PORTFOLIO BY SAVILLS | VOLUME 5

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THE WORLD'S FINEST HOMES & LUXURY LIVING TRENDS

BY S AV I L L S

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VOLUME 5

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2022

R E D E S I G N YO U R L I F E CO O L CO U N T RY L I F E / LO N D O N ’S U R BA N V I L L AG E S / R E T U R N O F T H E P I E D -A-T E R R E L I V I N G W I T H A R T / H O L I DAY V I L L AS AS FO R E V E R H O M E S / G O I N G G R E E N


C OLLEC T I O N

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WELCOME TO PORTFOLIO BY SAVILLS

W Justin Marking Head of Global Residential

e live in times that have made us value more than ever what our homes mean to us – whether that is the experience of being confined to them or, indeed, appreciating them all the more in the light of what we see on the news. Lockdown was both universal and highly individual, but it made us keenly aware of the four walls that both constrained and sheltered us. Likewise we treasured as never before our outdoor space, if we were lucky enough to have any, whether a country estate, a leafy back garden or a tiny but much prized balcony. Not to forget the parks that, for a time, doubled up as our drawing rooms. Today, many of the world’s cities are once again buzzing – and the prime property market has sprung into action (p60). But these experiences change things – they change us, and what we look for in a home, and where we look. In these pages we explore the nature of these transformations – from an ever-growing desire for sustainable country living (p34) to why city types are embracing rural life (p18). We also consider the renewed popularity of the pied-à-terre in London, New York and Paris (p64), as so many of us strive to rebalance our lives and combine town and country. And which of us can’t see the appeal of an elegant little bolthole in the seizième or one of the Chelseas? Those of us who do live in a big city like London often make them manageable – liveable, indeed – by settling in a leafy “urban village” (p38) where we feel at home. We find a “local”, i.e. our pub of choice; the shopkeepers know us (perhaps almost too well, of late). But when we want it, the city – with our favourite restaurants, theatres and galleries, perhaps even the office – is at hand. A similar desire for balancing urban buzz with more than a dash of calm informs those downsizers (no, let’s call them right-sizers) moving to smaller but perfectly formed homes in highly liveable cities such as Winchester and Bath (p56). But wherever you live, wherever you want to live and wherever you choose to feel at home, we hope you enjoy this magazine – in which we seek to convey the know-how, perspective and expertise we here at Savills bring to buying and selling homes. And if you’d like to receive more content from us throughout the year, please go to p167. Homes matter to you, we know; they matter to us too. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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COVER: SIMON UPTON/LEFT:GETTY

FEATURES FRONTISPIECE

The ideas, trends and products shaping our homes right now. 16

HOUSE STYLE: FRANCIS SULTANA

The renowned interior designer on the people and places that influenced him – and how houses sometimes choose their owners 18

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What happens when smart private members’ clubs and hip hoteliers set up shop in rural England? Urban types follow, that’s what. 26

IF YOU LIKE ANTIGUA, YOU’LL LOVE...

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Do you enjoy laid-back living, beautiful coastlines and sailing? Antigua, Paros and Pebble Beach might be just right for you. 30

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS...

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FOR SAVILLS

MASTER OF ECLECTICISM

An interview with Philip Hewat-Jaboor, the chair of the Masterpiece art fair, an eclectic ‘cross-collector’ who sadly died in March.

HOW TO GO GREEN

From natural pools to ground-source heating, the steps country dwellers are taking towards sustainability and regeneration.

THE GREAT ROMANCE

When we find the perfect home, we fall in love with it, just as we do with people, writes Lucia van der Post.

How to live with your collection without tears, breakages or sticky young fingers on the Picasso. 34

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Green spaces, farmers’ markets, good local shops, community spirit – no wonder many Londoners love prime urban villages. Plus, their equivalents in cities across the globe.

HOW THE COUNTRY GOT COOL

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THE ONE

We put Savills agents’ know-how to a global test – finding a forever family holiday home.

EDITORIAL

SAVILLS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

EDITORS

Alison Parkhouse

Gill Morgan, James Collard

BRAND AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, SAVILLS UK

Victoria Bennett SPECIAL THANKS TO

Rebecca Coats, Sophia Moller, Alison Moore, Alice Storrie, Molly Williams For enquiries regarding Uncommonly, contact Sarah Glyde: sarah@uncommonly.co.uk © Copyright 2022 Uncommonly Ltd. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers or Savills. The information in this publication is correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. No material may be used in whole or part without the permission of Savills. While every care is taken in compiling content, Savills does not assume responsibility for effects arising from this publication. Computer-generated imagery has been used to illustrate some properties for indicative purposes only 4

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CONTRIBUTORS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Sara Redhead DESIGN

Ewa Dykas, Marco Minzoni PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Sarah Glyde, George Thwaites WRITER

ALEX BAGNER

Alex Moore

Writer, editor and ‘inn-keeper’, Alex is the former Design Editor of Wallpaper, who pivoted her life to buy an old pub in Deal and turn it into one of the most sought-after boutique hotels in the country. As the author of a new book, How To Leave London, who better to write about the coolification of the countryside?

ADVERTISING

Julia Carrick OBE PRINTING & REPRO

Walstead, The Logical Choice


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THE FINE ART OF DOWNSIZING

Or should we say right-sizing? Relocate to a fine home in a leafy, lively city. 60

7 REASONS WHY LONDON IS RETURNING TO FORM

The factors driving a resurgence in the capital’s prime residential market, from tech billionaires to irresistible blue-chip developments. 64

RETURN OF THE PIED-À-TERRE

Perfect boltholes in London, Paris and NYC. 168

VITAL STATISTICS

Just what £5m buys you, from beachside living in Singapore to a grand Georgian house in Edinburgh’s leafy Murrayfield. Cover image: Francis Sultana’s London home

THE COLLECTION From a Georgian stately home in the English shires to branded residences in the heart of London and villas on the French Riviera, feast your eyes on a tour of some of the world’s most remarkable homes. 70 94 115 149 156

UK LONDON UK COUNTRY EUROPE MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

LUCY ALEXANDER

ANNE ASHWORTH

LUCIA VAN DER POST

Lucy has written about property and design for the FT, the WSJ and The Times, where she was deputy editor of Bricks & Mortar and then Tokyo correspondent, before joining Robb Report in New York. She and her family recently relocated to Bath. In these pages she celebrates the return of the pied-à-terre.

A leading expert on property and personal finance, Anne was for many years an assistant editor of The Times, where she edited Bricks & Mortar and Times Money. A regular contributor to the Daily Mail and a columnist at The London Magazine, here she describes the particular and leafy appeal of London’s many ‘urban villages’.

Lucia is a legendary writer and editor in the worlds of style, design and luxury living. Lucia is associate editor of How To Spend It, the Financial Times’ authoritative luxury magazine, which she founded. In this issue of Portfolio she describes the coup de foudre so many of us feel when we fall in love – with a house. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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A AF A FMA IML YI L YS T SOT ROYR Y

Yasmin Yasmin and Amber and Amber Le Bon Le Bon wearwear Raindance Raindance


Clockwise from main picture: the cherry-coloured Bolotas sofa, by the Brazilian Campana brothers, is covered in luxurious sheepskin; Pierre Yovanovitch’s Mama Bear chair is a wonderfully chic cuddly toy; Max Lamb is creating a stir with his multicoloured Tufted Pillow chair; and the Cabana Yeti chair, by Timothy Oulton, is made from New Zealand sheepskin and weathered oak

FURRY FRIENDS Perhaps fuelled by a renewed yearning for comfort and cosiness at home, or a desire to pay homage to design icons, upscale furniture stores and sitting rooms across the world are luxuriating in an array of lavishly woolly, occasionally furry and even downright shaggy sofas and armchairs. Some of the design world’s leading lights are opting for curves and fabulously indulgent upholstery instead of sharp, streamlined lines and minimalist styling. And there is a witty elegance at play here. Pierre Yovanovitch’s Mama Bear chair nods to Jean Royère’s 1940s classic the Polar Bear sofa (originals now sell at auction for up to £500,000), but Yovanovitch pushes things one step further by turning his chair into an actual cuddly toy, albeit a wonderfully chic one. Brazilian design legends the Campana brothers opt for a more glamorous route with their spectacular cherry-coloured Bolotas sofa, covered in luxurious sheepskin: a showstopper if ever there was one. And fêted British designer Max Lamb is creating a stir with his multicoloured Tufted Pillow chairs. Who said you had to choose between style and comfort? 8

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FRONTISPIECE TRENDS, INSIGHTS AND UPDATES FROM THE WORLDS OF PROPERTY, DESIGN AND LUXURY LIFESTYLE

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FRONTISPIECE

HERITAGE

LANDMARK LIVING “Rare is the opportunity to live in a landmark building and become part of its next chapter,” says Annabelle Dudley, director with Savills Global Residential Development Sales. “This is one of the key reasons they attract buyers from around the globe.” Also part of the appeal is the new life these projects breathe into neighbourhoods. This is certainly true of the £1bn development of Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater, London. Famed for its colonnaded facade and rooftop cupolas, the store is being transformed into 139 apartments and townhouses, 20 shops and restaurants, a cinema, a gym and Britain’s first Six Senses hotel and spa. Across town on Whitehall, the Old War Office Building, where Ian Fleming conceived James Bond, will become The OWO, London’s first Raffles hotel, with nine restaurants and bars, a spa and 85 branded residences, some centred on the historic offices of Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. “International buyers, especially, love this quintessentially English architecture,” says Edward Lewis, head of London Residential Development Sales at Savills. Adam Simmonds, director of Savills Super Prime Sales, believes the building’s character is invariably the main attraction: “You don’t want a pied-à-terre that could be replicated anywhere in the world. The high ceilings, cornices and 100-year-old marble fireplaces are really a selling point.” Historic developments overseas seem to hold the same appeal. At the Manifattura Tabacchi in Florence, a tobacco factory is being reimagined to include ateliers, workshops, office and co-working facilities, and cultural and education spaces, alongside lofts and apartments, student housing and a hotel. In Berlin, Swiss starchitects Herzog & de Meuron have designed the masterplan for a dynamic urban quarter of residential buildings, restaurants, shops and offices, centred around the historic Kunsthaus Tacheles (Art House). “These projects offer modern, ergonomic homes within iconic architectural designs,” says Dudley. “But, equally, their amenities – open-air theatres, universities, markets, ateliers, art galleries – make them desirable communities to live in.”

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From top: for residents of The OWO, an impressive reworking of the Old War Office Building in Whitehall, history will be all around; at the Manifattura Tabacchi in Florence, a tobacco factory is being transformed into a cultural and residential destination; and the £1bn redevelopment of Whiteleys shopping centre will breathe new life into Bayswater


INTERIORS

CHANGING ROOMS

Above: Pierre Frey, whose wallpaper can be seen in this picture, is one of the participants in the inaugural WOW!house show this summer

Over the past two decades the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour (DCCH) has developed into a domed temple to interior design. Its 120 showrooms, featuring more than 600 brands, offer inspiration and ideas from some of the world’s most famous furniture, fabric, lighting and wallpaper designers. Annual shows such as Artefact, featuring contemporary crafts, and London Design Week showcase the makers and trends to watch. Now DCCH is going a step further with WOW!house, running for the whole of June – leading designers have been paired with some of the world’s most famous interiors brands to create more than 20 interior and exterior spaces, housed in a special “longhouse”. It’s a formula that has proved successful in the US, where the Kips Bay Decorator Show House events in New York, Palm Beach and Dallas pull in the design-savvy crowd, but Claire German, CEO of DCCH, believes the London version will be bigger and better. Designers include Rita Konig, Emma Burns and Philip Hooper of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergleyen, and Raymond Boozer of Apartment 48, while participating brands include Pierre Frey, Schumacher and Sanderson Design Group. Prepare to be wowed.

WELLNESS

HEALTHY HOMES “We spend 90 per cent of our time indoors,” says Paul Scialla, CEO of Delos, a young business merging the world’s largest asset class – real estate – with one of its fastest-growing industries, wellness. “Yet from a health perspective those environments have long been overlooked.” Delos has spent five years working with medical professionals, architects and designers to create DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence, an automated network designed to monitor, calibrate and respond to changing environmental conditions in your home. It comprises air purification, custom water filtration, circadian lighting and enhanced sleep systems – four key tools to improve “the health of your home”. Scialla is evidently far from alone in this thinking. Edward Lewis, head of Residential Development Sales at Savills, sees this as a shift developers are getting wise to. “How to provide a really good wellness offer – that’s the new thing, whether it’s a spa with a nutritionist or even a medical concierge.” Interior designer and architectural historian Edward Bulmer is also fighting the good fight, having developed plant-based paints that are eco-friendly and free of harmful chemicals. According to Bulmer, petrochemical products are prime suspects in the rise of unexplained allergies, ME, asthma, eczema and other ailments. He says: “The question really should be, ‘Why are you happy to use plastic paint?’” The use of plant-based paints is an extension of biophilic design, which aims to enhance health and wellbeing by improving our connection to nature. The Davidson Prize-winning HomeForest app, for example, pairs with a selection of smart devices to overlay sensory experiences such as the sound of birdsong and the smell of rain.

