#bill forrest

[explore7summits]

Chapter 1. The West Ridge Direct from Nine Lives - Expeditions to Everest (print and audio book)

Listen to Chapter one: Nine Lives – Expeditions to Everest     The Direct West Ridge on Everest was first attempted by a French team in 1974, when 6 died in an avalanche. Its first ascent was by a strong Yugoslavian climbing team in 1979. Only a handful of people have ever summited the route, all part of large, talented and primarily Eastern European teams in an era when doing big hard new…

Chapter 1. The West Ridge Direct from Nine Lives - Expeditions to Everest (print and audio book)

[modernistestates]

For sale 1 Bedroom flat Russell Nurseries Estate Belsize Park London NW3 £515,000

I don’t know why anybody would choose put their home up for sale right in the middle of the summer. Everyone is away, and by the time they get back the property listing would have fallen so far down the list, you’d assume there must be something wrong with the property. I was glad the person who sold my flat to me did though. It was hanging around Zoopla like a bad smell, and so far off the radar, it seemed I was the only person who spotted it. I was able to negotiate a decent price, as by that point, he was desperate to sell it — and here I am two years later. So there you go, two tips in one for homebuyers and sellers, you’re welcome. 

This particular flat has been on the market since June. The flat is Russell Nurseries, Camden's Architecture Department’s very last estate and completed in 1990 and designed by Bill Forrest and Oscar Palacio. The price seems a bit ambitious perhaps (it’s £50k more than the Lubetkin flat in Bevin Court I listed a few weeks ago), but I guess you are paying for the area? And what a great area it is — it’s nestled between Belsize Park tube station and Belsize Wood Nature Reserve.

View the listing here.

[modernistestates]

For sale 1 Bedroom flat Elsfield  Highgate Road London NW5 £395,000

If I was still looking for a flat, I would probably go for this one. It was designed by Bill Forrest under Sydney Cook for Camden in 1972, so you can expect some familiar ‘Camden Style’ traits — including the full height glazing in the living room, leading onto a terrace. It’s described by Pevsner as 'trim and cheerful (unlike so much borough housing of this time) not too large. Smooth rendered walls and nautical-looking railings in the Modern Movement revival’ 

If the photos are anything to go by it looks in fairly good condition internally, including some original features. The downside is that it is kinda on a busy road, but hey it’s also very close to Pizza East Kentish Town which wins it for me.

View the listing here.