Sale price: about $220MM. London skylines, private wine tasting facilities and top security features including bullet-proof windows and a panic room, SAS-trained bodyguards and floor to ceiling windows with fabulous views of central London were the major attractions to the 6-bedroom 2-floor penthouse in One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, London. Eye scanners are featured in private elevators to prevent unwanted intruders. The building is heated using geothermal bore holds sunk 450’ to extract heat from the earth’s crust. The apartment contains an air purifier to ward off poison gas attacks. The new owners, anonymous, expect to move in by the end of the year.
Eighty apartments have been sold in this new unique complex, one of the world’s most expensive residential areas. This upscale neighborhood has an average apartment cost of $30MM. 65% of all properties in the block have been sold with 30% of the buyers Europeans and 25% Middle eastern as the worlds financial elite flock to London, taking advantage of the weakness of the pound.
There is also tunnel access to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and their 24-hour room service with TV chef Heston Blumenthal opening a fabulous new restaurant and to spas and squash courts and the unit has its own car park.
“Trophy properties” sales remain strong. Some speculate that trophy buyers of today might be from Nigeria or the Middle East, with large oil profits facilitating these sales.
