The Collective today officially opens its largest and most ambitious project to date; a 705-room co-living development in Canary Wharf spanning 21 storeys. The Collective Canary Wharf, the company’s latest project and the world’s largest co-living building, introduces a flexible new model which invites members to stay from a single night up to 12 months, inclusive of the full range of amenities and experience regardless of the length of stay.
Built from the ground up, The Collective Canary Wharf reflects the next step in the company’s global vision for the future of co-living, expanding the lifestyle experience with a dedicated high-rise restaurant – ‘Mthr’ – and adjacent swimming pool and spa, situated on the 20th floor offering panoramic skyline views across London.
The building features a new standard of design-led communal spaces and living experiences which facilitate moments of connection between members. A fully-equipped MasterChef-style communal kitchen and dining area allows members to cook and eat together, while the library, co-working spaces and private conference rooms offer quieter areas to work, meet or brainstorm from. A choice of technology-optimised spaces in the basement act as the building’s social hub, with a bar, surround-sound cinema, private viewing room, virtual reality golf simulator and gaming room, all which will be bookable through The Collective’s mobile app.
Members will also have the opportunity to meet and mingle with their neighbours through the wide-ranging curated events programme hosted daily throughout the building, prioritising wellness, creativity, personal growth and sustainability. An antidote to the proximity of busy city life, the diverse series of events will bring together local Londoners and members for activities including chef-run supper clubs, coding classes, artistic workshops, breathing and mental health sessions, and live music performances from the best of London’s emerging talent.
This latest building – and now the world’s largest co-living space – introduces flexible contracts to the model, allowing members to stay from one night up to 12 months, with access to the full range of amenities and cultural activities that The Collective is known for. Offering a range of bedroom sizes, starting from £80 per night or £330 per week, every room incorporates its own kitchenette and en-suite bathroom, with rent entirely inclusive of Wi-Fi, professional cleaning and linen change. Members can move into The Collective Canary Wharf or The Collective Old Oak within 24 hours of booking.
The building is also home to Mthr, a 150-cover restaurant and lounge concept on the top floor, which will be open the public as well as members from early November, serving breakfast, cocktails and dinner seven days a week. The menu, developed by Head Chef Arnaud Delannay, centres around a sharing concept to bring people together around the table, from the snacks and small plates through to the larger ‘Family Style’ main dishes and even sharing desserts. Highlights from the globally-influenced menu range from smaller dishes like Sea Bass Ceviche and Cauliflower Pakora with Green Chutney to larger plates including Peterhead Cod, Chorizo and White Beans Stew, Baked Whole Sea Bream with Harissa, and a Five Spice Pork Shoulder accompanied by Bao Buns, Hoisin Brush and Garnishes.
In addition to the A La Carte menu, for breakfast Mthr features a Market Table, where guests can serve themselves from a selection of morning favourites. A roving food trolley in Mthr also adds moments of restaurant theatre, enticing guests to grab dishes which will regularly take on different seasonal and culinary focuses.
In opening the Canary Wharf site, The Collective Foundation – the philanthropic arm of the business – has partnered with The Economist Educational Foundation, an independent charity focused on the development of children’s literacy skills, to fund an after school programme at three local schools in support of disadvantaged young people. The Collective Canary Wharf also intends to work with a host of local charitable initiatives and social enterprises in support of a wider programme to benefit the neighbouring community, including provision of access to shared spaces in the building such as the swimming pool, cinema room, co-working spaces and gymnasium.
Following the opening of The Collective Old Oak in 2016, the launch of The Collective Canary Wharf is the first step in the company’s ambitious global expansion plans. In the past 12 months the company has grown its global portfolio to a combined gross development value of £2.7 billion and has broken ground on new co-living buildings across the US, UK and Europe. 1215 Fulton Street – to be designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto – represents the company’s third acquisition in New York, joining The Collective Paper Factory in Long Island City (slated for opening in November 2019) and a flagship location at 555 Broadway in Williamsburg, opening in 2022.
Reza Merchant, CEO and Founder of The Collective, said: “We’re very excited to bring co-living to Canary Wharf. With members able to stay for a night, a week or a year, more people than ever are now able to experience and join our expanding community. With loneliness on the rise in our cities, more than ever we find people are looking to make tangible connections, and The Collective is a direct response to this need. It is a space with hospitality at its core, beautifully designed, a place to make friends and contacts, and a place above all to stay and enjoy.”
Project Credits
Design Architect: The Collective
Project Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
