1. 1850s
The decade in which the initial Victorian buildings were constructed to receive, sort and store coal. The site later functioned as a warehouse space and even a nightclub. Many original elements have been retained and restored, including rail viaducts, cobbled yards, and the roof canopies of the two buildings.
2. 65
Number of retail stores that will eventually feature, with an emphasis on independent outfits such as Emin & Paul and Lost Property of London. On the food end, Spanish restaurant Barrafina’s fourth and largest space in the city is joined by Mexican joint Casa Pastor and wine bar The Drop.
3. 13,500m2
The size of the site, which joins a plethora of recent builds in the King’s Cross and Granary Square areas. British design firm Heatherwick Studio – who worked on Cape Town’s Zeitz MOCAA, the Bund Finance Centre in Shanghai and Google’s upcoming London headquarters – helmed the project.
4. 67
The number of days their festive light installation will be up for. The giant structural lights have been up since November 1, and will be happening till 6 January 2019. Known as Space Frames, this is the work of Eindhoven-based design studio Mieke Meijer, and the designers had taken inspiration from industrial architecture. The domestic version of the Space Frames will also be on sale.
5. 26
The date in October 2018 when Coal Drops Yard in central King’s Cross was officially opened to the public. The shopping and lifestyle district hosts a wide variety of retail and food and beverage outlets.
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This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine
