Harry Handelsman

Harry Handelsman (born September 1949) is the founder and CEO of Manhattan Loft Corporation, a London-based property development company.

Harry Handelsman
BornSeptember 1949 (age 74)
NationalityBritish
Alma materYork University
OccupationProperty Developer
Known forFounder and CEO, Manhattan Loft Corporation
PartnerElizabeth Crompton-Batt
Children2

Early life

Harry Handelsman was born in September 1949,[1] the son of a "well-off Polish financier",[2] Handelsman was born in Munich. He was educated in Germany, Paris and Canada,[2][3] and has a master's degree in economics from York University in Toronto.[4]

His father died in 1982,[2] and he then took over running the business,[4] and moved to London in 1983.[5]

Career

Handelsman established London-based Manhattan Loft Corporation in 1992.[6] Since then, he has gone on to re-develop "some of London’s most admired buildings",[7] including the Chiltern Firehouse and St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

Manhattan Loft Corporation developments

Chiltern Firehouse
Main article: Chiltern Firehouse


A collaboration with Andre Balazs, Manhattan Loft Corporation redeveloped the Grade II 19th-century Manchester Square Fire Station into a 26-suite hotel and 200 capacity restaurant. Chiltern Firehouse opened in 2014 after nearly five years of re-development[8][9][10][3]

Chiltern Firehouse was designed in conjunction with Studio KO, and, in addition to its 26 suites, includes bar areas and a restaurant run by former Viajante chef Nuno Mendes – whose cuisine has been described as "unique" and "stylish".[11]

Hackney Fashion Hub

Launched in Spring 2016, Manhattan Loft Corporation collaborated with architect David Adjaye to create a designer fashion outlet district in London's Hackney E9.[12]

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Main article: St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel


Designed by George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century, the former Grand Midland Hotel became derelict in the late 20th-century. Planning permission to re-develop the derelict building was granted to Manhattan Loft Corporation in 2004. The upper levels of the gothic structure were developed into 67 apartments, and a 245-room hotel was opened in 2011 after the ten-year restoration work.[13][14][15]
The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel remains under Handelsman's ownership[4]

Ealing Studios
Main article: Ealing Studios

Ealing Studios, built in 1902, is Britain's oldest film studio. In the mid-2000s, Handelsman purchased the site along with Fragile Films' Uri Fruchtmann and Barnaby Thompson; all of whom are directors.[16] Manhattan Loft Corporation went on to re-develop the site to include the existing Grade II listed sound stages. Manhattan Loft Corporation remains linked to Ealing Studios as the company is working on the second phase of its restoration and expansion.[2][17]

Manhattan Loft Gardens

Manhattan Loft Gardens is a 42-storey skyscraper in Stratford, East London. Described by the Huffington Post as "The most beautiful building in the Western world",[18] it has been designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whose previous projects include the Burj Khalifa.
The double-cantilevered, 135 m tower will include 248 flats, a hotel, a restaurant, and three sky gardens. It is due for completion in 2018.[5][19][20]

Awards and recognition

In 2012, it was announced that Handelsman had received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)[21]
Handelsman was listed in the Evening Standard's "Progress 1000" in both 2015 and 2016; a list of London's 1000 most influential people.[22][23]

Other

Handelsman sits on the board of Artangel,[24] the Southbank Centre and The South London Gallery.[25]

Personal life

His "long-term partner" is Elizabeth Crompton-Batt, the former wife of the late restaurant PR Alan Crompton-Batt, and they have a daughter together.[4] They live in Bayswater, London,[4] with Handelsman's flat tailored by Sarah Featherstone.[3][4] Handelsman also has a daughter from a previous marriage.[4]

References
  1. "Harry HANDELSMAN - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  2. Withers, Iain (23 May 2013). "Harry Handelsman: The Pearly King | Magazine Features". Building. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  3. Elfreda Pownall (15 October 2016). "At home with Harry Handelsman, the man behind Chiltern Firehouse". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  4. "Station master: Harry Handelsman | London Evening Standard". Evening Standard. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. Philippa Stockley (20 July 2016). "New tower for Stratford: 42-storey Manhattan Loft Gardens set to bring 248 homes, sky-high gardens and a luxury hotel by 2018". Homes and Property. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. Bethan Ryder (27 November 2014). "Manhattan Loft Corporation founder Harry Handelsman on why east London is the future". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  7. "Harry Handelsman on Manhattan Loft Gardens". Forbes.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  8. Luke Blackall (22 August 2014). "Man About Town: Chiltern Firehouse and lesser-seen restaurant that actually lives up to the hype". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  9. "André Balazs first UK hotel, the Chiltern Firehouse now open". Coverdale Barclay. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  10. "The Property Interview: Harry Handelsman". Luxurylondon.co.uk. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  11. "Nuno Mendes Chef at Chiltern Firehouse". Great British Chefs. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  12. Rhiannon Bury (8 March 2016). "Retailers sign up for Hackney fashion hub". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  13. Rowan Moore (13 February 2011). "St Pancras Renaissance Hotel: The rebirth of a gothic masterpiece | Art and design". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  14. "St Pancras makeover takes balls of steel - and £150m | London Evening Standard". Evening Standard. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  15. Hobson, Rebecca (14 March 2012). "Harry Handelsman: The man who gave St Pancras back to London | Interviews". LondonlovesBusiness.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  16. "Ealing Studios Management Limited - Company Information - Endole Suite". www.endole.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  17. "26 - Manhattan Loft Corporation | Archive Titles | Building Design". Bdonline.co.uk. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  18. Chris York Senior Editor, The Huffington Post UK (16 December 2014). "Men Who Made It: Meet Harry Handelsman, The Man Behind The Chiltern Firehouse". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 April 2017. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  19. "Manhattan Loft Gardens: Developer behind the Chiltern Firehouse has lofty ideas for Stratford's Olympic Park | City A.M". City A.M. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  20. "Manhattan Loft Gardens - Olympic Park E20 1FB". Buildington. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  21. "Honorary Fellowships 2013". Architecture.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  22. "The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2015 - Property | London Evening Standard". Evening Standard. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. "The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2016 - Constructors | London Evening Standard". Evening Standard. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  24. "Board". Artangel.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  25. "Staff & Trustees". South London Gallery. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
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