The 299-apartment residential building is famed British design studio’s first ever in London

Headquartered in London, Foster + Partners – founded in 1967 by Norman Foster and Spencer de Grey – has been considered one of the leading architecture studios in the world, having designed everything from the tessellated glass roof of the British Museum to the iconic Wembley Stadium and even Hong Kong’s own HSBC building.

Interestingly, they had yet to design a residential tower in their home city – which is why the newly unveiled Principal Tower, where both the exterior and interior had been conceived by the studio – had been one of their most highly anticipated projects in recent years.

And it certainly was worth the wait. The towering 162-metre behemoth comprises 299 luxury apartments and penthouses is one of one of London’s tallest residential buildings. Despite its size, every corner of the interiors are carefully crafted with an understated, plush elegance that sets it apart from the austere central financial business district that surrounds it.

“The tower is specifically planned and designed to create a liveable, yet distinctive addition to London’s beautiful skyline,” says Grant Brooker, director at Foster + Partners. “We’re delighted that the final project so closely mirrors our original vision.”

Some of London’s most spectacular views stream into the residences through the floor-to-ceilng glass facade, offering panoramic vistas of landmarks such as the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and London Bridge. In the lobby, a seven tonne handmade staircase took 31 weeks to complete and was assembled right there on site.

This same attention to detail is seen in the interiors adorned with many hand-crafted elements that were curated locally from Shoreditch designers and artisans. In line with Foster + Partners’ reputation in sustainable architecture and eco-conscious solutions, the interiors are heavily ruled by wooden materials as seen in the light oak shelves and the parquet dark wooden flooring. These complement the contemporary-style monochromatic furniture and overall bright and airy palette of creams, light greys and oatmeal colours lending to an unexpectedly cosy, relaxed living environment in the heart of London.