Highbury Square
Highbury Square is an apartment complex in Highbury, London. It is a redevelopment of the old Highbury Stadium site, the home stadium of Arsenal F.C. until 2006 when they moved to the newly built Emirates Stadium nearby. History. The former stadium's pitch and key façades form what is evident from the site's history. Its first stands and removal from Woolwich took place in 1913 to designs by Archibald Leitch. Main stands were recast in the 1930s: East and West Stands in Art Deco style, façades of which remain. The venue was the home of Arsenal for  93 years until 2006 (since when see Emirates Stadium). Redevelopment. The North Bank and Clock End were demolished while the older Grade II listed buildings of the East and West Stands remained as part of the development. The pitch was redeveloped into gardens. Several parts of Arsenal Stadium were retained including the marble halls, the bust of Herbert Chapman and the players' tunnel. It was opened officially in 2009, by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. Designed by Allies and Morrison, the renovation of the complex has been praised by critics for creating "a feeling of openness and nature" while also providing  protection and privacy. In 2009, Highbury Square's design won the MIPIM Special Jury Award. Characterisation. Highbury Square has 650 flats, which have a relatively high ground rent and many communal services (a higher-income centred service charge). The square has a public footpath through it and any public approach way, though little open to the sky, means it is arguably considered rather than a green court/courtyard, a garden square - the path was briefly forestalled for better drainage to be made. In 2009, Arsenal sold 150 to London & Stamford Property at a 20% discount to brochure asking price as  dozens of "buyers" (the word is used loosely in this context) failed to exchange contracts (or complete). Arsenal cleared their conversion bill by 2010. Sustainable Design. The developments design incorporated some of the most up to date thinking to reduce carbon emissions, including the largest solar thermal heating installation of its type in Europe at the time of its construction together with combined heat and power (CHP) plant feeding into a district heating system which serves the whole development.