Above: interior designer Edward Bulmer has created a range of eco-friendly plant-based paints that are free from harmful chemicals

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FRONTISPIECE

PROPERTY MARKET

As Covid worked its way across the world for two long years, there were mumblings that city living could go into terminal decline. Fearing crowds and able to work remotely, many metropolitan stalwarts decamped to small towns and villages – and declared them perfect. But as the pandemic subsided, back many of them came, and now prime residential cities are rising reinvigorated out of the doldrums. The latest World Cities Prime Residential Index from Savills forecasts average growth of 4.3% – the second highest figure in five years. The index shows that cities, endlessly renewable, are racing ahead once again as a key residential choice. “There are a number of trends in cities, but the overarching theme is the effect of the pandemic,” says Paul Tostevin, director of World Research at Savills. “In the UK, we saw the rediscovery of the suburbs and the countryside. But people didn’t lose sight of cities – and those urban centres that are rising fastest offer lower costs and lifestyle advantages such as outside space.” Add historically low interest rates, rising incomes and mortgage affordability, and the city once more holds its own as the lifestyle choice for all generations. Further afield, the highest-flying cities in the Savills index include San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami in the US; Berlin and Lisbon in Europe; Dubai in the Middle East; Sydney in Australia; and Singapore. The extraordinary level of growth in many Chinese cities, however, has slowed sharply, with prices falling because of liquidity problems among major developers. Some of the high flyers are new entries, others old salts, but all offer energy as well as cultural and financial clout. Take the legacy metropolises of London, Paris and New York, which, although slightly lower down on the growth list, are still extremely attractive. “Paris has had a real bounce back in the past couple of years,” says Tostevin.

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“It suffered during Covid because so many French people have second homes, but is rising again – and when you’re able to work remotely and split your time between locations, the city experience becomes even more appealing.” Big cities also offer face-to-face business, which remains important, and some of the soaraway cities, including Miami, Dubai and Lisbon, benefit from the trend to flexible and remote working as well as the desire for space and outdoor life. Cities have always had a geographic raison d’être – whether river, port or central position. London’s historic success, for example, lies in its being a confluence of trade and time zone. Now, that doesn’t quite matter so much. “Cities are reimagining themselves, with governmental activity to make them sustainable, liveable and healthy,” says Tostevin. These greener conurbations aim to reinvent urban life, reducing traffic and stress while offering great transport and infrastructure. It’s the next stage of development, says Tostevin: “Cities are no longer just bases for manufacturing, but for services and technology, too.” In the long-term – Covid aside – cities remain on an upward trend. Just 3 per cent of the global population lived in cities in 1800, but by 2014 more than half of the world’s population was urban – a figure expected to increase to two-thirds by 2050. Why? Because cities contain aspiration. From Giza in ancient Egypt to Athens and Rome, New York and Beijing, cities are where the action is. As the urbanist Richard Florida says: “No pandemic – not the plagues, not London’s cholera epidemic, not the devastating Spanish flu of the early 20th century – has killed off our great cities or quelled the force of urbanisation.” Savills World Cities Index is where the story of the next urban century is being written.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL DRIVER

CITIES ARE ON THE UP


GARDENS

MEET THE GARDEN SALVAGE HUNTERS Some might say our gardens reveal as much about us as our home interiors. And one way to express your personality while giving your plot a cultured, lived-in aesthetic is through garden antiques such as birdbaths, statues, sundials and millstones. Finding the best examples often requires a little expertise – and a few friends with weathering country piles. Fortunately, there are a few specialists who can claim both. “What you have in your garden is representative of you as a person,” says Tina Bird, owner of Kent-based Decorative Garden Antiques. Bird specialises in 18th-century animal statuary by Eleanor Coade, Austin & Seeley and the Bromsgrove Guild. They might be life-size lions or posturing pigs, but they must have nice faces. “When I walk into my garden, I want to feel good,” Bird says. “I wouldn’t enjoy standing next to an eagle that looks like it’s going to kill me.” In Hungerford, West Berkshire, Travers Nettleton and his wife, Katie, own Garden Art Plus. Thanks to a little black book that is not short on landed gentry, they have become experts at sourcing beautiful antique water features, fountains, wellheads and troughs – architectural pieces that “soften the landscape while providing an interesting focal point”. Their speciality, however, is provenance. “We’re always incredibly careful about knowing where everything comes from,” says Nettleton, who recently acquired a wonderful George III lead cistern from the estate of Stanley Baldwin. “That said, it’s often fairly routine, as we’ll buy direct from properties that have been in the family for years.” When looking for a truly remarkable feature, many leading landscape gardeners – including Tom Stuart-Smith, Jinny Blom, Cleve West and Arne Maynard – have sought the help of Darren Jones, owner of Lichen Garden Antiques. For years he has supplied oculi, finials and gates to best-in-show gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, which takes place every May. Jones has carved out an ecclesiastical niche, buying and selling cupolas from Westminster Abbey, gargoyles from Gloucester Cathedral and even tombstones. “Those gargoyles have pellet marks from when Cromwell’s troops shot at them during the invasion of Gloucester,” he says. “They were snapped up by a collector. Everything seems to go quickly these days – people are spending so much more time in their garden. Some of these pieces are worth two or three times what they were five years ago.”

Top right: a pair of salvaged 19th-century church finials from Lichen Garden Antiques, which supplies the Chelsea Flower Show

TECHNOLOGY

THE VIRTUAL LAND GRAB The metaverse is becoming gentrified. Investors, celebrities, brands and organisations are paying fortunes for non-fungible-token (NFT) real estate in what is being described as a virtual land grab. That’s right, your online persona, or avatar, is going to need somewhere to live too. And it might end up costing more than your IRL home. “The metaverse is made up of platforms or worlds [Decentraland, The Sandbox, OpenSea and Cryptovoxels are the most popular] that allow users to buy virtual parcels of land they can build on and monetise,” says crypto expert James Harris, principal at Savills associate The Agency in Los Angeles. “Parcels are bought as NFTs, making them unique, tradeable digital assets, the ownership of which is recorded on a blockchain.” A plot of land in Decentraland’s trendy Fashion District recently sold for a record $2.4m and three parcels next to Snoop Dogg’s Sandbox mansion, a digital recreation of his home in California, went for a combined $1.23m. The buyers hope to rent out the space for commercial events. Adidas, Nike and Samsung have bought plots for exclusive branded content and Barbados is set to become the first country to open a virtual embassy. So, should we all be virtual-househunting? It is hard to say. Some estimate the metaverse will be worth $800bn by 2024, others believe it is a case of the emperor’s new clothes. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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T H E H O M E O F T H E WO R L D ’ S G R E AT E S T D E S I G N A N D D E CO R AT I O N B R A N D S

1 2 0 S H OW R O O M S | 6 0 0 LU X U RY B R A N D S

PERSONAL SHOPPING DESIGNER SOURCING E VENTS THROUGH THE YE AR TA L K S A N D WO R K S H O P S R E S TAU R A N T A N D C A F É PA R K I N G O N S I T E

Open 10 am – 5. 30 pm Monday – Friday Design Centre Chelsea H arbour London SW10 0XE +4 4 (0)20 7225 9166

w w w.dcch.co.uk

All products shown sourced from Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. See www.dcch.co.uk/advertising-credits


HOUSE STYLE FRANCIS SULTANA The designer and tastemaker Francis Sultana lives between a “set” (apartment) in London’s iconic Albany, a palazzo in Malta and a Jacobean hunting lodge in Hampshire I LOVED ALBANY from when I was a teenager, and was lucky to acquire the set that had belonged to Fleur Cowles [founder of the celebrated magazine Flair]. The Queen Mother used to visit her there every Friday for a G&T. AS CONTEMPORARY ART plays a big part in my life, the bigger the walls and the higher the ceilings, the better. MY HOUSE IN VALLETTA is baroque Mediterranean. It has Georgian and British inspiration and my continental flair. I HAVE LOVED THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE for a long time, but never found a house that was manageable until the Hunting Lodge [a National Trust-owned property, once home to the designer Nicky Haslam and, prior to that, John Fowler of Colefax and Fowler]. I didn’t want a bigger estate that would be a headache to run – I know how my life is. I AM KEEPING some of Nicky’s vision but also restoring John Fowler’s interiors, as well as adding my own. I want John to be happy when he looks down and sees what I’ve done. I’M IN THE MIDPOINT OF MY LIFE and I love learning. I want to manage my time and enjoy my life in a different way now. I think houses can be catalysts for change.

Clockwise from above: the art-filled entrance at Sultana’s Valletta home; the Hunting Lodge, Hampshire; a lamp and table by designer Jean-Michel Frank; Sultana; furnishings and living space at his Albany set; view over Capri from Villa Lysis; the late John Fowler at home at the Hunting Lodge

I’VE HAD A LOVE AFFAIR with Capri for 25 years. The house I would most like to decorate would be the Villa Lysis, which I feel a great affinity for. Looking down towards Marina Grande, it’s one of the most exquisite places in the world. I DON’T HAVE FAVOURITE STYLES. I live in a Georgian home in London. In Malta I live in a baroque house. I love belle époque, I love deco, I love Jean-Michel Frank.

I GREW UP IN A VILLAGE so I love village life. But the city is the hub, the source of creativity. I need London for inspiration, for museums and galleries like the V&A and the Serpentine and my tailor, Anderson & Sheppard.

INTERIOR ARCHIVE, PHILLIPS AUCTION HOUSE, GETTY

ORIGINALLY FROM MALTA, FRANCIS SULTANA IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING INTERIOR DESIGNERS, AS WELL AS CEO OF DAVID GILL GALLERY IN LONDON

I THINK A HOUSE CHOOSES its owner. I believe that certain homes come to the right person who will love them in the right way. I’m a great romantic.

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HOW THE COUNTRY GOT COOL A new generation is embracing country life, attracted not only by the space and beauty of the houses and landscapes, but also by the ever-cooler local scene, where private members’ clubs rub shoulders with international art-world hubs and hip hotels Words by Alex Bagner

ASHURST MANOR is a grand white-stuccoed country house with 95 acres, in Kent; guide £10m, Will Peppitt, wpeppitt@savills.com

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Opposite: Piet Oudolf’s gardens at Hauser & Wirth Somerset helped turn Bruton into a cultural hotspot


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SUCH A PHENOMENON IS THE COTSWOLDS BOOM THAT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SENT A WRITER TO REPORT BACK FROM ITS BUCOLIC FRONT LINE

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OPENING SPREAD, RIGHT: JASON INGRAM. CURRENT SPREAD: NEWT, ALAMY

From top: the swimming pool at The Newt in Somerset, a recent addition to the cool country hotel brigade, in arty Bruton. Daylesford Organic in the Cotswolds has taken the farm shop to another level

I HAVE TAKEN MY HUSBAND away for the weekend. It’s a sunny Saturday morning as we emerge from our bijou hotel. Outside is that familiar din of the coffee roasting machine and people milling around with sunglasses clutching their weekend papers. My husband pops in to grab the last two freshly baked cinnamon buns in the bakery while I try my luck at getting a table at the Michelin-starred restaurant next door. As we walk down the bustling high street, clutching our flat whites, a car pulls over, the driver rolls down his window and, with a hint of a foreign accent, asks if it’s OK to park here. I say probably not. We continue up past boutiques and pop-up gallery spaces and as we turn off the high street, the majestic rolling hills of Somerset appear in all their glory. Because, contrary to what you might expect from the way our morning kicked off, we’re not on a city break. We’re in Bruton, Somerset, in the heart of rural England. “Bruton really was of very little note 20 years ago,” says James McKillop, Savills head of residential sales in Salisbury. “Now it’s a groovy cultural hotspot. It’s got the beauty of the countryside, but with all this great stuff also going on.” He notes the Hauser & Wirth gallery, Osip restaurant, The Newt country hotel and, of course, the forerunner to all things country cool: Babington House, Soho House’s first foray into country living, which opened nearby way back in 1998. I’m just visiting for the weekend, but that, according to Lindsay Cuthill, head of Savills Country Department, is often how it starts: “Be it an award-winning restaurant, a gallery, perhaps even a summer festival – places outside London are becoming ever more fabulous, attracting more visitors, which, in turn, is changing the profile of the local buyer.” Cuthill confirms that alongside the boom in sales of large country houses, a new breed of buyer craving a different way of life has emerged. They want the beautiful house, the space and peace of the countryside, excellent local schools and perhaps the chance to experiment with a greener way of life, whether that is planting a woodland or running a small farm. Indeed, Savills reports a marked increase in those seeking out the “ideal 150-acre farm”. Increasingly, however, new buyers are also attracted by the local availability of highend amenities – plus some like-minded neighbours and a healthy dollop of cultural stimulation. Bruton may have its own particular brand of arty country chic, but the story is similar across prime pockets of the English countryside, from Cornwall to Kent, Herefordshire to Hampshire, Sussex to Suffolk. With more people than ever joining the pandemic-fuelled rush to get out of the city – Savills analysis of TwentyCi data shows a 125% increase in sales for £2m-plus properties outside London in the year to March 2022, compared to the year to March 2020 – one thing they no longer need to worry about is finding a good coffee. Nowhere exemplifies this trend more than the Cotswolds. Always a favoured area for weekend homes, it has seen its popularity climb ever higher, with Savills reporting that the price of £2m-plus houses increased by almost a quarter last year. Such a phenomenon is the Cotswolds boom that the Wall Street Journal dispatched a writer to report back from its bucolic front line of honey-coloured villages, country pubs and curated farm shops. Cuthill talks of a “golden triangle” between Great Tew, just outside Chipping Norton, Daylesford (a little further west in Gloucestershire and home to that acme of rural luxe, Carole Bamford’s Daylesford Organic farm shop) and the town of Lechlade, further south. Villages such as Burford, Chadlington, Churchill, Charlbury and Great and Little Tew are particularly popular. In this area, larger properties are so scarce they get snapped up long before they hit the market, with demand coming from local upsizers, relocators from across the UK and aspiring second-home owners. Overseas buyers are increasingly attracted to the area, which for many represents an ideal of classic English country life, albeit one with the Beckhams living down the road and a Cowshed spa nearby. As a social nexus, Soho Farmhouse, which has one such treatment space, feels


