MANSION GLOBAL

Italian exuberance CAPANNORI, LUCCA, ITALY

ENGLISH HIDEAWAY

CLAIRE CARPONEN A secluded country house overlooking the posh English town of Henley-onThames is on the market. Known as Bowsey Manor, the five-bedroom home was listed last week for £4 million ($7.8 million) with estate agency Strutt & Parker. The residence has been extended and restored by the owners, who have lived there for around 20 years, according to Edward Lucas, listing agent and director of Strutt & Parker’s country department. While loaded with historic details and features such as exposed timbers, vaulted ceilings and antique marble fireplaces, the home also features contemporary design. The owners chose the design deliberately, wanting to “maintain its authenticity while creating something up to modern standard to live in”, Lucas says. “The old and new

Frescoes depicting mythological themes adorn the walls and ceilings of this historic mansion outside the city of Lucca, while its gardens feature stone nymphs, a peschiera (fish pond) and a number of artificial caves. Villa Mansi once belonged to the Mansi family, whose wealth came from the silk trade. The house has 16th-century origins, but was mainly built in the 17th century. It was transformed in the 18th century by the architect Giudi, who created its Rococo facade. Theatrical Baroque gardens were added by the stage set designer Filippo Juvarra, and classical murals and trompe l’oeil paintings by the Lucchese artist Stefano Tofanelli. Set in the rolling Tuscan countryside, it sits grandly behind flat lawns shaded by ancient trees. The gardens have become more natural over the years, though the theatrical set pieces of the grottoes and peschiera have been retained, bringing a sense of romance and atmosphere to the grounds. Villa Mansi is an iconic property, says Daniela Sprea of Italy Sotheby’s International Realty agent in Lucca, who has listed it for €19 million ($31 million)

CALIFORNIAN LUXURY

sit together very well.” LIZ LUCKING A sleek new contemporary estate in Los Angeles’s exclusive Bel Air has been listed for $US19.899 million ($30.17 million) by James Harris and David Parnes of The Agency, and Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker. It last sold in 2017 for $4.2 million ($6.3 million) to a corporation. The three-level, 1117sq m house, on a 3723sq m lot in the prestigious West Gate section, was completed in 2019. “It’s a stunning modern house,” Harris says. “It doesn’t look like a typical modern box. It has warmth and texture and lovely architectural significance,” with smoked glass, stone and exotic woods. In addition to an infinity glass-bottomed pool with a waterfall, the gated property has a rooftop bar, a garden and a four-car garage. The house has seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, two half- bathrooms, an elevator, and a 9m custom chandelier. On the lower level is a bar, a movie theatre, a fitness centre, a wine cellar, and a private patio with views of the city and ocean. NANCY A RUHLING

JONATHAN CHANCELLOR

Chateau du lac

Who hasn’t fantasised about owning a chateau with a cigar room, a ballroom, an imposing fireplace and a bedroom for almost every guest? Plus Pimms served in the garden maze as the sun sets.

Now the fairytale opportunity to buy and run such a stately home is available on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, with the listing of Campbell Point House (pictured above).

The rare 15-bedroom offering that sits on 15ha on Lake Connewarre is being offered with a $20 million to $22 million price guide through Sean Cussell at Christie’s International Prestige Homes Victoria.

The French chateau-inspired estate was built in 2008 by the current owners, property developer Aaron Parkhill, nephew of Westfield billionaire Frank Lowy, and his wife Megan Blackhall. Parkhill wanted the home to have a 200-year-old look for guests arriving after passing through the 10,000-tree pine forest.

The holding, on the outskirts of Geelong some 90km from Melbourne’s CBD, was secured some 14 years ago. Parkhill handled much of the 15-month build himself. A few years after completion the family moved out, the couple having found that the sprawling 1350sq m, five-bedroom residence was too big for them and their three kids. Indeed the family had felt themselves drawn together and living mostly in the master suite.

From 2011 the property operated as a wedding venue while Parkhill waited for a permit to run it as a hotel. At one point MasterChef booked it out to film the show, with guest chef Marco Pierre White cooking up a storm. Fashion designer Rebecca Judd, the wife of retired Carlton champion Chris Judd, had her baby shower at the property, and Cats teammate Joel Selwood proposed to his now wife Brit Davis when staying there.

It’s also been sought out by some of the world’s biggest names. Singers Justin Bieber and Adele each reportedly booked out the private, gated property. However it’s believed neither showed given Greater Geelong Council’s then strict laws preventing easy helicopter access for the megastars. There’s now an onsite helipad. After spending around $10 million on renovations and extensions, Parkhill and Blackhall opened the doors to their boutique hotel, with a capacity of 30 guests, in late 2018. The main building has five ensuited bedrooms, formal and informal living and dining rooms, a commercial grade kitchen, conservatory, billiards room and cigar room.

In the formal manicured grounds, framed by English box hedges and including a number of water features, there is a pool house, accompanied by an infinity pool, complete with sauna and a marble fireplace.

There are two three-bedroom cottages, a four-bedroom lake house, and a pavilion next to the grass tennis court. A caretaker’s cottage and a utility building with staff amenities is also in the grounds. Down by the water there’s a private jetty with a boathouse painted in the colours of the French flag.

Materials for the property were sourced from all over the world. All of the marble came from China and the decorative teak woodwork and doors from Indonesia. The floor tile that is a feature of the living room came from France. Parkhill carried the tile on a plane to Jakarta, where a craftsman reproduced it in bulk by hand.

Only guests can use the amenities, including the day spa, leisure facilities and restaurant, led by head chef Tobin Kent, the former head chef at Inverleigh’s Gladioli, who uses organic produce grown in the grounds.

Of course the number of unviable longstanding country homes has escalated overseas. The UK’s stately homes were mostly built in the 17th and 18th centuries as the heart of an agricultural estate, with money made from renting the land to tenant farmers.

There were almost 5000 mansions at their mid-19th century peak, but that number dived especially during the 1950s to about 3000, which remain today.

Cussell says he’s never had an offering like Campbell Point House. “Campbell Point House may ultimately appeal to a private hotel operator, given the hard work has been done in planning and building such a rare property,” Cussell says.

“It has enormous potential to capitalise even further on the luxury wedding market, being so close to Melbourne. We have already received interest from families looking for a large holiday retreat with direct access to the lake and the beach.

“We are also expecting interest from overseas buyers seeking a trophy Australian asset.”

1RAVENWOOD DRIVE 8 SERENITY CL, NOOSA HEADS 1/56 FERGUSON STREET SUNSHINE BEACH

4 3 4

Damthe late 80’s t. Eque praecri turimen terivita reo vo, consum halic reissilic iste nonfex me forae consuam tam prae, Patu quem iam atod nonsis. Hocaes iam ad consulem iam inverma nductat, mo vit; Catis occhuid mus omnit plisterio, ina, cutemul arestiam tere, estuam Romnem vitus comnequerum ne que aucerid epsesse renium opubliquod ad aveme This unrivalled architectural work of art, redefines the limits of an idyllic lifestyle in Sunshine Beach. Extensive areas of natural tiles and timber are synonymous of everything high-end, yet complement all design aspects. The immense upper level is a total showstopper and the rooftop with sublime sunrises, or sundowners accompanied by the sound of the surf and salty breezes is irresistible.

Price Saturday 17 March 1pm View Saturday 11.00am - 11.30am Wednesday 4pm - 5pm Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512 Auction Saturday 4 April 11am Agent Rebekah Offermann 0413 044 241