Club

building a dream with The Flower Club

Julia is starting small – working with one other florist and freelancers – but dreaming big.

Ultimately, her idea is to foster a community around her business by hosting workshops under the umbrella of The Flower Club.

“I know this is just opening one little shop, but I have made a business plan,” said Julia.

“I know it’s a big dream, but I’m working hard on the branding. We’re starting slowly, but I want to build that community and eventually teach other florists.

“I have an unusual style of floristry and I’d love to set up a franchise model, not just in the UK but in other countries too.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It’s been a journey getting to this point, but we’re almost there.

“Starting your own business lets you feel a kind of freedom compared with working for a company, but you also have to work on all aspects of the operation.

“It’s stressful because you feel like you want to control everything, but to be successful you need to do that work and be aware of every part of the business.”

One of the key drivers for The Flower Club is a mission to lessen the environmental impact of floristry.

“I try to source flowers direct from growers,” said Julia.

“There’s a wonderful farm in Surrey that I’m planning to work with this spring and summer and there’s another in Cornwall – it’s a long way, but they specialise in wild flowers, which I love.

“It’s better from a sustainability perspective to buy from UK growers because the flowers don’t travel so far and they don’t have to use chemicals to keep them fresh.

“It’s hard to say no to plastic wrapping completely, but The Flower Club is trying to minimise its use. I mainly use craft and tissue papers and biodegradeable products for my bouquets.

“For example, I use string to tie the stems together that’s made from natural materials.

“All of the bags we use in the shop will be paper too and the interior will be mostly decorated with wood and reclaimed furniture.

“It’s a small workspace, but it’s enough and it’s better to start from the ground up rather than take big risks.

“I’ve planned the layout and have made it as comfortable as possible both for workers and our customers.

“Having studied floristry, I know how to use the space professionally and it should be sufficient for our needs.

“I also want to use social media to educate people who want to know more about sourcing and also caring for flowers.

“It’s important to know how to treat the arrangements and all of my orders will have cards on how to properly care for the flowers.”

Prospective customers can find out more online - image by The Flower Club — Prospective customers can find out more online – image by The Flower Club

opening The Flower Club at 8 Harbord Square

While the 8 Harbord Square shop will sell fresh cut flowers and gifts, there will be two further strands to Julia’s business that emerge when she’s up and running.

“I’ll be hosting workshops for people to participate in, especially around events in the calendar,” she said.

“That might be wreath making at Christmas, for example, or creating Easter displays.

“We’ll also have a service for events, which I have a lot of experience doing.

“Clients who want something special for their tables will be able to order flower arrangements, but also tableware and decorations.

“We will be here to explore ideas and designs to make things really special.

“There are lots of options – I’m a big fan of Murano glass, for example – and we can work in private homes, private dining rooms or in restaurants depending on a client’s needs.”

key details: The Flower Club

The Flower Club is set to open soon on the ground floor of 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf.

Visit the business’ website for updates or follow @theflowerclub_ldn on Insta.

Find out more about the shop here

This article is sponsored by Canary Wharf Group

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June 18, 2024June 18, 2024

The Upper Lofts are unveiled at Canary Wharf’s 8 Harbord Square

Open-plan, top-floor apartments go on sale at New York-inspired Wood Wharf residential building

Image shows the view from a terrace at 8 Harbord Square, overlooking The O2 and Greenwich Peninsula — The Upper Lofts sit on the top floor of 8 Harbord Square

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The residential properties contained on the lower levels of 8 Harbord Square are a brave, bold statement.

Presented almost completely open-plan (you do get walled off bathrooms), they recall Docklands’ warehouses with more than a nod, stylistically, to the red-brick structures of New York’s Meatpacking District.

But while the flavour is of industrial buildings cleverly converted for residential use, the 11-storey tower is newly built, meaning it comes with none of the hassle or dodgy bodges that can plague refurbishment projects.

Instead, the exposed concrete ceilings, black metal framed windows and cast iron radiators are all carefully thought-through design statements contained within a thoroughly modern structure.

Image shows a space dressed with a green sofa, marble table and various green and blue soft furnishings — The apartments offer a completely open-plan design with industrial details

Capping the whole thing off, developer Canary Wharf Group has now launched a pair of apartments on the building’s top floor.

The Upper Lofts, both priced at £1,950,000, feature internal living space of 1,400sq ft and feature wrap-around terraces of more than 1,000 sq ft.

Properties feature fully-fitted kitchens with stainless steel units and counter tops as well as Siemens appliances.

Bathrooms come with free standing baths, double basins and black-framed, walk-in showers.

Image shows a stainless steel kitchen in one of The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Sqaure with a marble table and breakfast bar in the foreground — The 8 Harbord Square homes come with fully fitted stainless steel kitchens

a singular offering at 8 Harbord Square

Canary Wharf Group director of residential sales, Melanie Conway, said: “The expression ‘one-of-a-kind’ is sometimes overused, but in this instance, The Upper Lofts represent ‘two-of-a-kind’ apartments not seen before in London.

“Their positioning within 8 Harbord Square and the wider Canary Wharf estate gives them views of iconic surrounding landmarks, which previously you would only have seen from some of our tallest residential buildings.

“With vast wrap-around terraces and totally open plan living spaces, they have been designed to take advantage of these views and the natural light that floods the spaces, giving residents the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.

“8 Harbord Square marks the final building in our residential portfolio on the estate, meaning it’s the last opportunity to own a piece of the Wharf’s rich history and to be a part of the incredible transformation that has taken place here.”

Image shows chairs and coffee tables in The Upper Lofts show apartment — Residents are free to configure and dress their apartment however they like

an emerging neighbourhood

Part of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf development, 8 Harbord Square is the final building in Canary Wharf Group’s scheme to feature homes for private sale.

Further residential projects will fall under its wholly-owned subsidiary Vertus, which boasts an extensive portfolio of homes to live in via all-inclusive rental deals.

Wood Wharf itself is rapidly becoming established as an area to visit with restaurants such as Dishoom, Hawksmoor, MMy Wood Wharf, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta and Roe attracting a steady stream of visitors.

Third Space recently opened a new site locally, adding Hot Yoga, Reformer Pilates and a new 20m swimming pool to its Canary Wharf offering, while creative companies such as Qube, Vow Studio and Broadwick also now call the neighbourhood home.

The Cube, a competitive socialising experience is set to open nearby, while Harbord Square itself now boasts a vet, GP surgery, convenience store and a sports hall and gym complex for residents to investigate.

Image shows a terrace at 8 Harbord Square with views of the Canary Wharf skyline in the background — The Upper Lofts feature wrap-around terraces with views over London

key details – 8 Harbord Square

The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square are both priced at £1,950,000.

Other properties in the 82-apartment building start at £770,000 for an 801sq ft home or £990,000 for 1,037sq ft.

Find out more about The Upper Lofts here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com