THE WALLED GARDEN, above, set in the grounds that give the property its name, is a rare example of a modern detached house in the heart of the Cotswolds; guide £2.65m, Sebastian Hipwood, sebastian.hipwood@savills.com

WORDEN HOUSE, above, near Dartmouth, dates from the 16th century and provides glorious family living and entertaining space; guide £4.5m, Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick, sjchick@savills. com BAGMOOR FARM, left, is “a country estate in miniature” near Henley-on-Thames; guide £7.75m, Stephen Christie-Miller, schristie-miller@savills.com

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Above, from top BLISS BLAKENEY in north Norfolk is the epitome of modern coastal living; guide £6m, Ben Rivett, BRivett@savills.com

THE WATER MILL is a Surrey conversion that has wellbeing at its heart, with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and a spa; guide £8.5m, Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, pdwelsh@savills.com THE OLD RECTORY is a magnificently restored Grade II listed home in beautiful grounds outside Lavenham, Suffolk; guide £5.5m, Tim Phillips, TMPhillips@savills.com 22

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almost the equivalent of an American country club, but with more sourdough. Quick access to London, handsome stone farmhouses and attractive outbuildings ripe for repurposing into that new essential, the home office, are also key to the appeal. George Nares, Savills head of West Country sales, has seen a similar story in Devon and Cornwall, too far from London for commuters. He agrees that the buyer profile there has become younger, but believes the majority of these people would have left the city anyway, they’re just doing so earlier. “Many were brought up in the countryside and have now accelerated their plan to return. London has become the second home sooner than they thought.” He says the concept of the weekend house is starting to shift – people are referring to the “short week” pad in the city, with the forever home in the countryside. “While there are lots of factors at stake, the lure of an interesting neighbourhood full of interesting people, combined with land and space, is certainly making people move sooner,” he says. The beautiful coastline, with its opportunities for sailing and surfing, is a big selling point, offering a lifestyle unique in the UK market. Chris Clifford, director of Savills Residential for Cornwall, sums this up rather well on his Instagram profile, which declares, “I’d rather be in a wetsuit than a suit.” Prime coastal markets such as Devon and Cornwall have seen a surge in demand since 2020, with average price growth of 14.1% during the past year. Unsurprisingly, competition for the best properties, especially those overlooking the sea, is fierce. Hotelier Robin Hutson, founder of The Pig, which now has a hotel in almost every county in southern England, has built a business around the new breed of urbanite who want the reassurance that the quality of their stay in the countryside will be up to their metropolitan standards. He opened the first Pig in the New Forest 11 years ago, and is aware that the arrival of one of his hotels makes property in close proximity more desirable. “We’re more conscious now of the halo effect we have. As well as bringing income and employment to a community, we’re obsessed with buying local, building up an army of local supply chains and immersing ourselves in the existing food and wine scene.” In Cornwall, where Hutson opened The Pig on the Beach in Harlyn Bay three years ago, there was already a serious restaurant scene, with a prosperous clientele and a second-home community. The past two years have seen record numbers choosing to staycation there, which has translated into a rocketing interest in Cornish property. Demand for coastal properties is especially fierce around Polzeath, Helford River, St Mawes and the Roseland Peninsula. In neighbouring Devon, the South Hams, Salcombe and the Dart estuary are top of many buyers’ lists. It’s not just wonderful food and a lively atmosphere luring in the new country set, however. When it comes to the arts, the countryside is putting on quite the show. Snape Maltings, a pioneering arts complex on the bank of the river Alde in Suffolk, was set up in 1967 by the composer Benjamin Britten as a venue for the Aldeburgh Music Festival. Today it is also home to performance spaces, shops, galleries, restaurants and a farmers’ market. “We never have an issue attracting world-famous performers or selling out seats in our large auditoriums,” says director Harry Young. “A few years ago, it was predominantly a more elderly and middle-aged crowd, but these days we’re seeing younger couples, often without kids, but perhaps with a beautiful dog in tow.” Festivals such as Latitude, often cited as Britain’s smartest pop festival, add to the county’s cool quotient. Tim Phillips, Savills director of sales for the East of England, confirms the boom in Suffolk sales, with buyers attracted by the big skies, charming coastline and riverscapes, and the fashionable towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold all within relatively easy striking distance of London. “The coastal market in particular went


ALAMY, GETTY

completely mad last year, with Southwold reaching £1,000 per square foot, which was unheard of.” It’s a similar story up-country in Norfolk. The stately Houghton Hall has become a prestigious gallery attracting an internationally renowned roster of artists including Tony Cragg, Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor, as well as hosting an annual music and arts festival. Julia Perowne, who runs a luxury PR company representing some of the world’s most glamorous hotels, is a regular visitor. She lives in west London with her fiancé and baby, but hails from Norfolk. After spending lockdown in her renovated cottage on the family farm where she grew up, she says she has now “seen the light” and that, “in terms of my heart and my head, Norfolk is my home”. “It’s the simplicity and calm that I adore,” she says. “But I feel proud of how much good stuff is happening here and I love how it’s all happening in an unassuming, unintimidating way. It’s buzzy but without that high-energy London voltage. As well as the farming set I grew up with, there are now lots more people in the mix.” Phillips has noticed a change in the urbanites buying in both Suffolk and Norfolk: “It used to be predominantly those from north or east London, but now that people can live more flexibly and maybe just go to London once or twice a week, it opens things up. We are now getting the south-west London crowd, selling their £2m or £2.5m house, and realising what this area can offer for that price – a large period farmhouse with outbuildings and several acres.” People are attracted, he says, by the sense of community, beaches, good schools and space. But he agrees that the liveliness and quality of amenities are also key: “I used to turn up in villages and the only coffee I could get was instant in a plastic cup. I genuinely think that would be impossible to find here now. The quality of food and drink is as good as in London, if not better.” Holt, 22 miles north of Norwich, is a particular hotspot, with its fine shops, the popular Gresham’s School and proximity to miles of beautiful coastline. London buyers – both relocaters and weekenders – are drawn by the handsome brick-and-flint houses, arts scene and relaxed local vibe. As well as revels at Houghton and Blickling Halls (the latter is hosting evenings with Michael Bublé and Tom Jones as well as an Ibiza dance party this summer), leading British art collector Ivor Braka has shaken up the local landscape with his pub-with-bedrooms the Gunton Arms and the Suffield Arms, both filled to the gunnels with contemporary British art. A similar creative scene is bubbling up in Kent and Sussex, bringing an artsy coolness to the south-east coast. Towns such as Petworth, Arundel and Rye are in vogue, having swapped out gentleman’s attire shops and family butchers for independent bookshops, organic grocers and mid-century vintage stores – all of which make the rolling Downs beyond more desirable than ever. As well as the classic Georgian houses and rectories with several acres, there is strong demand for rural properties with equestrian facilities, lifestyle farms and even vineyards. The good life beckons. Meanwhile, in coastal towns such as Whitstable, Margate, Folkestone and Hastings, the DFLs (down from Londoners) are buying run-down Georgian seafront properties and fast forming communities that are tighter, friendlier and often more entrepreneurial than their previous London tribes ever allowed. However, for all the coolness sweeping through rural England, the country is still the country: “There is no doubt that being close to a Soho House outpost, the Hay Festival or a great new restaurant ramps up demand for property, but it’s rarely the number one criteria,” says Nares. “The countryside itself is still what people are after, even more so after the past two years. The nature, the view, the land, the space, the pantry, the boot room – this is what people are looking for. It may not be the original green-welly brigade moving in, but actual wellies are still essential. It gets muddy out there.”

‘THESE DAYS WE’RE SEEING YOUNGER BUYERS, OFTEN COUPLES WITHOUT KIDS, BUT PERHAPS WITH A BEAUTIFUL DOG IN TOW’

From top: Maggi Hambling’s Scallop sculpture on the beach at Aldeburgh adds to the popular Suffolk town’s cultural cachet; sea, surf and the dream of a laid-back outdoors lifestyle lure increasingly younger buyers to Devon and Cornwall

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IF YOU LIKE

Widely considered the sailing capital of the Caribbean (although the BVIs might have a view on that), Antigua operates at a slower pace than most of its island neighbours. Tom Vickery, Associate Director at Savills Global Residential, puts this down to the fact that many of the island’s visitors stay for months at a time, often making Antigua their home for the winter. “People just aren’t rushing around trying to do everything that they need to do on holiday,” he says. “It’s very laid-back. You’ve got about 300 beaches dotted around the island, so it never feels too busy.” Property is spread nicely around the island too. Gated communities such as Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff and Sugar 26

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Ridge offer the security and amenities you would associate with five-star resorts, while standalone properties close to Jolly Harbour and other coastal towns can get as big and beachy as your pockets will allow. “Savills has the exclusive mandate on the Windward Estate, the promontory between English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour,” says Vickery. “This would be the perfect location to buy or build your dream home, especially for those with an interest in sailing.” Antigua Yacht Club shares the marina with small shops, bars and restaurants that cater for yacht crews. The historic Nelson’s Dockyard is close by, as is the beautiful Pigeon Point Beach, where you will find Vickery’s top tip, Catherine’s Café.

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LOOKING FOR A LAID-BACK SEASIDE LIFESTYLE, WITH PLENTY OF SAILING? HERE ARE THREE OF THE BEST SPOTS


ANTIGUA... Opposite: Antigua’s English Harbour is one of a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area. Left: the Long House is a four-bedroom villa in the Peninsula gated community; guide $2.4m. Below: at 10,000 sq ft, Palm Point is the largest villa in Jolly Harbour; guide $9.5m. Both properties through Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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...YOU’LL LOVE PEBBLE BEACH...

Above and right: designed by award-winning Sterling-Huddleson Architecture, The Edge is one of Pebble Beach’s standout homes, with six bedrooms and panoramic sea views; $29m, Braden Sterling, braden.sterling@ theagencyre.com. Below, the rugged, windy coastline between Carmel and Monterey is perfect for sailing

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“Pebble Beach is first and foremost a golfing destination, but sailing certainly complements our community demographic,” says Braden Sterling, principal of Sterling-Huddleson Architecture and managing director of Savills associate The Agency in California. “Our location between Santa Barbara and San Francisco is an obvious layover for all types of sailors making the coastal journey. And our yacht clubs [Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club and Stillwater Yacht Club] participate in important offshore racing events and regattas that often pair well with other international events hosted annually in the area.” Pebble Beach and neighbouring Carmel are affluent retirement communities made up primarily of second and third homeowners, as well as families looking to escape the city for a more “outdoorsy” lifestyle. There are many types of coastal property here – notably beachfront villas and bluff-top homes – but a decent view and a handful of internationally acclaimed vineyards are the main attractions for those who choose to buy on the Monterey Peninsula. “While I like the idea of barefoot luxe, perhaps ‘designer flip-flop luxe’ might be a better way to describe the vibe in Pebble Beach,” says Sterling. “Luxury properties are finally being acknowledged in our area, where the architectural bar has traditionally been low. However, for the past 15 years, Sterling-Huddleson Architecture has developed more than 100 properties and transformed the architectural landscape into what is now a bucket-list area for the top architects around the world.”

