Luxury Retirement at The Oren, Hampstead

As you pull up to your home in The Oren, Hampstead’s eagerly awaited new development, the concierge offers to help with your shopping, while a valet takes care of your car.

You may pause to have coffee with friends or family on the restaurant terrace before you return to the comfort of your apartment, designed by Alan Stanton of the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning practice Stanton Williams. (His recent projects include the transformation of the Royal Opera House and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design’s striking new King’s Cross home.)

Perhaps afterwards you’ll head to the wellness centre for a workout in the gym, followed by a spa treatment or a dip in the hydrotherapy pool. Alternatively, you could relax and soak up the verdant views from your private terrace across gardens landscaped by the multi-award-winning designer Christopher Bradley-Hole. From the penthouses, the panoramas stretch out above the canopy of surrounding mature trees to take in the whole of London.

The Oren sits among the finest new developments in the capital and, possibly, globally. Its amenities rival those of the world’s best hotels and its round-the-clock team of staff have honed their expertise with careers in high-end hospitality.

What sets The Oren apart is that its 44 residences are purely the preserve of those aged 65 or over. The development is setting the bar high for a new level of retirement living — the sort that will attract people who want capacious storage for their skis and golf clubs, are drawn to the idea of dinner in a theatre-style kitchen that rivals the immersive experiences offered by top-end London restaurants, and enjoy being part of a likeminded community who aren’t the classic retiring type.

“Hampstead is home to very special individuals who have worked hard throughout their lives, with many living in beautiful, established homes. This sense of place is just as important in the next chapter,” says Gavin Stein, CEO of Elysian Residences, the developer of The Oren. The company’s award-winning retirement developments also include Wildernesse House, a sumptuously restored stately home in Kent, and new, modern apartments at The Landsby in Stanmore.

At The Oren, apartments start at £1,895,000 for a two-bedroom residence, rising to over £5 million for a grand, three-bedroom penthouse apartment, all with private outdoor space. The scheme is due for completion in autumn 2024 and there is a show apartment on site to give prospective owners a taste of what they can expect.

“There is no element here of living with less. There is no sacrifice or compromise needed,” says Stein. “Homeowners at The Oren are likely to be moving from large houses on large plots — often in Hampstead — and one wants to continue to enjoy the same lifestyle. Here, the apartments are of a quality of design and specification among the best you’ll find anywhere in the world. One can live in a beautifully appointed home, with the convenience of on-site services that offer the future-proofing support that many look for.”

These services, Stein observes, are discreet, but have a high impact on the lives of owners. They might, for example, include booking a restaurant on an owner’s behalf before they leave for the theatre, or loading the luggage for a last-minute trip — or practical support, from simple home maintenance to arranging a service for an owner’s car. “Our lives are busy,” he says. “We strive to remove the hassle.”

There is an abundance of activities, including language classes, music performances, supper clubs and a range of health classes, including yoga and pilates, should The Oren’s owners choose. “This isn’t about the old-school formality of a classic hotel,” says Stein. “It’s far more friendly and personal.” Those who love gardening can continue to enjoy it — or they can simply enjoy the oasis that Bradley-Hole has crafted, which combines sociable areas with secluded spots and is inspired by Japanese garden design that changes colour with the seasons. The garden terrace properties have proved especially popular for homeowners with pets.

Striking the perfect balance between privacy and sociability is key to the vision behind every element of The Oren, and its unique location, overlooking Hampstead Heath’s Golders Hill Park, provides the sense of a secure sanctuary. Where else can you live in a woodland setting so close to central London? “The design was heavily influenced by the surrounding landscape. The process of fitting the building into the hillside was three-dimensional and the result is something truly special,” says Stanton, who has worked with Bradley-Hole on several projects, including King’s Cross Square.

The building’s design concept also offers the opportunity for seclusion or connectivity, connecting apartments set in four interlinked pavilions, positioned not to be overlooked. Each is subtly different in layout and outlook from any other. “Our primary aim was to build a community,” Stanton explains. “The question of choice was terribly important to this end, because we all have a different lifestyle and way of connecting. We have designed a building that is a tranquil, calm and secure place, offering varying levels of sociability, privacy and support.” Longevity and energy efficiency are also important pillars of the project’s design, including photovoltaic panel arrays on the roof, passive design to maximise daylight and regulate heating and cooling, and green roofs to conserve water. There are cycle storage and EV charging points for owners.

Inside the spacious, light-filled apartments, the high-end design is instantly warm and welcoming — not to mention customisable. Some owners will adapt their apartment to suit their personal design tastes, or work with their own interior designers. Every master bedroom has a large ensuite bathroom, and spare bedrooms might also offer the perfect study. “Those who have shown early interest are on the boards of companies and do charity work,” says Stein. And, of course, every apartment features the premium materials and top-of-the-range fittings you would expect from a leading five-star development.

Meticulous attention to detail has also gone into what lies behind the scenes, from the highest levels of sound insulation and thermal glazing to full-height doorways and fully accessible bathrooms, which sacrifice nothing in style but offer future-proofed comfort and reassurance for owners.

“We believe passionately that, as we grow older, life can and should be fulfilling, engaging and uplifting,” says Stein. “This runs through everything we do at The Oren. Our aim is to give owners access to the very best that life has to offer, whether that be food, experiences or service.” 

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