The Family Appeal Of Lateral Living

Much of Britain’s most venerable housing stock is terraced, with storeys connected by landings and stairs. In this time-honoured format, perfected in the Georgian era in London, the vertical townhouse has become an icon of urban aspiration for families – with plenty of nooks and crannies for children to hide in.

But in the super-prime areas of the capital, some families are now actively pursuing single-storey lateral living. It’s partly that the market has many international buyers already attuned to apartments from their time spent in hotspots from Berlin to Barcelona, New York to Hong Kong – but also that the British have themselves fallen for high-end horizontal life.

“The trend for lateral living has really taken hold in recent years,” says Edward Lewis, director of residential development sales at Savills. “Previously it was driven by international buyers who enjoyed apartment living in their home countries, but lately British clients have become more interested. They want the convenience, the access to shared facilities – The Whiteley in Queensway, for example, has almost 6,000 square metres of amenities – and a real sense of space that you typically don’t get in historic houses.”

The new lateral living incorporates hotel-style services into the domestic domain. At Lodha’s Holland Park Gate development, families have a huge array of options. Tom Clabburn, sales director for Lodha, has seen several buyers move here from period townhouses of late. “We have numerous families here who appreciate the services,” he says. “For instance, if a parent has an early meeting, they can rely on someone to take their children to school, with the support of a Mercedes Tourer for school runs.”

On Fridays and Saturdays, parents can take advantage of a school-uniform laundry drop, with sports kits returned on Sunday evening. A music practice room banishes recorder noise from apartments, and additional storage for paddle boards and cricket bats keeps clutter to a minimum. Indeed, so important is the family market that Holland Park Gate has a partnership with an educational consultancy to help with coaching, tutoring and navigating the school system.

“Health and wellness have become significant priorities for many individuals too,” says Clabburn. “Having access to a comprehensive gym with a 25-metre swimming pool and a children’s club with a play area is a substantial incentive. While you may own a spacious townhouse in Kensington, incorporating all these facilities into a basement is not feasible.”

There’s another aspect to lateral living spaces that also suits the modern family – good design. These apartments profit from light and space, getting rid of the circulation areas that tie up so much room in even the grandest townhouses. “Another reason people choose to move here,” says Clabburn, “is the layout, which ensures privacy. It’s also reassuring for parents to know where their children are without needing to navigate three storeys, while the amenities offer additional spaces for studying and children’s parties.” And with Holland Park Gate, there’s plenty of greenery nearby, too.

Similarly, the expanse of Hyde Park is a big pull for The Whiteley development. Here, too, the shared facilities include a playroom for children and a swimming pool. At Chelsea Barracks in SW1, it’s a similar story. The development spans 12.8 acres, with seven new garden squares, a destination restaurant, shops and a gallery in the restored Garrison Chapel. Family amenities include sports courts and swimming pools, as well as dedicated children’s play areas. “The sports hall is a highlight,” says Cleo Margary, associate director of residential development at Savills. “Residents can challenge their family and friends to a game of tennis, pickleball, badminton, football, basketball or netball. And there are great schools in the area, too.”

There are stylish precedents for this plush horizontal housing in London. The grand mansion blocks, prevalent in areas such as Marylebone, have long attracted families, and developments including the Barbican are experiencing a newfound popularity. So it’s no surprise that new-build lateral homes are pulling in a multigenerational crowd. “The super-prime family home isn’t just where you eat and sleep,” says Margary, “but where you exercise, work and where your children study.” Life on the horizontal plane can be a revelation for all.

Pictures from top: The Whiteley; children’s playroom at Chelsea Barracks; the kids’ game room at The Whiteley; the indoor court at Chelsea Barracks; and the kids’ club at Holland Park Gate