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Left: the chic harbour village of Naoussa has become one of the most popular destinations in the Cyclades. Below left: a brand-new four-bedroom residence near Agkeria; €990,000, Fani Dritsa, f.dritsa@savills.gr. Below right: Panorama is a six-bedroom retreat with views of Naxos and the sea; €2.6m, Stefania Tsokali, s.tsokali@savills.gr

... AND YOU’LL LOVE PAROS

Like Antigua, the Greek island of Paros is more relaxed than some of its neighbours – and, once again, life here revolves around lazy days on the beach. Sailing is a huge part of the culture: the island’s two main towns, Parikia (the capital) and Naoussa, both have charming ports that attract boats from around the Mediterranean, especially during the annual Aegean Regatta. “Paros is a nice mix of tradition and luxury,” says Danae Tsakiris, Director, Savills Greece. “Naoussa, for example, is really quite cosmopolitan. You have wonderful Cycladic architecture, some incredible shops and restaurants, and even nightlife if you want it.” Outside the towns and villages, you will find authentic tavernas, and properties tend to be much larger and closer to

the water. Life here almost comes to a standstill, according to Tsakiris. The food is simple but exquisite and the beaches are suitably exotic, so there is little need to journey far from home. Indeed, Kolymbithres (perhaps the island’s most famous beach), Ambelas (popular among locals) and Chryssi Akti (one of the Med’s premier windsurfing destinations) are surrounded by incredible high-end property and the few amenities one might actually need. “In the past few years we’ve seen some amazing homes being built and sold on the east and south coasts of the island,” says Tsakiris. “These are increasingly big, bohemian terracotta properties that contrast nicely with the whitewashed walls of the island’s older buildings. And I must say, it’s a great mix of Greek and international owners.” PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS... The secret to enjoying your collection at home is awareness, expert help – and keeping the most vulnerable pieces out of reach of children’s sticky fingers Words by Anny Shaw

ART IS MADE TO BE lived with. However, there are myriad issues to contend with when installing and caring for a work in the home, from framing, security and insurance to those moments when you need to call in the specialists – to repair a torn canvas, perhaps, or remove cornflakes from your Jean-Michel Basquiat painting. According to Pandora Mather-Lees, an art historian and conservator, the first thing a collector should do is create and maintain a catalogue of their collection. “If a work is catalogued from the outset, with all the data and images that go with it, you are starting off on the right foot. And if something gets damaged or stolen, having good records means insurance companies will look more favourably on you.” It’s also vital when it comes to knowing where your inventory 30

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Previous spread: Valeria Napoleone rebuilt her Kensington home around her art collection, creating a white gallery-like entrance filled with contemporary sculpture

is, especially if a collection is kept across several homes and partly in storage. The trend among contemporary artists to label their works simply “Untitled” can also create confusion. For some collectors, such as Valeria Napoleone, living with art is paramount. Since she began collecting 25 years ago, Napoleone has amassed 450 works, chiefly by women artists, many of which are now installed in her seven-storey Georgian townhouse in Kensington. It took nine years to gut and rebuild the property, in a renovation primarily intended to create the perfect blank canvas to showcase her collection. The end result is superb. “I was looking at how to elevate a domestic setting into a space to exhibit art without losing that sense of warmth and feeling of being at home,” Napoleone says. She started with the lighting, keeping it soft, and chose pietra serena, a grey sandstone widely used in Renaissance Florence, for the grand staircase. The artist Mika Tajima came up with the idea of building alcoves into the walls. “We’ve installed works of various sizes into these niches, which are lit,” Napoleone says. “As you walk up the stairs, you have intimate encounters with the works, without exposing them to being scratched or damaged.” Lobbies and hallways are obvious spaces to display statement pieces. Napoleone has taken this one step further, turning the entrance to her house into a white cube-shaped gallery, devoid of furniture. “It sets the tone that this is the home of an art collector,” she says. Much of her contemporary sculpture is installed on the floor instead of on plinths. “I don’t want to put it on a pedestal. My family live with art around us and we are very cautious,” she says. “When my children were toddlers and had play dates, they’d stick to their playrooms. My kids have been incredible – they’ve never damaged anything.” Kate Bryan, the arts broadcaster and head of collections at Soho House, agrees that collections can be made child friendly. “Art is more robust than you might think, but it’s obviously better to be safe than sorry,” she advises. “Canvases shouldn’t be placed anywhere someone might lean their body or an object against them. Framed works are the simplest way to go in kitchens and play areas, so dirty fingerprints and the odd projected yoghurt can be wiped away.” In some instances, Bryan has observed parents censoring where they hang art showing the naked body. She says: “I would encourage people to push the boundaries of what art they show with children in the home. I was surprised recently that a collector moved a Miranda Forrester work into a quiet corner because it depicted a nude figure.” Wear and tear are issues for those with or without children, however, and some areas of the house are riskier than others. MatherLees recalls a case where a marble sculpture had been installed at the bottom of a staircase. “Guests would come down the stairs and rub the sculpture’s tummy, which discoloured it. Marble is not impervious, it picks up grease and dirt,” she says. 32

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Specialist solutions, such as sealed, microclimate frames, can help in challenging environments – even bathrooms. Prices can run into the thousands, though Tru Vue’s Optimum frames are relatively affordable at about £1,000 for a modest-sized two-dimensional work. Mather-Lees, however, advises only installing less valuable pieces such as photography or prints in wet or steamy rooms. “I would say, have the least valuable works in your bathroom, and be aware that they are going to deteriorate if you don’t have proper ventilation,” she adds. If food or drink is spilt on a work, it’s best to leave any cleaning to the experts, and to make sure cleaning staff know not to use cleaning products on art- or museum-glass, as this will create smears that are almost impossible to remove. Similarly, bleach is corrosive on alabaster and marble, while silver is particularly soft and malleable, and therefore vulnerable. In one extreme case, Mather-Lees was indeed asked by a billionaire to restore a Basquiat painting on his superyacht that had been splattered with breakfast cereal. “The crew had made the damage worse by wiping the cornflakes off,” she says. “It’s always a case of least invasive method first. Try to avoid touching anything and bring in the experts. If you can’t, a gentle dusting with a dry brush is best – dry methods over wet methods, always.” Sculptures destined for gardens or outdoor terraces need to be made of fairly impervious material such as granite, marble or bronze. It’s best practice, where possible, to work closely with the artist’s studio or a curator to oversee the maintenance of outdoor works. Once installed, bronze pieces can be washed gently with warm water and a soft cloth, and a soft brush can be used to remove more stubborn marks or droppings. Bronzes may also have artificial patinas applied to their surfaces, so will be expected to turn green in time. The display of digital art presents other challenges. Tablets, laptops and smart TVs can easily be used, but more sophisticated digital picture frames are also available. Once again, these can run to thousands of pounds. Specialist David Fox of New York-based Stonefox architecture practice – “where architecture, art and design meet” – sometimes creates “a small mock-up for the collector to see the intent and sign off on it”, prior to installation. “Having a digital artwork completely integrated into the architecture can have a big impact, but it will take a team of professionals to make it happen.” As for the burgeoning and sometimes baffling world of NFTs and virtual art – perhaps displayed in your virtual gallery in the metaverse – that’s a whole new world of challenges. Be aware that if art can be displayed virtually, then it can be lost, stolen or damaged virtually, too. Whatever the collection, Mather-Lees says the most important thing to remember is “awareness… Art is the only appreciating asset, apart from the house itself. So it is important to have that awareness, to have that appreciation and to be trained in the care of your collection.” And also, as Napoleone would stress, to enjoy it.

OPENING SPREAD: GETTY.

Left: a double-height reception room by Stonefox provides the perfect backdrop for statement artworks


‘LOBBIES AND HALLWAYS ARE OBVIOUS SPACES TO DISPLAY STATEMENT PIECES’

Above: contemporary art can work well in a classical setting. Here, Banksy’s 2004 work Girl with Balloon (Colour AP Gold) takes pride of place above this handsome fireplace (Maddox Gallery) Right: specialist architectural practice Stonefox created this striking modern home in Palm Beach, Florida, with the clients’ art collection at the centre of their design

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HOW TO GO GREEN

Buying a country house increasingly comes with a desire for sustainable living Words by Paul Miles

“MANY MORE PEOPLE who live in country houses are striving to live more sustainably,” says Crispin Holborow at Savills Private Office. And, increasingly, clients turn to Savills natural capital services or Country House teams for advice on everything from improving biodiversity in their grounds to heating those historic houses in the most carbon-neutral way possible. “They usually come to us wellinformed,” says Holborow. “They know what they want to do, but they’re asking us, ‘How do we do it?’” This trend is true of many people who upped-sticks during the pandemic, and whose desire to do right by their rural surroundings is wrapped up in their search for a quieter pace of life or a view over fields from their home office. Holborow has also witnessed a change in attitudes among clients who have lived in the country all their lives. One example of this sea change is the walled garden – a staple of the domestic economy of the country house until the inter-war period, after which they were largely neglected. “The walls would usually be maintained,” he says, “because they were listed, but inside they’d be used as a football pitch at best, or perhaps for the chickens, while everyone bought their vegetables at the supermarket. Now most of the ones I see have raised beds again, as people are more aware of the health and ecological benefits of producing their own food. Keeping bees is another thing you see a lot of, which is good for biodiversity and also the health benefits of consuming locally produced honey.” However, if gardens and grounds can be transformed relatively easily, the country house itself can be a harder nut to crack, with “one of the biggest challenges being how to get homes off fossil fuels”, according to Chris Cummings, director of Savills Earth. What is possible varies considerably. If you’re building from scratch, you can strive to achieve that acme of eco-friendly living: the Passivhaus standard. But if you’re living in a listed stately home, it’s about the art of the possible – from moving away from that oil-powered boiler to ground-source heating or, an example Holborow cites, “having sedum roofs on the outbuildings, which might not be listed”. THE PERFECT NEW-BUILD?

The international Passivhaus standard is the fastest growing and most rigorous voluntary standard for energy efficiency. A home built to Passivhaus standard is so well designed and constructed that barely any “active heating” is needed, typically just one electric radiator in 34

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Natural swimming ponds look beautiful, attract an array of wildlife and have the added benefit of flood mitigation

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIALS

If you are building new, the choice of materials requires careful consideration. The manufacture and transport of conventional materials such as concrete, steel and bricks creates a huge amount of carbon-dioxide emissions – their use should be minimised to create a home with a small carbon footprint. Instead, by choosing materials that have sequestered carbon during their manufacture, such as straw, timber or hemp, your new-build could be carbon negative. Engineered timber such as cross-laminated timber (CLT, also known as jumbo ply) is as strong as steel. Straw now comes in panels that are quick and easy to assemble, serving as both insulation and structure, while structural stone is an alternative to concrete, steel or brick, with as little as one-tenth of the carbon emissions. REBUILD VERSUS RETROFIT

Given the allure of living in a contemporary country home with perfect eco credentials, it might be tempting to knock down an existing building (if it’s not listed) and start again. But demolishing an older structure in order to build a new one will inflict a huge carbon footprint by wasting all the resources tied up in those bricks and mortar. The most environmentally sound approach, where possible, is to retrofit an existing property. 36

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RETROFITTING AN HISTORIC HOME

Even historic properties can be retrofitted to efficiency standards sufficient to ditch the gas- or oil-powered central heating system and rely on a small amount of low-energy electric heating. In what’s known as an EnerPhit (energy retrofit with Passivhaus components), windows and doors are triple-glazed and made airtight against unwanted draughts; and fireplaces are sealed up, not only to prevent draughts, but because they are no longer needed. If you want a real fire, you could install a wood burner that mostly heats water – otherwise, you will be overheating your newly refurbished, warm and toasty home. Heating might come from all-electric ground-source heat pumps or a water-source heat pump that uses the heat energy of a lake or pond in your grounds. SOMETHING IN THE AIR

“Old buildings need to breathe,” is a frequent response to the suggestion of making old country houses airtight. This is a common misunderstanding. A building can be airtight and still able to breathe. Breathability is about moisture – you do not need howling draughts through rattling windows. What you do need are natural materials that are vapour-permeable – the kind of materials from which most old houses are constructed. Wood fibre, rammed earth, straw and lime plaster are all able to moderate moisture that could otherwise rot timbers; modern plastic membranes and the like should be avoided. Instead, ancient brickwork needs to be made airtight but breathable, and insulation installed while thermal bridges are eliminated and a system of ducts is introduced to ventilate the home. Clearly, this isn’t a quick fix, and while it is possible to do the work while you remain in the property, it may be more convenient to relocate for a few months.

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a four-bedroom house. This is possible thanks to highly efficient insulation, no unwanted draughts, no thermal bridges that conduct heat out of the building, a compact shape and a system of mechanical ventilation and heat recovery that provides excellent indoor air quality, as well as using waste heat from cooking, appliances and occupants to warm the home.


