The design of The Wardian is very interesting and it could be very promising. I joined at a time of full Lockdown and received no tour of the building. I had to ask another resident where the observatory was and I have no idea where the swimming pool is, or the gym or what on earth a vitality pool might be. I hear there is a cinema and I have no idea where that is. Is there also a business centre? I think there might be but I don’t know.
As a keen gardener I love my garden (a corner plot so it’s a good size). The location of an outdoor tap for watering is a godsend. Far better than filling up the watering can in the kitchen sink. I cannot understand why there is no lighting in the gardens. It seems like a large oversight.
The doors in and out of Bagshaw are difficult to use. I’m disabled and either use a crutch or wheelchair. It is extremely difficult to get out of the building and I normally have to wait for someone passing by to open the door in my behalf. It is entirely impossible in a wheelchair. The building is definitely not suitable for those with disabilities. Even minor ones.
Each hall door to the apartments closes with a violent bang. I suspect this could be attenuated by management of the spring closure system. This should be attempted for every apartment. It is a significant noise disturbance to all neighbours.
There has been a variety of concierges at the concierges desk. Some are amazing. Some decidedly not. One refused to speak with me because I was disabled and dismissed me with a flick of their hand and a wrinkled nose. This astonished me but sadly it is not unique. When the building is not disability friendly the staff subconsciously pick up on that sentiment and magnify their responses accordingly. Some formal training regarding the treatment of disabled people is essential. I look forward to hearing that it has taken place.
When the weather is windy the pipes in the apartment creak and groan like nothing I’ve heard before. I’ve told shocked guests it’s the ghost of someone who died in the construction. Obviously they know I’m joking but it is so loud and disconcerting as to be highly remarkable. I would dearly love this to be resolved. It has led to sleepless nights and this is disgraceful. As hot air heating is something I cannot use as it causes asthma attacks and is the only heating in my apartment. I’m going to have to buy mobile plug in heaters for the apartment. Could the pipes be sealed to stop the noise? I don’t know the solution.
The persistent lack of hot water has led to too many tepid if not cold showers. This is unacceptable. When will this be resolved?
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
The area around The Wardian is undergoing a great deal of development and redevelopment. There has been a tremendous amount of noise pollution as well as air pollution resulting from these building sites and also a budget hotel close by Hobart. Thankfully I’m in Bagshaw but on the east side where I live there has been a tremendous amount of noise and air pollution from a Berkeley development. This has resulted in loss of sleep as well as an increase in asthma attacks. I have a marble table and chairs in my garden/balcony and every day you can wipe away a thick layer of airborne dust and grit from the surface. In fact you cannot sit on the chairs without cleaning them first on a daily basis. There are some shops and restaurants around but not many and I’m disappointed that the promised restaurant in The Wardian seems to have been forgotten. This was a big draw for me. For good restaurants you still need to head to Soho, Mayfair and Marylebone areas. The shopping is negligible in the area. Given the changes following on from Covid it remains to be seen what will transpire in the environs. I feel it could become a shopping desert but I hope not. Parking is impossible in the area causing problems for delivery firms and friends alike. I am on 14th floor on the east side of Bagshaw and initially the DLR passing by was deafening. Happily it is true that with time you barely hear it at all. It shocks any new visitors.
The bin area seems inadequate for the Bagshaw building. It normally smells foul when passing by the closed door and of course worse when you enter the tiny room. The chute system frequently malfunctions and people end up leaving their bins on the floor in frustration. On one occasion I could not get into the room as bins and boxes had piled up and needed to be cleared before entering properly. As much as it malfunctions there are still many residents who do not use the system correctly and a physical note in each letter box detailing exactly what can and cannot be disposed of on site and how to bag it, is now necessary. This should be done periodically given that there is high turnover in some apartments. Access to the Observatory has been sporadic and limited. I’m hoping it becomes near permanently open. It could be an amazing space to visit frequently but I have gone up only to find it closed for no given reason.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I wish I had known about the hot air heating system. I would not have bought it if I had known it was not underfloor heating as had been described to me.
The gardens attached to every apartment are a delight. A great bonus in a built up environment. I feel some residents don’t take advantage of their balconies at all. There should be some evening/weekend courses for the horticulturally challenged to let them know that you can make a lovely space for yourself without much input. Also those of us who are experienced gardeners, could do with an evening/weekend course on gardening at a height which is radically different from a normal garden.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
I have had significant issues when asking for large items to be brought up to me when they have been delivered. On one occasion I was told that if I could not collect the item in person (40 litres of compost for the garden) then I could not have it. This was very distressing. Using a crutch makes trying to move the luggage cart impossible for me. Friends who visited and used it on my behalf say it’s difficult enough when you are fully capable. When I mentioned this situation to neighbours they were surprised as they said they always had the larger items brought up to them. So it appears that the issue is again my disability. This is dispiriting.
