This transition is already underway: the Ambassador building in the Embassy Gardens development is now ready for occupation. The first residents are now blazing a trail as they move into their new homes. For a time, the cube of interlocking glass columns will dominate the skyline and enjoy open views in almost all directions. But soon after, the embassy will be at the centre of a mini-metropolis, all glass, steel, and landscaped public spaces. There may be some who doubt that Nine Elms could ever fully usurp Mayfair as the destination of choice for London’s international elite: they should reflect on the advantage the area has in being custom-built for that very purpose.