From left: this walled garden has been returned to its former productive glory by the Land Gardeners; a well-managed woodland, rather than one left wild, is generally better for wildlife; the Flat House, a zero-carbon new-build in Cambridgeshire, is made from natural materials, mostly hemp grown in the surrounding fields

LISTED AND GREEN

“Old buildings have got to stay old buildings,” says Savills conservation architect Andy McRoyall, who believes there is sometimes a clash between the aesthetics of conservation and the practicalities of sustainability. However, although there are not yet many examples, a deep retrofit of a listed property is perfectly possible. There are several straightforward measures you can take to reduce heating bills and energy use, even if your home’s listed status stands in the way of structural changes. Unwanted draughts are the easiest: brush seals can be fitted around doors and windows, while heavy curtains dramatically reduce draughts from old windows and are an appropriate intervention in an historic home. Chimneys that aren’t in use can be sealed up, or temporarily blocked if used occasionally. Loft spaces and below-floors should be insulated. In other words, this is about working out what is possible and managing change. As McRoyall puts it, “A key thing to appreciate about historic properties is that they have a stable internal environment. Change things and you can cause shrinkage, cracking in the ceilings and so on.” GREEN PASTURES

‘EVEN HISTORIC PROPERTIES CAN BE RETROFITTED TO EFFICIENCY STANDARDS SUFFICIENT TO DITCH THE OIL-POWERED CENTRAL HEATING’

Rather than pristine, manicured lawns around your country home, consider a wildflower garden. Insects, invertebrates and birds really need a wilder mix of vegetation. A pond or lake is a good start, as it creates a wildlife habitat, with flood mitigation an added benefit. A wild swimming pool edged with bulrushes will look beautiful, as well as attracting dragonflies, newts and frogs. Birds of prey and kingfishers will then follow. What’s more, flood mitigation and biodiversity plans are crucial for gaining planning permission for new-builds. There is much talk these days of rewilding, but counterintuitively, if you have a woodland area, then managing it, rather than leaving it unmanaged, is better for wildlife. This mimics the activities of long-absent species such as bison, creating open glades (good for butterflies), areas of young saplings, mature trees and dead wood. Felled trees can be left to rot, encouraging beetles and other bugs. REGENERATIVE GARDENING

There’s nothing more rewarding than growing your own fruit and veg – everything tastes better when freshly picked, and food miles are eliminated. But if you’re spraying chemicals, depleting the soil’s fertility and using lots of water, the local environment will suffer. The best way to grow your own food is to practise “regenerative gardening”, which will enhance the quality of the soil and restore its microbiome. If you usually use a rotavator to plough your vegetable plot, it’s time to retire that bit of machinery. Allowing pigs to roam some of your land can be extraordinarily beneficial. Soil quality is vastly improved by not tilling. Instead, you need to be adding as much organic matter – such as peat-free compost and well-rotted manure – as possible. Use mulch to reduce water loss and keep down weeds. And use companion planting, instead of pesticides, to protect crops from pests and encourage pollinators. After a few years, the soil health will improve dramatically and so will the yield and flavour of your crops. It’s the kind of virtuous circle that today is increasingly sought by the owners of country homes, old and new. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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IT TAKES A VILLAGE Words Anne Ashworth

London’s most popular village suburbs offer the joys of country family living without leaving town. From green spaces to great local shops, farmers’ markets to a thriving community ethos, we look at the magic ingredients of urban village life 38

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THE LOVE AFFAIR with London’s prime villages seems set to scale new heights this year. The flight to the shires was the property story of the pandemic, but there is now greater recognition of what some have always known: a stylish suburb can supply the community spirit and handsome houses of its rural equivalent, all within Transport for London’s Zones 2, 3 or 4. The established leaders of the prime village pack are Barnes, Chiswick, Clapham, Hampstead, Highgate, Putney, Richmond, Wandsworth Common and Wimbledon – but Victoria Park village, in east London, is hot on their heels. These leafy locations boast most of “the Gs”: gorgeous architecture, gardens of a decent size, great schools, green spaces, good transport links, gregarious locals and gastropubs. Also key are a Ginger Pig or similar independent butcher, a Gail’s or similar artisan bakery, a luxurious cinema, an independent bookshop, plenty of electric car-charging points – and a summer fete or Jubilee street party to add to the sense of local bonhomie. Such is the appeal of these areas that the year to March 2022 saw a 76 per cent annual increase in the number of £5m-plus sales across south-west London, according to Savills research. Over the same period, the price of a house with six or more bedrooms rose by 10.8 per cent in west London and by 9.1 per cent in south-west London. Robin Chatwin, head of Savills south-west London, sums up the appeal: “Prime villages deliver on the golden formula – large family houses, a close-knit community, greenery and good schools – while striking a balance with central London’s world-class amenities.” Helen Hammond, director of Savills Clapham branch, often shows houses to buyers living in Knightsbridge, Kensington or Notting Hill, who want more space and a forever home for family living: “They might not know south London at all,” she says, “but when they come here, they love the green space and sense of community.” James Marshall sees a similar trend in east London. “Buyers come to Victoria Park village for the schools, the parks and the buzzy markets, shops and restaurants. But just as important is the sense of community – everyone knows everyone here.” It is little wonder that, as Chatwin reports, some families who moved out of London in 2020 are currently house-hunting in the city’s prime villages, as WFH fades away a little. They crave an easy commute once again, and the sociability of town. As for the virtues

Clockwise from far left: hilly Highgate; Northcote Road, in Wandsworth Common; rowers in Putney; riding through Wimbledon village; Hampstead Heath; Barnes Fair; Victoria Park village; and the farmers’ market in Clapham

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of the country, there are so many farmers’ markets in London these days, you’re almost as likely to meet a farmer on a Saturday morning in Hampstead as in Haywards Heath. This summer, in the lush grounds of Kenwood House, the Robert Adam mansion in Highgate, you can see Nile Rodgers and Noel Gallagher in concert. This mix of parkland, architecture and entertainment, 35 minutes from Charing Cross, sums up why this and the other London prime villages rock. Let’s go on a tour. BARNES

Above: Chiswick House is a Palladian mansion with gorgeous grounds. Below: the farmers’ market on Venn Street, Clapham; and Kenwood House, a Robert Adam-designed mansion in Highgate

THERE ARE SO MANY FARMERS' MARKETS IN LONDON, YOU'RE ALMOST AS LIKELY TO MEET A FARMER IN HAMPSTEAD AS IN HAYWARDS HEATH

Barnes is on the river, but its principal landmark is the picturesque pond on the village green, a relic of the area’s past as pastureland. It hosts the Barnes Fair in July, said to be the capital’s best village fete. Chatwin comments: “People move to Barnes from Notting Hill and other prime central London areas. They still feel as if they are in London at places such as the Olympic Studios, with its cinema, but there is more room to breathe. Then you have the renowned schools – St Paul’s and the Harrodian – and Barnes Common.” The area also boasts lovely riverside pubs, a Rick Stein restaurant and a weekly farmers’ market. The top address in Barnes is Castelnau, a handsome street that runs up to Hammersmith Bridge. Its current closure to traffic is an inconvenience, but Barnes is less congested as a result. CHISWICK

Families who want a bit more bustle than Barnes provides might favour nearby Chiswick, on the north side of the Thames. On the wide boulevard of Chiswick High Road, artisan bakery and coffee enthusiasts are spoilt for choice. Christopher Bramwell of Savills says: “You’ve got brilliant schools – Latymer, Chiswick & Bedford Park and the rest – and so much green space, including Chiswick House, a Palladian mansion in gorgeous grounds.” The wide range of restaurants can mean there is little incentive to go into town, especially given the arrival of the luxurious Chiswick Cinema. Airedale Avenue and Homefield Road are sought-after streets, but Bedford Park is the acme of Chiswick real estate, with its Queen Anne-style houses, some designed by Norman Shaw. You need a budget of about £3m to aspire to this area. Clapham has long been popular with young professionals graduating to family houses, attracted by the 220-acre Common, the excellent schools, the weekly farmers’ market on Venn Street and the array of bars, restaurants and independent stores. Known as Cloppham in Saxon times, it is now a series of separate villages. The smartest are Abbeville Village – around Abbeville Road, near Clapham South Tube – and the Old Town, with its Georgian terraces and squares, on the north-east side of the Common near Clapham Common Tube. Both give speedy access to the City. Helen Hammond notes a rise in “bank of mum and dad” buyers moving straight from rentals to houses priced at up to £2m. “Parents are releasing money to avoid inheritance tax and buy what will become their child’s family home for years to come. And I regularly sell to buyers from more central areas. They love the country feel, big gardens and houses where both partners can have an office at home.” In Abbeville Village, on streets such as Elms Road, Franconia Road and Narbonne Avenue, houses sell for £2m to £3m. A six-bedroom house on Clapham North Side, one of the Old Town’s swankiest addresses, costs anything up to £10m. HAMPSTEAD

In the 18th century, people retreated from central London to verdant Hampstead, and its reputation as an oasis has been revived 40

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PREVIOUS SPREAD & CURRENT: GETTY, ALAMY

CLAPHAM


Clockwise, from above BARNES This Regency home on Lonsdale Road has five bedrooms, off-street parking and a bespoke kitchen; guide £3m, Sam Bide, sam.bide@savills.com HAMPSTEAD Finished to exacting standards, this contemporary six-bedroom home is on Redington Road, in the heart of the village; guide £7.35m, James Diaper, jdiaper@savills.com HAMPSTEAD This five-bedroom house on Lyndhurst Gardens is one of the best new-builds in the area; guide £7.35m, James Diaper, jdiaper@savills.com CHISWICK Overlooking the communal gardens of St Peter’s Square, this Grade II listed house has six bedrooms; guide £5.2m, Christopher Bramwell, cbramwell@savills.com

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‘VICTORIA PARK IS A GREAT TRANSITION AREA FROM YOUR SINGLE TWENTIES TO YOUNG FAMILY LIFE, WITHOUT LOSING THE BUZZINESS OF THE CITY'

in recent years. James Diaper, head of sales at Savills Hampstead, says that buyers are coming from Kensington, Marylebone and Mayfair, drawn by the 790-acre heath, with its swimming pools, woodland and compelling city views, and the coffee shops, bakeries and cafes on Hampstead High Street and its side streets. This is one of the few places in London where you can lose yourself on a two-hour yomp, yet be in the centre of town in less than 30 minutes. There’s also a coveted Daunt bookshop, as one would expect of such a literary hotspot, an Everyman cinema and a weekly farmers’ market in Parliament Hill Fields. Diaper comments: “What people like about Hampstead is that they can go for a walk or cycle before they go to work. They also like that there is a whole range of architecture. If you are contemplating Hampstead, you need to be ready to spend at least £4m.” HIGHGATE

Below, from top: a market stall in Highgate; walking the dogs on Wandsworth Common; and the boating lake in Victoria Park

Keen cyclists boast of ascending Swain’s Lane, which sweeps up from Hampstead Heath to Highgate village. Others take the longer route south down to Primrose Hill and the pastel-coloured terraces of Chalcot Square, but the heath reigns supreme in Highgate hearts – verdant views are the reason Millfield Lane is one of the most popular roads in the area. Merton Lane, where a house sold last year for £6.2m, is another desirable address. Diaper comments: “The heath and Highgate School are some of the reasons to buy here. We have a lot of international buyers.” They are no doubt drawn by the striking sense of space and lofty views, as well as enviably varied housing stock, from imposing 18th-century townhouses to lavish modern mansions. A budget of £3m-plus is required for a house in Highgate, and prices can reach £15m for the largest properties. One can only wonder what Karl Marx, a former patron of Highgate local the Flask who is buried in Highgate Cemetery, would make of it all. PUTNEY

The Thames Clipper boat service, which stops at Westminster and Tower Bridge, is one of the principal enticements of Putney – this is a London village with the river at its heart. There are pubs aplenty for watching the world (and the rowers) go by, and riverbank paths for dog walks and jogs. This prime village suits those who like the wildness of the 400-acre Putney Heath; the schools, including high-achieving Putney High for girls; and the easy access to town, with the Tube ride to Sloane Square taking 16 minutes. On Parkfields and Colinette Road, Victorian Gothic houses fetch £4m-plus. These streets run off the Upper Richmond Road, the hub of the village, with haunts such as the Bakehouse. Deodar Road is another coveted spot: houses on the north side boast enviable gardens that run down to the river, and views of the leafy Hurlingham Club.

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ALAMY

RICHMOND

The walk from Putney to Richmond along the Thames is nine miles – which is why Richmond feels more like a market town than a suburb. Richmond Park is a 2,500-acre place of respite and recreation, with deer herds, ponds, woodlands and 18th-century mansions such as Pembroke Lodge.Other highlights include Richmond Green, which is encircled by historic properties, and the view of the river from the top of Richmond Hill. The village is blessed with destination restaurants such as Petersham Nurseries, a clutch of good bookshops, excellent fashion stores, a Curzon cinema and two theatres. Nowhere sums up the delights of country living in town better than Richmond, exemplified by its three riding stables and schools – the weekend sees everyone from tiny tots to distinguished elders saddling up. Chatwin comments: “You have the river, the theatre and the independent shops, and you could dine in a different restaurant every day. A house overlooking the green is the dream, but you would have to be prepared to wait – and pay anything from £10m.”


