Dh72m Kensington penthouse at the doorstep of great London attractions

This apartment should be seen as more than just an investment, with the redevelopment creating a space that serves as a home away from home.

The four-bedroom apartment contains a double-height reception room as both its focal point and the main entertaining space, with a bespoke chandelier and dining space in one corner and a main seating. Courtesy CPC Group
Powered by automated translation

West London has been popular because of its parks, shopping, restaurants and the overall quality of lifestyle. The only downside to the city can be its unpredictable weather.

Although there is not much that can be done to change that, the developer of the recently-restored Abbots House building in Kensington has at least given potential buyers of its £13.9 million (Dh72.1m) penthouse the opportunity to enjoy a regular swim in either indoor or outdoor temperatures. This duplex apartment on the eighth and ninth floors, has a mezzanine-level pool area with its own current machine installed to allow for uninterrupted swimming. A retractable glass roof allows its owner to swim alfresco when the weather is kind, and there is also yoga and relaxation space, as well as a drinks bar in the same area.

This four-bedroom apartment, which has been redeveloped by the luxury property development specialist CPC Group, contains a double-height reception room as both its focal point and the main entertaining space, with a bespoke chandelier and dining space in one corner and a main seating are offering views over South-west London alongside.

This is an area that is very popular with the Middle East buyers. Last week, Rokstone, an estate agency specialising in London’s West End, highlighted the emergence of a “Qatari Quarter’ in North-west Mayfair, where members of Qatar’s royal family, its investment funds and other Qatari nationals have bought more than £1 billion of residential properties. Gulf buyers snap up £150m worth of property each year in Mayfair alone. The fact that prices for prime London real estate have soared by 70 per cent since 2009 no doubt adds to the appeal.

This apartment should be seen as more than just an investment though, with the redevelopment creating a space that serves as a home away from home. It has a dedicated lift leading from the underground car park (the penthouse comes with two spaces) into an entrance hall decked out in neutral colours with a timber floor and a fireplace. Beyond that is a Bulthaup-designed kitchen fitted with Miele appliances that also has a built-in larder and a utility room. A master bedroom is located with its own upstairs wing, an adjoining bathroom and dressing room. One of the apartment’s three other (all en suite) bedrooms is on the top floor alongside a study/TV room, while the bigger downstairs area houses the remaining two bedrooms and three separate terrace areas. Alongside the formal dining space, there’s also an informal dining room with a 65-inch TV enabled for both satellite and Apple TV controlled by tablets. Calacatta stone detailing features in all of the bathrooms, while all of the joinery is bespoke, with Tabu timber veneers used around the entrance lobby and living areas.

At 6,200 square feet, it isn’t the biggest luxury property in the world, but its location, just off Kensington high street, is at the doorstep of so many great museums, restaurants and other top London attractions. In fact, should you forget your swimwear, Harrods is only minutes away.

q&a we're expecting a family

A conversation with Stephen Holmes, a London-based director in the selling agent Savills’ residential flats division:

Who would live in a property like this?

We are expecting a family, although perhaps not with very young children. So far, interest has been from America, India, Germany and Ireland.

What are the main attractions in this area?

Two of London’s royal parks – Holland Park and Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park, are right on your doorstep. There are great schools in the area and plenty of shops and restaurants. Four Michelin-starred restaurants are within easy reach (Kitchen W8, The Kensington Roof Gardens, Ming Jiang and the Kensington Ivy Brasserie), and in Holland Park itself there is also The Belvedere.

Kensington Palace is also nearby, and the UK’s Design Museum will relocate to the area later this year. There is also very good access to Heathrow Airport through the M4 motorway.

Can you tell me more about this apartment’s history?

This has been a residential building as far back as the 1960s, although I believe the penthouse was added at a later date – sometime in the 1980s. It has been completely refurbished by the developer, who also redid the communal entrance hall to the building, landscaped the flower beds and driveway, and replaced all the windows in the entire building.

mfahy@thenational.ae

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter