The grade II listed Gasholders in King’s Cross are known as the Siamese triplets. These three imposing, drum-like structures were built during the 1860s for storing large volumes of gas and were eventually dismantled in 2001 to allow for the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. As part of the expansive rebirth of King’s Cross and following the trend in London for transforming erstwhile industrial spaces into swanky apartments, the Gasholders have been repurposed for modern living as 145, light-filled luxury apartments, designed by the architectural practice WilkinsonEyre.

The colourful jewel in the Gasholder’s crown is a newly unveiled duplex apartment created in collaboration with fashion designer Roksanda Ilinčić. UK property developer Argent, which manages the building, commissioned Ilinčić to furnish the cloud-skimming pied-à-terre, with free reign to fill it however she desired.

The penthouse is located a stone’s throw from the new home of Ilinčić’s former stomping ground, Central Saint Martins, which moved to King’s Cross in 2011. The Serbia-born designer graduated in 1999 and is now considered one of the most exciting names in contemporary fashion. She is praised for her vivid colour palettes and sculptural, fluid silhouettes, which strike the rare balance of being both artistically conceptual and commercially viable.

Ilinčić’s colour-blocking know-how and eye for detail are translated into interiors for the new apartment, which she furnished in just 12 weeks with the help of friend and creative consultant Nick Vinson. She has filled the penthouse with art and accessories which reflect her world: curvaceous vintage lamps by French ceramist Francois Châtain; Matisse lithographs and post-modern and mid-century furniture. She and Vinson have also created a collection of decorative ceramics for the space, available to buy exclusively on matchesfashion.com.

French performance artist Caroline Denervaud, who previously collaborated with Ilinčić on her A/W18 collection, moved in for one week and painted a pastel-hued mural across one wall, which complements the undulating blush pink sofa and matching curtains, crafted using felt wool by Danish textile company Kvadrat. Books by female artists are artfully placed throughout the apartment, including Joan Miro, Sonia Delaunay, Barbara Hepworth and Anni Alber, while the focus on female creatives continues with Ilinčić’s selection of ceramics and furniture. Bespoke scents have been created by Lyn Harris of Perfumer H, while Patti Smith, Nell Dunn and Joan Didion are laid out as suggested bedtime reading.

“One of the important elements of my brand’s voice is celebrating and empowering women,” Ilinčić commented. “I wanted to use this project also as a platform to highlight the incredible work of female artists, architects and makers, both established and emerging, whose visions inspire me. I wanted them to be part of this journey with me.”

A surprisingly serene, private garden crowns the penthouse, where Roksanda’s punchy pineapple, coral and blush pink hues pop against the urban landscape of King’s Cross. “The Gasholders were an iconic landmark that always captured my attention when I previously lived in King’s Cross. To be able to revisit a neighbourhood that felt so familiar to me and which now hosts the institution which moulded me as a designer, Central Saint Martins, felt like an exciting opportunity. This project has created the opportunity to expand my own ideas about creating a true reflection of my own aesthetic, beyond fashion.”