VICTORIA PARK VILLAGE

A more recent entrant in the prime London village stakes, Victoria Park village lures young families from nearby Islington with its fabulous green space, a strong community ethos and a Sunday food market. The area’s trump cards are its popular state schools – Lauriston and Mossbourne Academy. James Marshall, Savills head of sales for Victoria Park and Hackney, lives in the area and waxes lyrical about its charms: “You’re really spoilt for great places to eat and drink, and buyers who move from Islington or Notting Hill love the park and how much space there is.” Many work in the City or Canary Wharf, and can cycle there in 20 minutes or walk within an hour. Bethnal Green Tube, south of the Park, is just four minutes from Bank. “You just couldn’t find a better location,” says Marshall, who cites other attractions such as the summer festivals that take place in the park: many locals get free tickets. “On the best roads – Penshurst, Southborough and Groombridge – houses often sell on the first day,” he says. “It’s a great transition area from your single twenties to young family life, without losing the buzziness of the city.” WANDSWORTH COMMON

So agreeable is Wandsworth Common, the surrounding streets have taken on the status of a village. At its heart is Bellevue Parade, where the stylish shops and restaurants include the award-winning Chez Bruce, a deli, a flower shop and a bicycle repair stall. This is a family mecca – toddlers are trundled off to Montessori, All-Star Tennis runs school-holiday tennis camps and there are dogs (and dog lovers) everywhere. Locals are excited by the prospect of Soho House opening in nearby Balham this summer, especially useful on work-from-home days. Another hotspot is Northcote Road, home to chic delis (including French newcomer Colette), an Aesop beauty store, the cherished antiques market and a summer street fair. Chatwin says these streets appeal to families leaving Fulham and Kensington, who want bigger gardens, more space to walk the dog and a lively community built around treasured state schools such as Honeywell and Belleville. Good independents include Thomas’s, Finton House, Northcote Lodge and Emanuel, while coaches whisk others off to the high-achieving day schools of Dulwich. Such families aspire to live in the Toast Rack, an enclave resembling the pattern of a toast rack on the map, where some houses have garden gates that open onto the common. Locals joke that you need “a lot of bread” to buy here: on streets such as Henderson Road and Patten Road, a six-bedroom house can cost between £3.95m and £6m. WIMBLEDON

This London village is globally famous thanks to its revered tennis tournament. Locals grumble about the traffic caused by Wimbledon fortnight, but secretly enjoy the awestruck look of visitors when they see the high street’s chic shops, the 740-acre common, the charming country-style pubs and the array of restaurants. Exploring the common on horseback is one of Wimbledon’s favourite sports – as is golf, with no fewer than three clubs here. Once they’ve wiped the mud off their boots, Wimbledonians like to smarten up: this is one of a handful of London villages with a Matches fashion boutique. High-achieving independent schools such as King’s College and Wimbledon High School add to the family appeal, while for culture vultures there is an annual tented literary festival on the common. Chatwin comments: “On Wimbledon High Street, you’re spoilt for choice, with independent stores and chains such as the Ivy and Bayley & Sage delicatessen.” The price of admission to this prime village is £2m, but a trophy house could cost as much as £30m.

Above, from top

PUTNEY Explorer Ernest Shackleton lived in this nine-bedroom house on Heathview Gardens, which has a pool; guide £8.65m, Alex Howard Baker, ahowardbaker@savills.com WIMBLEDON This six-bedroom house on Preston Road, next to the Common, has an indoor pool; guide £5.5m, James Morrison, jmorrison@savills.com RICHMOND This Grade I listed house on Maids of Honour Row has five bedrooms and a walled garden; guide £6.5m, Daniel Hutchins, dhutchins@savills.com

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The Sydney suburb of Woollahra has excellent schools, a thriving cafe culture and a choice of beaches just minutes away

SYDNEY, WOOLLAHRA

“A quintessential Sydney village and one of the first residential areas to be settled” – that’s how Chris Orr, head of residential, Savills Australia, sums up Woollahra. Just 5km east of the Central Business District, this leafy, upscale neighbourhood is one of the most sought-after of the Eastern Suburbs. It is especially popular with families because of its excellent schools, sporting facilities and central location. The main shopping thoroughfare, Queen Street, only adds to its appeal. “Residents love the shops, the pub, the cafes, the florist, the butcher... they’re all second to none,” says Orr. “Leading international stores such as Jo Malone have also set up shop here.” Woollahra has the highest concentration of art galleries in Sydney, so many well-known artists and collectors live here. Handsome Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas line the streets and there is little new development. “The area adjoins the Centennial Parklands,” says Orr, “and the larger homes on the hill have extensive harbour views.” Many of the city’s most prestigious private schools border Woollahra, including Ascham, Cranbrook and Scots Colleges. The area is also home to several consulates, adding to the sophisticated international feel. With a choice of beaches just minutes away, a highly rated golf club, a thriving cafe culture and a strong sense of community, Woollahra delivers on the Sydney promise of an extraordinary quality of life in one of the world’s great cities.

TOKYO, HIROO

In a city where finding green space can be challenging, it’s no surprise leafy Hiroo is a prized location for families and expats. Tetsuya Kaneko, head of research, Savills Japan, says: “It is slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the central business districts, and its great asset is Arisugawa Park, a beautiful space with ponds, landscaped hills and pathways.” Hiroo is also popular with the expat community because of its proximity to excellent education. The Nishimachi International School is located nearby, in the Azabu area, and the International School of the Sacred Heart, a highly rated private all-girls Catholic school, is in Hiroo. In addition, there are several English-speaking preschools, including Sesame International. “Hiroo also has international grocery stores and Englishspeaking medical centres such as the Japanese Red Cross,” says Kaneko. Another key to Hiroo’s appeal is its architecture. It escaped much of the bombing in Tokyo at the end of the Second World War, and buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods add to the character and charm. Hiroo station is part of the vast Tokyo subway system and it’s a short commute to the business district. There is a range of excellent restaurants and cafes – and with no main roads, Hiroo is ideal for young families and cyclists.

Leafy Hiroo is one of Tokyo’s most sought-after districts, offering easy access to the business district and walks in Arisugawa Park

LOS ANGELES, LARCHMONT VILLAGE

The ‘streetcar suburb’ of Larchmont Village offers old-world charm and a laid-back vibe in the heart of Los Angeles

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“Larchmont Village is a true oasis within Los Angeles,” enthuses Gideon Lang-Laddie of local Savills associate The Agency. “Covering a mere half a square mile, this is the smallest neighbourhood in LA, and much loved for its quaint, village-like quality. From its charming range of architecture, boutique shops and restaurants, good schools and Sunday farmers’ market to its commuting convenience, Larchmont has it all.” South of Hollywood, Larchmont Village is a treasured “streetcar suburb” with lashings of old-world charm: think period buildings and stylish shops, cafes and restaurants on tree-lined streets. On Larchmont Boulevard, you’ll find boutiques such as Diptyque and The Library, longestablished book stores – Chevalier’s is one of the oldest in the city – and artisan ice-cream parlours and bagel shops. The private Page Academy was founded in 1908 and caters for children aged two to 14. Housing ranges from condominiums perfect for first-time buyers to grand period homes set behind pristine lawns. “The neighbourhood has become more and more sought-after over the years,” says Lang-Laddie. “People love its authentic village feel and welcoming atmosphere – it can be hard to believe that it is in the heart of America’s second largest city.”

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THE GREAT ROMANCE For most people, buying a house is as much a matter of chemistry as it is an investment. And when you find ‘the one’, it will capture your heart for years to come Words by Lucia van der Post Illustration by Cecilia Carlstedt

HOUSES CAN BE made of many things. They might be bricks and mortar or stone and rubble. The Masai make their huts from cow dung, mud, sticks, grass, human urine and ash. In Borneo they use timber and lift their longhouses up on stilts; in Tonga they’re made of reeds and coconut leaves. While wildly different materials go into their making, for most people on earth what really matters is having a place we can call home. And in the western world that mostly means a house. Such a simple five-letter word and yet it conjures up a world of meaning. As Vernon Baker, an African-American soldier decorated for heroism in the Second World War, put it so poignantly, it is about a place where “the heart can laugh without shyness. Home is where the heart’s tears can dry at their own pace.” Choosing the place that feels right, that captures your heart, isn’t about rising prices and acquiring capital. It is a great romance, a leap of faith. Lindsay Cuthill, head of Savills Country Department, says, “Buying and selling houses is an undeniably emotional experience for most people – how could it not be? Buying a large country house, for example, in many ways defies logic. If you thought too long about the practicalities, it would quickly lose its romance, but for most people that’s not what drives the decision.” Perhaps it is only those who, like me, never had a childhood family home who really understand how central to one’s sense of wellbeing it is. I grew up in a fractured family in South Africa, my mother and I living rather like nomads, traipsing from rented rooms to boarding houses with never a proper place to call home. When I married, thanks to a generous stepmother, we acquired our first family house in London’s Chelsea – those were the days when even impecunious young couples like us could afford such things. I still recall the charm of the Victorian terraces, the lovely windows of the first-floor drawing room, the little garden at the back. It was where our children were born and where I had a full family life for the first time. The little Chelsea house gave us a place from which we could go out confidently to face the world. It was where we found tranquillity, warmth and laughter, where we began to share food and wine and stories with our friends. I realised then that a house is so much more than four square walls. It is the repository of our memories, and it isn’t static. As we live and grow it becomes the storehouse of our family histories, a living archive of all that we are and have been. I only fully realised what the house had come to mean to us when, needing more space as our family grew, we blithely sold it. We were moving to a bigger, more beautiful house so I was utterly unprepared for the heartbreak we all felt when the day came to leave. 46

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Our son, then just 11, wrote a poignant farewell letter to the old nursery, which he left pinned to the wall. So traumatic was the move for him, he vowed that when his time came to have children, he would never move house while they were small – and he never has. To this day, they live in the Islington terraced house they first fell in love with because its sweet Victorian rooms felt like home, the basement opened out onto a small garden and a little wood where owls hooted, and the cats chased the squirrels up the trees. Cuthill agrees that the business of moving can be as painful as a lost love. “It can be a sort of grief. I spoke to someone this morning preparing to sell their family house after 25 years, and she feels overwhelmed by emotion while recognising it is the right thing to do. But for others, the decision to move and the search for the next house to fall in love with is exciting and energising.” We never felt an attachment to our grand house in Wimbledon (though Joanna Lumley, who bought it later, wrote us the most charming letter about how much she loved it – in particular, the climbing roses we had planted), so we moved and bought a smaller place that was nothing like as impressive. Though it was horribly designed, we fell in love with its situation in a curious village-like corner of Kensington. We loved its glorious drawing room sporting Chinese yellow walls and the way it caught the morning and evening sun. It just felt like home. Gradually, around it, we have accumulated precious memories – both our sets of parents, now long gone, came to many a jolly dinner or Christmas here and it is the place from which our children went forth to make happy homes of their own. Our friends and acquaintances have sat at our dining table and shared their stories. Over time, we have turned it into a house we love deeply, and neither of us is ever moving. So it is clear that where and what we choose as the framework of our lives matters deeply. We learn, too, that a house or home does not need to be grand. It’s making it your own that counts. Not just filling it with things that others think are fine, but with meaningful pieces: the rug we tracked down in a Turkish market, the jug we bought on a happy Cornish holiday, the picture somebody chose as a birthday present, the wonky chair we found in an antiques shop. It’s the little things that often turn out to give one daily joy. The way the light falls in a particular place, the beautiful window on the landing, the charm of a cornice, the appeal of a high ceiling. We all know from experience that there is little that is rational about it. Often when we enter a house we know instantly if it is “the one”. Just as the lover is charmed by the beloved’s blue eyes or the curve of her neck, so it is with houses. We cannot say for sure what it is that makes us love them, but we certainly know it when we do.



