Principal Tower is the new kid on the block, with the block being London’s iconic skyline, which features some of the most recognizable buildings in the world. But at  175m tall, this newest addition to the city landscape is right at home, and will most certainly appeal to globally minded individuals looking to be at the center of the action. 

Principal Tower is the recently completed apartment tower of Principal Place, a mixed-use development overlooking the heart of London city and the trend-setting Shoreditch area. The building was designed by architecture studio Foster + Partners, and construction was completed only recently, in 2020 to be specific. It comprises residential and commercial components, with its residential credentials recently earning Principal Towers the title of Luxury Lifestyle Awards Best Luxury High Rise Living in London, UK. 

For residents stepping in from the tastefully landscaped piazza is a guaranteed welcoming greeting from the friendly 24/7 concierge stationed in the lobby, which is, as far as lobbies go, particularly grand and opulent. The high-ceiling lobby features a spectacular seven ton staircase that was assembled and finished on site, marking a design and construction achievement of note. 

Working your way up the 50-storey development, you will find 299 apartments ranging in size options of one (41 – 48 sqm), two (70 – 118 sqm) and three bedroom (135 sqm), thus catering to a variety of logistical and investment needs. Every apartment in Principal Tower enjoys a generous sense of space and light, regardless of size, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and open-plan configurations. 

Each floor typically has eight apartments, with, for example, four two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units. On the upper levels are the three-bedroom units and penthouses (127 – 192 sqm). The bedrooms in each unit are enclosed by solid cladding panels for privacy, while the remainder of the unit is fully glazed and protected by shading fins. 

All apartments at Principal Tower have their own curved balcony with bronze exterior detailing, which is made possible by Foster + Partners’ design of the eight corners of the tower into a cross shape. “The focus is on the extraordinary views and setting, while creating a seamless relationship between the inside and the outside,” Grant Brooker, director at Foster + Partners.  

Residents at the exclusive address get to enjoy amenities that include a lap pool, spa, a state- of-the-art gym on the first floor, cinema, and a private lounge/ bar located on the mezzanine overlooking the bustling plaza. There are also subterranean bicycle storage facilities available and opportunities to acquire parking spaces. Apartments currently retail in the range of GBP 875,000 – GBP 5,750,000. 

Principal Tower is in walking distance to five major transport hubs, including the adjacent Liverpool Street train station, making it a convenient base from which to access various sections of the capital.. 

In many ways, Principal Tower signifies the epitome of understated elegance. As a residential offering, it is certainly as prestigious as any luxury high rise. However, it’s assimilation into its neighborhood gives it a particular edge over others. Inspired by the architectural landmarks in its vicinity and the historic views it offers across the capital, this Foster + Partners concept is a svelte new addition that responds to the uniqueness of its location both geographically and culturally. 

Speaking to this, Brooker says “Principal Towers was designed specifically for this location – the character of the buildings and the form is specific to the place it occupies, and it would certainly not be built like this anywhere else in the city”. 

Fosters + Partners has a global footprint, boasting more than 1,200 employees worldwide and at least 75 international projects that have been completed to date, including Beijing International Airport and Apple’s spaceship campus. In the UK, the firm is the name behind London City Hall and the unmistakable Gherkin.   

Principal Towers was designed to reduce energy use; the tower targets the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, with environmental strategies including a combined heat and power plant, roof mounted photovoltaic panels and grey water harvesting.