Later living developer Elysian Residences is partnering with award-winning bookseller Foyles to create special Elysian libraries, curated and maintained by Foyles, within their later living residential schemes in London and the South East.

The collaboration will provide residents with a sizeable held collection of books across a variety of subjects, with an order on request service available which also includes access to Foyles’ specialist foreign language books, classical and jazz music recordings, and DVDs. It is the first time that Foyles have agreed to curate private libraries in partnership with a residential developer.

For the exclusive use of residents, the first of the new Elysian libraries curated by Foyles is being built at the Landsby on Merrion Avenue in Stanmore, a later living scheme providing 101 newly-built one- and two-bedroom apartments, including penthouses, with the library space flowing into the hotel-like lobby with 24/7 concierge. Other hotel-like amenities at the Landsby include a coffee lounge and bar; fine dining restaurant with private dining area; sixth floor rooftop gymnasium/health club; luxury beauty salon with treatment room area; multi-purpose activity room, medical consultation suite and underground parking facility.

With Art Deco-inspired architecture, the six-storey Landsby is designed by Roy Collado of architectural practice Collado Collins with interior design by Ian Baylis of Bowler James Brindley. The new double-height lobby and adjoining Elysian library are 1,675 sqft in size, with the extensive library featuring a central limestone fireplace and hearth with an Art Deco-style antique glass mirror above, surrounded by 8ft high built-in bespoke library shelving and joinery, providing space for hundreds of books, illuminated by shelf lights and finished in beautiful American Walnut wood.

The Walnut wood panelling in the lobby and library area is complemented by feature chandeliers and elegant yet comfortable club chairs, giving the space the ambience of a five-star hotel or exclusive members club. Visitors to the library will be able to either browse books in the luxurious communal space, or borrow a publication and read it in the privacy of their home.

The Landsby is operated by Elysian, and, under the agreement with Foyles, the bookseller will be the ongoing official curator and supplier of books for the library and residents. Residents can place requests with the management company for the latest books, and residents can also purchase publications from Foyles and have them delivered to their home.

The Landsby and its new library are scheduled to be operational in late 2019 and Elysian Residences and Foyles will use this inaugural collaboration to fine-tune future libraries planned at the luxury brand’s forthcoming later living developments, which will include The Oren on West Heath Road in Hampstead, providing 46 two and three-bedroom apartments, including penthouses, complete with lobby, library, on-site spa and pool, gourmet restaurant and landscaped gardens.