MASTER OF ECLECTICISM In one of his final interviews before his death, Philip Hewat-Jaboor, the much-loved chairman of Masterpiece art fair, explained his passion for cross-collecting – the highly fashionable pursuit of acquiring everything from Greek armour and period furniture to Old Masters and contemporary art Words by Emma Crichton-Miller

EVER SINCE IT LAUNCHED in 2010, Masterpiece has flown the flag for a particular style of collecting. This annual art fair, held at the end of June in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, for which Savills is the property partner, has established itself as a key event of the summer season. It distinguishes itself from its rivals not by specialisation, but by welcoming into its luxurious tent leading galleries showing art objects across the widest possible range. Here you can find Old Masters and Impressionist paintings alongside contemporary art; 18th-century silver, antique maps and illuminated manuscripts cheek by jowl with midcentury modern design; and fine watches next to ancient sculpture. The fair doesn’t just embrace eclecticism, it positively encourages it, designing its layout to ensure that galleries specialising in the same field don’t end up next to each other, and inviting dealers in different disciplines to share booths. Chairman of Masterpiece since 2012, Philip Hewat-Jaboor – who sadly died after a short illness a few weeks after being interviewed for this feature – was the perfect figure to lead the fair. A distinguished collector in his own right, he was evangelical in his belief that great art objects, beautifully displayed, enhance life immeasurably. His passion for beautiful things made him an inspiring art adviser, while his embrace of everything from ancient Egyptian porphyry to contemporary ceramics made him the perfect champion for “cross-collecting”, which can encompass everything from Old Masters and contemporary art to antiquities, the first editions of great American novels and Art Deco jewellery. “A journey of mutual enhancement of knowledge” was how he described his experience of advising collectors when we spoke in February. Or perhaps we should say journeys, given the many 48

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The late Philip Hewat-Jaboor photographed at his home in Jersey

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‘THE IDEA OF COLLECTING ACROSS PERIODS AND COUNTRIES HAS BEEN LOST’

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voyages of discovery that cross-collecting entails. But for HewatJaboor, collecting across genres wasn’t a new trend; it was “what everybody always did”. Beginning in the 1770s, Sir John Soane collected everything from Egyptian and Roman antiquities to Old Masters and the works of contemporary painters. In the 19th century, “people became Collectors with a capital C and focused minutely on areas of study such as Renaissance bronzes or portrait miniatures. Those collections sat on their own and were not in any way integrated into the interior in which they sat.” Then came “the modern focus, which has been so much on collecting contemporary, in whatever medium, that the idea of collecting across periods and countries was lost”. “You don’t have to be that kind of collector,” Hewat-Jaboor argued. For him, putting together a collection or an interior – “with style and panache and with great works of art” from vastly different eras – represented another kind of achievement. He was proud that Masterpiece attracts a broader audience than many art fairs. Besides museum curators and established collectors, “we attract a group of wealthy people who are starting out on this route, and they can come to us with the confidence that everything has been vetted, so every object and artwork is what the label tells you it is”. The fair “shows you the enormous range of works of art available on the market – you can’t see that in a museum setting – with the barriers between disciplines taken down”. What this means is that you are not predisposed to only look at Old Masters and ignore contemporary art. Or that just because you are particularly interested in 18th-century Sèvres porcelain, you don’t look at contemporary silver. Or that a love of midcentury modern furniture isn’t incompatible with a love of Arts & Crafts.


TREN DS Philip Hewat-Jaboor highlighted five trends to look for at Masterpiece FURNITURE BY ARCHITECTS

Architect-designed furniture and associated works of art by names such as Edward William Godwin, Augustus Pugin and William Lethaby often pop up at Masterpiece. It is an interesting – and not necessarily very expensive – field. You can pin down what the piece is, who designed it and often where it was designed for, to build up a history around it.

Furniture with history at Oscar Graf BROWN FURNITURE

It is a shame that “brown furniture” has become such a derogatory term. You can acquire English 18th- and early-19th-century pieces of excellent quality for modest amounts. Why spend money on an ephemeral or less well-made item when you could buy a one-off Regency chest of drawers with real spirit? MATERIALITY

Hewat-Jaboor also observed that visitors have become increasingly open to this approach over the past few years, suggesting this is “helped not just by the range of artworks our exhibitors bring, but also by the care they take to display them. As an individual exhibitor, Godson & Coles stands out to me with a wonderful combination of 18th-century and early-19th-century furniture, which is always of superb quality, mixed with modern British pictures and ceramics.” Visitors are encouraged to handle works of art, “to pick up the Suzuki silver vessel at Sassoon, a piece of contemporary glass at Michele Beiny or some antique classical armour – that’s what draws people in”. Seduced by the marvel they are holding in their hands, people become hooked and this is how their collecting career begins. Hewat-Jaboor explained: “People should buy works of art because they are beautiful, because they become passionate about them and because the objects have inherent integrity in themselves.” As his colleague and friend Lucie Kitchener, CEO of Masterpiece, put it: “Philip’s expertise, passion for collecting, desire to share what he knew and sheer joy of life were unparalleled. His legacy of openness and curiosity is central to Masterpiece and will be celebrated at the forthcoming edition in June.” Savills is the exclusive property partner of Masterpiece London, Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3; 30 June-6 July, 2022

Material, rather than era or genre, is emerging as the organising principle for many collectors, and is an intellectually engaged way of collecting. I have a selection of objects made from various types of stone. By concentrating on the material, whether it is alabaster, porphyry or granite, I put together a group of works that range in date from the contemporary – Stephen Cox, for instance – all the way back to the Roman period. It brings a new depth of excitement to looking at these objects. ANTIQUITIES COME OF AGE

Collectors are beginning to understand how to judge antiquities in a cleverer way, with an emphasis on the beauty and clarity of forms. An Ancient Greek cuirass, or armoured breastplate, for example, combines a warlike functionality with the beauty we associate with classical sculpture.

Antiquities on display at Galerie Chenel HAUTE POTTERY

Above: a visitor admires a modern masterpiece by Keith Haring at Opera Gallery’s stand. Left: Godson & Coles exhibits its trademark mix of antique English furniture and 20th-century British art

The current enthusiasm for contemporary ceramics, a trend almost single-handedly inspired by Adrian Sassoon, looks set to continue. His stand is remarkable because he is so passionate and because everything in it is beautiful. It is inspired by his deep understanding and desire to ensure that every object he works with is exceptional. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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THE ONE Searching for the perfect answer to a property conundrum? Three Savills agents suggest solutions

WE ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR LIVING BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LONDON, WITH CHILDREN AGED NINE AND 12. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HOLIDAY HOME IN THE SUN AND MAY EVENTUALLY RELOCATE ON A PERMANENT BASIS. WE ARE AN ACTIVE FAMILY – OUR OLDEST IS TENNIS-OBSESSED – AND WE LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

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ALGARVE

JAMIE ROBINSON SALES DIRECTOR, QP SAVILLS jamie@qp.pt

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“Portugal is a wonderfully relaxed, laid-back country, so it’s perfect for families, especially those looking to switch off from city life and enjoy year-round sun. The cost of living is relatively low, so it’s easy to live well here – the quality of food and wine has always been a selling point. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, and in the Algarve it is even more commonly used than Portuguese.” FACT FILE Just outside Faro is the Golden Triangle, often referred to as the Beverly Hills of the Algarve. The resorts of Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo are always popular and offer solid returns on investment. Faro has seen huge investment recently, and offers great dining and transport networks without the bustle associated with city life. Schooling has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, as more people relocate here permanently. There are international schools throughout the Algarve, including global education “brands” such as NOBEL (part of the Globeducate Group), with small class sizes and great facilities. Tennis and padel are hugely popular – there are endless amenities, ranging from small, locally run facilities to internationally renowned tennis academies that host summer camps with multilingual teachers. Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy is one of the most prestigious. Like most clubs, it offers weekly and annual memberships. The Algarve is home to more than 30 golf courses, so if you don’t play already, you soon will. Those who enjoy watersports are also in luck: there’s plenty of scope for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and surfing on the Atlantic coast; and almost every village has its own football club with training sessions for children. In high season, there are around 20 flights to Faro from London every day, while connections can be made from New York in Madrid, Lisbon or Paris.


ALAMY

Top: Vale do Lobo beach. Above: a five-bedroom villa in Quinta Das Raposeiras; €2.2m. Left: a three- to four-bedroom beachfront penthouse on Praia dos Aveiros, Albufeira; €1.495m

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THE ONE

MALLORCA

IRIS GRÜNEWALD MANAGING DIRECTOR, BALEARIC PROPERTIES (SAVILLS ASSOCIATES MALLORCA) gruenewald@ balearic-properties.com

FACT FILE From Palma, you can drive to almost anywhere on the island within an hour. The capital’s Old Town is full of lively bars, fancy restaurants and high-end boutiques, but most of the island retains a wonderful authenticity. There are several excellent international schools in Mallorca. Most are located around Palma, but inland you’ll find the Montessori School of Mallorca; the wonderful Mallorca International School in Pollença, which teaches a British curriculum; and the American International School of Mallorca, in the grounds of the Rafa Nadal Academy. As well as full-time schooling, the academy offers tennis camps for children and adults. Many of its alumni earn scholarships at top universities in the US. Due to the hilly nature of the island, and the ever-changing landscapes, cycling is very popular. So too is sailing – there are ports big and small around the island (Palma’s is the largest in the Balearics), which helps when it comes to mooring your boat close to home. Flights from London leave on average 34 times every day. And as of very recently there are four direct flights from New York every week.

Top: a four-bedroom townhouse in Pollença; €2.95m. Above: a four-bedroom hilltop villa in Bonaire, Palma; €3.075m. Left: the view from the observation point at Cap de Formentor 54

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ISTOCK

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“In Mallorca you have such a great quality of life, and you really do get a lot for your money. There are wonderful mountain ranges and fantastic beaches, and you can always find lovely off-the-beaten-track spots. Throughout the island there’s a great balance of the traditional and the upmarket, which lends itself nicely to family life. And there really is a community feel in Mallorca – expats have always been welcome.”


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FRENCH RIVIERA

“The French Riviera would be perfect for this family. The climate is great all year round and there’s so much to do for parents and children. It’s a sociable, glamorous part of the world, but you can find peace and quiet, especially in the hills, with stunning landscapes to explore. The architecture is a major draw, from historic villas to super-modern beachfront properties.” ALEX BALKIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAVILLS FRENCH RIVIERA abalkin@savills.com

FACT FILE The French Riviera has superb infrastructure, connecting St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco and further afield. Travelling by road and rail is easy, but some prefer to use boats or helicopters for quicker journey times. The region is full of great schools. The International School of Monaco is highly rated; the International School of Nice offers the International Baccalaureate; and in Sophia Antipolis, the Silicon Valley of the Riviera, Mougins School teaches a British curriculum.

Tennis is incredibly popular in this part of France. You’ll find clay, grass and covered courts in almost every town along the coast. And the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, founded by Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, is considered one of the world’s foremost summer camps. It also offers full-time schooling, with many of its students earning scholarships at top universities in the US. There are a number of national parks in the area, offering wonderful opportunities for hiking, cycling and climbing. Kitesurfing and paddleboarding are also popular, given the miles of glorious coastline. And for skiers, the resort of Auron isn’t far away, nor is the Italian border. Nice Côte d’Azur is one of the busiest airports in France, offering direct flights to most of the world’s major airports. On average there are 39 flights between London and Nice every day, as well as regular flights to New York’s JFK airport.

Top: the glorious coastline of the French Riviera. Left: a five-bedroom villa with a heated pool in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat; €5.6m. Right, a four-bedroom contemporary villa in a private domain in Mougins; €2.6m

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VISIT BATH

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THE FINE ART OF DOWNSIZING Whether it’s because of an empty nest or other changes in circumstance, many homeowners are re-evaluating where and how they want to live, and seizing the opportunity to forge a new life Words by Liz Rowlinson

Opposite: with its scenic waterways, friendly size and handsome Georgian buildings, Bath is a favoured destination among right-sizers

THE WAY WE LIVE IS CHANGING, thanks in large part to the pandemic. And this shift, for many, has brought one question into sharp focus: where do you really want to be at this stage in your life? It’s an exciting prospect. Much has been written about upsizing and the race for space towards larger gardens and home offices, but what about downsizers – or, more accurately, “right-sizers”, a better term for those choosing to move to a smaller, more easily maintained and not necessarily more affordable home? Starting a new chapter in life, removing the high costs of maintaining a larger property, simplifying daily routines or just taking a leap into the unknown are all reasons that have motivated people to right-size over the past two years. For many, a sense of excitement prevails and the current sellers’ market makes this the perfect time to make such a positive change. A key driver for a large proportion of Savills buyers who decided to downsize in 2021 was the desire to be closer to family, says Andrew Perratt, head of Country Residential. “The past few months have made many people realise they want to be nearer to their children or grandchildren, and also that it’s actually the ideal time to make the move. In recent years, the uncertainty of trying to sell a property in a slow market was a daunting prospect because of the months it might take, but since market conditions changed in the summer of 2020, a quick sale at a premium price is far more likely.” Freeing up equity to help children or grandchildren get on the housing ladder or pay school fees is another primary factor behind downsizing. Savills estimates approximately £10bn was handed down the generations in this way in 2021. Yet this capital might also open up a new lifestyle of travel or the pursuit of other interests you now have more time for. Such passions may well be focused around the cultural or artistic hub of an urban centre, and many small regional towns have thrived during the pandemic, especially those close to a national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Easier access to sailing typically draws right-sizers to Chichester or Lymington, while having the South Downs within easy reach makes Winchester a popular option. The Hampshire city’s book group and bridge club were also important draws for one new resident. “Many people might have been moving out of cities to gain more living space, but being able to walk to the theatre, a coffee shop or a restaurant is increasingly important to today’s downsizers,” says Perratt. Good public transport links are also key. PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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great restaurants and festivals, and the fact the Cotswolds is on the doorstep. Downsizing was more about what they were gaining than what they were losing.” Properties sought by right-sizers range from apartments in elegant Georgian townhouses to new-builds within historic conversions that offer the latest technology and modern comforts. Energy efficiency has become a bigger consideration, too, as the cost of heating and maintaining a large period home looks set to soar with the rise in gas prices. There is high demand for large lateral apartments, duplexes, and – increasingly during the pandemic – houses. Open-plan living, ultra-fast broadband, on-site gyms and concierge services are all new possibilities for many buyers seeking to enhance their home environment. “One thing that downsizers don’t want is anything that needs a lot of work,” says Heather, noting the particular appeal of traditional-style new-build properties at the Hope House and Holburne Park schemes in the heart of historic Bath. In Winchester, Silkstead Park, a new-build scheme of threebedroom houses on the outskirts of the city, and the Knights Quarter apartments, with concierge services and a gym, are both favoured by right-sizers. Redland Court in Bristol – popular with retirees for its good transport links, vibrant restaurant scene and cultural activities – is another example of a period restoration offering apartments and townhouses with a high-spec contemporary feel. The pedigree and prime position of The General, the city’s former hospital and a listed building, also make it ideal for today’s right-sizers. Wherever you choose to relocate to, make sure to enjoy your new way of living. Size really does matter.

