Alexander McQueen’s Mayfair penthouse refurbished as a homage is on sale for Dh38.8m


Michael Fahy
  • English
  • Arabic

For a two-bedroom, 1,790 square feet penthouse apartment to have an asking price of £8.5 million (Dh38.8m), it has to offer something special – even in Mayfair in West London, where property prices are among the most expensive in the world.

This duplex penthouse at 17 Dunraven Street does have something quite special about it. Not only has it been home to British royalty but also revered British novelist and humorist P G Wodehouse, it was last owned by British fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, who had begun an extensive refurbishment while renting another home nearby. The renovation works had not finished by the time the designer died in 2010. However, interior design specialist Paul Davies London has completed the restoration, with its designs paying homage to the McQueen creations.

The decor includes portraits of the designer as well as photos of his muse Isabella Blow. There is also a “fashion catwalk” area and nods to McQueen’s famous skull motif reflected within certain fittings such as lamps and lampshades.

The lower floor contains the reception and entertaining spaces, including an American-style bespoke kitchen designed by Clive Christian with a central island, breakfast bar and a 10-seat dining area. French doors open on to an outside terrace area. The reception room has a 3.2 metre-high ceiling. It is fitted with a new AV system and has a large, open fireplace. A hallway linking the kitchen and reception areas has been created as a fashion catwalk with mirror-lined walls-to-floor cabinets.

The upper floor contains a master bedroom with built-in wardrobes, an en suite bathroom, a dressing area and a day area. There is also a second bedroom with a dressing room and a day area, which could be converted into a third bedroom if required. There is a family bathroom, and the landing has a chrome spiral staircasing, which leads up to a 2,400 sq ft roof garden with a barbecue and a bar area with views of West London.

Q&A

Who was Alexander McQueen?

He was a fashion designer from London who grew up in a working-class background and left school at 16 to work in the city’s famous Savile Row. He created his own label alongside working at Givenchy, where he became chief designer in 1996. He eventually joined Gucci Group in 2000 and sold a majority stake of his label to the firm for a reported US$30 million. He won four British designer of the year awards.

Can you describe the style of the refurbishment?

It’s been billed as one that “fuses the Art Deco and contemporary”, inspired by McQueen to deliver a more modern style of Mayfair apartment. Floors in the main rooms are made from black American walnut wood, the joinery is bespoke and McQueen’s signature colours of cream, silver and black have been used.

Any idea who might buy it?

We believe that the Alexander McQueen penthouse will sell to a buyer from either the Middle East or Asia. 17 Dunraven Street in North West Mayfair is in the heart of the Middle East Quarter of the district.

Anything else of note?

The apartment and a separate property below were a town house occupied by the author P G Wodehouse. The house was originally the home of Queen Victoria’s grandson, the Marquess of Carisbrooke.

mfahy@thenational.ae

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

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TEST SQUADS

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.

Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')

Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

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Thomas Muster - 422

Rafael Nadal - 399 *

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Eddie Dibbs - 370

Ilie Nastase - 338

Carlos Moya - 337

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets