The HiLight, Battersea

A Design-Led Vision for Wellness Living on a Historic London Site

Set on the former site of the iconic Price’s Candles factory in Battersea, The HiLight is a new residential development that signals a notable shift in how urban homes are conceived, designed and experienced. Developed by Ghelamco, a company widely recognised for its commitment to sustainable and human-centred urban environments, the project places wellness at the heart of residential architecture; not as an optional lifestyle add-on, but as an embedded design principle.

With completion scheduled for 2026 and apartments starting from £595,000, The HiLight proposes a new model for London living, one that blends the comforts of home with the restorative qualities more commonly associated with wellness retreats. The result is a development that asks a timely question: how can design respond to the pressures of contemporary city life without tipping into excess?

A Historic Battersea Site Reimagined Through Design

The site itself carries significant cultural weight. Once home to Price’s Candles, the factory that supplied candles to royal weddings and ceremonial occasions, the site is steeped in industrial and social history. Rather than erasing this past, The HiLight builds upon it, transforming a place of production into one of restoration and renewal.

This layered approach to regeneration aligns with Battersea’s wider evolution, where former industrial sites are being reimagined as residential and cultural destinations. Here, architecture plays a crucial role in mediating between heritage, contemporary needs and future-focused living.

Ghelamco and a Human-Centred Development Philosophy

Founded in 1985 by Paul Gheysens and now led in the UK by his daughter, Marie-Julie Gheysens, Ghelamco has established itself as a major force in international real estate development. Across residential, office and mixed-use projects, the company’s ethos centres on creating places that “unleash positive human energy”, a philosophy that underpins the vision for The HiLight.

Rather than viewing sustainability and wellbeing as surface-level features, Ghelamco positions them as core components of design intelligence. This approach is evident throughout the project, from the integration of wellness-led amenities to the emphasis on longevity, adaptability and quality of life within the home.

Architecture by Squire & Partners: Context, Longevity and Wellbeing

The architectural design of The HiLight has been led by Squire & Partners, the London-based architecture and design studio known for its thoughtful, context-driven approach. With a multidisciplinary practice spanning residential, workplace, hospitality and mixed-use projects, Squire & Partners brings a balance of commercial intelligence and strong social and environmental values to the development.

At The HiLight, this translates into architecture that prioritises human experience. The building is conceived not as a sealed-off residential block, but as a series of spaces that encourage pause, connection and recovery from the intensity of urban life. Proportions, circulation and shared areas have been carefully considered to foster calm rather than constant stimulation.

The practice’s emphasis on longevity and sustainability ensures that the development is not driven by trend-led gestures, but by enduring design principles that will remain relevant as expectations of housing continue to evolve.

Wellness as an Architectural Framework

What distinguishes The HiLight is the way wellness is woven into the architecture itself, shaping how residents move through and inhabit the building on a daily basis.

A rooftop wellness space forms a key architectural feature, offering sauna and steam pods alongside quieter areas designed for reflection and recovery. Rather than functioning as a conventional amenity deck, the rooftop is conceived as a restorative environment; an elevated retreat that responds to both physical and mental well-being.

At ground and lower levels, dedicated grounding corners invite residents to reconnect with natural sensations through barefoot contact, addressing the growing awareness around sensory overload in urban life. These moments of pause are spatially integrated, reinforcing the idea that wellness should be encountered naturally rather than scheduled.

Interior Design Details That Support Everyday Rituals

Within the apartments, design decisions continue this wellness-led narrative. Vitamin C-infused showers are incorporated to neutralise chlorine, promoting healthier skin and hair as part of everyday routines. These features are not presented as luxury indulgences, but as practical enhancements to daily life.

Mindfulness is also embedded digitally and spatially, with residents granted access to the Calm app alongside areas designed specifically for stillness. Importantly, these spaces are intentionally free from visual noise or over-programming, offering a counterbalance to the constant stimulation of city living.

A functional outdoor bar area introduces a social dimension to the wellness concept, serving mushroom tea and other adaptogenic drinks; a subtle nod to evolving approaches to health-conscious socialising.

Responding to the Pressures of Contemporary Urban Living

As London life becomes increasingly fast-paced, The HiLight responds to a growing desire for homes that support recovery rather than exacerbate stress. Instead of requiring residents to travel elsewhere for wellness experiences, the development integrates them into the rhythms of everyday life.

This approach reflects a broader shift in residential design, where the home is no longer viewed solely as a place of rest, but as an active contributor to wellbeing. Through architecture, material choices and spatial planning, The HiLight seeks to create an environment that supports balance, resilience and long-term liveability.

A New Benchmark for Design-Led Residential Development

Ahead of its Spring launch, Ghelamco is offering a limited number of preview conversations and private visits to provide insight into the thinking behind The HiLight beyond a traditional sales narrative. These previews offer an opportunity to understand how architecture, wellness and sustainability have been aligned into a cohesive residential vision.

In bringing together a historically rich site, a developer committed to sustainable urbanism and an architecture studio focused on human-centred design, The HiLight represents a meaningful evolution in London’s residential landscape. It suggests a future where wellbeing is not an optional upgrade but a fundamental element of good design: thoughtfully integrated, quietly effective, and built to last.

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