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ALAMY

Small cities and towns such as Oxford, Cambridge, Winchester, Worcester, Brighton, Exeter and Tunbridge Wells have always attracted downsizers for these reasons, while Edinburgh, though bigger, has enough charm to keep any right-sizer happy. Wherever you look, right-sizing is on the up, says Alistair Heather, who heads the Bath office. “Bath has long appealed for its architecture, culture, manageable size and genteel pace of life, but one of its true strengths is that it is a place where it’s very easy to meet people and grow a social network,” he says. “It’s possible to feel comfortable here very quickly, which is reassuring when people leave a long-held family home and community.” Right-sizers arrive in Bath from all parts of the country, with London a key feeder city, but current market conditions have prompted an uptick in demand in London, too, as some right-sizers seek to swap large family houses in the suburbs for flats in the heart of town. As Perratt explains: “Some people might not have planned to downsize quite so soon, but are now thinking, ‘Why wait? There has never been a better time to sell the family home.’” Financial reasons aside, Heather says, there is a real sense of, “What do we want to do with the next stage of our lives and where best can we achieve this?” In common with Bath, the former spa town of Cheltenham attracts families for the quality of its schools, but it ticks all the boxes for right-sizers, too, says Chris Jarrett, head of the Cheltenham office. “An early-retired couple decided to move here recently because it was equidistant between their children in the southeast and Wales,” he says. “Far from being a compromise, the decision was driven by the desire to live in a cosmopolitan place with


Clockwise from above CHELTENHAM This Grade II listed terraced house on Fairview Road has a a garden and a study; guide £550,000, Chris Jarrett, chris.jarrett@savills.com CAMBRIDGE The Boat House has a mooring on the River Cam and a terrace overlooking the water; guide £995,000, Ed Meyer, ed.meyer@savills.com BRISTOL Redland Court is a smart development of restored period buildings and new homes; from £825,000, Katie Spears, katie.spears@savills.com BATH This one-bedroom apartment on the Royal Crescent, one of the city’s most prestigious addresses, has a wealth of period features; guide £1m, Alistair Heather, alistair.heather@ savills.com

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SE V EN REASONS WHY... LONDON IS RETURNING TO FORM Words by Oliver Bennett

London’s calling. And those city dwellers who left town at the start of the pandemic for a new life in the country are listening again, while as travel opens up, international buyers are re-engaging with the market. The areas making the most noise are those that make up what’s known as prime central London (PCL) – Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Kensington, Chelsea, Belgravia and Marylebone. And while there is some way to go before PCL values hit the high-water mark of 2014-15, that makes this a propitious time to buy, with values convincingly in recovery as we go to press. Options range from sprawling mansions to super-luxe apartments. However, with potential buyers up 48% this year compared to Q1 2019, in some parts of the marketplace there may not be enough to go round – another reason why those properties that are available will only sustain and gain. So, what are the real reasons for the bounce back of prime central London property?


THE AMERICANS ARE COMING

Ten years ago, PCL purchasers came mainly from western and eastern Europe, China and the Middle East, buying up grand townhouses and apartments and turning central London into a global social hub. Now buyers from the US are back in town, with a well-heeled influx of East Coast private-equity financiers and West Coast tech tycoons, drawn to the city by the desire to have a London base to oversee European-wide business interests and for their families and the educational infrastructure. “We’re seeing more Americans in the Mayfair market than for years,” says Claire Reynolds, co-head of Savills PCL division. “They’re typically looking for turnkey trophy properties and have budgets of about £20m-£30m.” They love London and the fact it offers easy access to the continent – it’s only a short hop to Davos. There are other pull factors, too. As Alex Christian, director of Savills Private Office, says: “I spoke to a billionaire who’s moving here for a change of lifestyle. He thinks America is becoming unsafe, and says he wants to try something else for his family and give London a go.” TECH BUYERS

In PCL property, as elsewhere, it’s digital first, and tech money is making waves in London. “There has been a notable increase in tech multimillionaire and billionaire buyers coming into London,” says Christian. “Most tend to be in their thirties and forties – way younger than our other buyers with similar budgets or requirements – and they are from all parts of the world. Most are looking for large houses with good gardens, parking and pools in Chelsea, Kensington and Holland Park, but others are looking for the lock-up-and-leave, secure lifestyle provided by Mayfair’s new-builds.” Beyond Mayfair, according to Pete Bevan, co-head of Savills PCL, statement buildings such as the King’s Cross Gasholders and Bankside’s Triptych can also “lure buyers outside the normal comfort zone”. HIGH-QUALITY STOCK

There is always a supply issue in London, but the bounce back is helped by stock that positions PCL as a global contender, with a mix of grand mansions, new-build properties and trophy refurbishments. The OWO, in the Old War Office Building, is attracting buyers who love history, and branded blue-chip developments such as Park Place in St James’s, No 1 Grosvenor Square, 60 Curzon, Holland Park Gate and Twenty Grosvenor Square are faring well, too. North of Hyde Park, Connaught Village is “one of the last remaining areas close to the park that isn’t totally redeveloped,” says Reynolds. “It’s charming, quintessentially British, with Georgian architecture and Selfridges as your corner shop.” Bayswater also has two significant developments in Park Modern and The Whiteley, while properties in the Cadogan Estates, the Grosvenor, the Boltons and Kensington’s garden squares are evergreen. Some prefer to go smaller and are snapping up two- to three-bedroom apartments in new developments. Instead of vast places with five bedrooms, they get a hotel experience, with services on tap. That’s another departure from the past: London’s services are now vastly improved. “About 15 years ago, you couldn’t buy a property with a decent concierge, gym facility, swimming pool and parking,” says Ed Lewis, head of residential sales at Savills. “Now these are de rigueur. ” PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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GOOD VALUE

Of course, “good value” is a relative term, but if you’ve got £10m to spend, London isn’t a bad bet, particularly when compared with tight markets such as Hong Kong and Monaco. And after the Covid slump of 2020, there’s definitely a strong sense of uplift. “Prime central London is coming back, but we’re still about 18 per cent down on 2014,” says Christian. “There’s a really big value-add here.” Moreover, says Reynolds, buyers now look at the entire “ownership journey”: that is to say the costs of buying, holding and selling. “In this sense, London is pretty good value compared to other destinations.” And PCL growth is forecast to be higher than outer prime London this year – indeed for the next five years, in so far as it is possible to predict. That said, the prime suburbs St John’s Wood, Hampstead and Clapham will always retain their appeal for people who like big houses with lateral floors, carriage drives and rolling gardens. REMOTE BUYING

We might all be tired of endless video calls, but they have been a boon for remote buying. Savills has seen a huge amount of virtual browsing, particularly from Asia Pac buyers, some from countries that have had more prolonged travel restrictions and where remote buying was a growing trend, even before the pandemic. “Fully remote deals are still extremely rare,” says Reynolds. Rather, international buyers tend to do remote homework with advisers, then visit before full purchase. Occasionally, however, they leap into the void. “We had one buyer in the Middle East purchase a house from his sofa with his family sitting alongside,” says Bevan. “The tech is so good we can explore every nook and cranny. Buyers can quickly decide if a property feels right.” POST-PANDEMIC TRENDS

Early lockdown saw buyers head to the countryside, but as London emerged from its Covid chrysalis it regained its pull – to the point where some might be regretting their decision to go rural. Thus the trend for combining country life with an urban pied-à-terre (covered elsewhere in this magazine), while the post-pandemic idea of the “15-minute city” – where life’s necessities can all be found close to home, a short walk or bike-ride away – gives neighbourhoods such as Chelsea, Marylebone and Belgravia a real boost. And there’s another factor driving PCL sales: post-lockdown divorce. “Sadly, it’s been a big driver for us,” says Bevan. BECAUSE IT’S LONDON

Add up all of London’s parks, shops, galleries, restaurants, schools and hospitals, and you get an immense urban proposition that competes with – if not beats – anywhere else in the world. “London’s got something for everyone,” says Reynolds. “Whichever lifestyle you’re seeking, there’s a neighbourhood that suits,” in a largely tolerant, multicultural metropolis. Transport links are good, English is the lingua franca and it helps that “the British education system is world-class”. Eton, Harrow, Westminster, Marlborough and their like are all a huge lure for ultra high net worth families. Bevan is currently dealing with a German buyer looking for a “cultural fix. He can’t get the same depth of activity anywhere else in Europe.” And security is a factor, too. “There’s a reason why people move from New World economies, often with starker divides between rich and poor.” There is also medical expertise – from Harley Street to King Edward VII’s Hospital. And weather-wise? “High net worth individuals tend to come in May, disappear to southern Europe, then come back in September.” But mostly, London has a unique urban buzz. The villages and high streets – from Marylebone to Hampstead, Chelsea to Primrose Hill – make for a patchwork city that’s unlike any other. That’s the real reason prime central London is eternal. 62

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RETURN OF THE The enduring appeal of city life is reflected in the global trend for small but perfectly formed urban boltholes Words by Lucy Alexander

Above: a chic apartment in Invalides, in Paris’ exclusive 7th arrondissement; €3.75m, Alice Storrie, astorrie@savills.com. Above right: spectacular views from New York’s Central Park Tower; from $6.5m, Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com


PIED-À-TERRE ONCE UPON A PRE-PANDEMIC TIME, a second home was

a country cottage – a symbol of escape, a respite from urban chaos. Fast forward to today and the new second home is just as likely to be in central Manhattan, London or Paris – still an escape, but from bucolic isolation to the perennial appeal of life as lived in the world’s great cities. Our concept of home has shifted lately. So do we now continue along the road many of us have travelled these past two years, away from urban life, or make a U-turn back to the city? Those with means can have it both ways and maintain a primary residence in the country alongside a chic pied-à-terre, the year’s hottest trend. High demand is anticipated for city-centre property worldwide in 2022, with Savills Prime Index: World Cities report forecasting average price growth of 4.3 per cent across 30 international cities. Prices in New York are predicted to rise by 4-6 per cent and those in London by 6-8 per cent, while rents are expected to follow the same trajectory. So, what constitutes the perfect pied-à-terre?

Let’s start in Paris, where the legend began. Hugues de La Morandière, director of Varenne, Savills associate in Paris, says a pied-à-terre must meet two criteria: it is never the owner’s primary home; and it must be very central. “A pied-à-terre is like a hotel,” he says. “A place for two to three days a week – for meetings, culture and friends.” For French buyers and renters, who focus on the first eight arrondissements, “having a pied-à-terre means not using a car. You must be in the centre for restaurants and cultural life.” It is, as the name suggests, a small foothold, about 50-100 square metres, costing about €15,000 to €20,000 per square metre. The requirements of international clients seeking a Parisian pied-àterre are different, with buyers looking for 100- to 300-square-metre apartments in the most exclusive arrondissements, such as the 7th and 16th, that have been renovated by interior decorators, have air conditioning and, ideally, offer a view of the Eiffel Tower. For this more substantial foothold, they will pay €2m to €6m. Americans and Brits make up the next tranche, opting for “outstanding views of the Seine or major monuments” for €20,000 PORT FOLIO BY SAVI LLS 2022

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to €30,000 per square metre. And then there are a limited number of small private mansions – rare trophy assets that start at €25m for 1,000 square metres. These last two sectors have recently been “very, very dynamic”, according to de La Morandière. As for domestic buyers, there has been a “radical movement towards the provinces”. Before 2020 “it was not common to work remotely”, says de La Morandière, “but the pandemic has ended the weekend concept, so it’s now easier to get in and out without traffic jams”. He sees demand from young retirees and entrepreneurs in their thirties, “who moved to Biarritz or Provence and want to come back and forth”. He is confident that “Paris will stay very attractive, but for people who live in the provinces, their dream is no longer about moving to Paris, but to have a pied-à-terre for visits”. The picture in New York, meanwhile, is dramatic. Property prices plummeted in the first two months of the pandemic, as about 420,000 people left the city. Yet the rebound has been equally frenzied, with 11.5 per cent rental value growth in the last six months of 2021; in the sales market, prices have already reached December 2018 levels. Rory McMullen, head of the North America desk at Savills Private Office, says “pied-à-terre buyers are a major component” of that recovery. These buyers typically decamped to Florida or the Hamptons in 2020, he explains, and are now tempted back by the city’s reopening. Interest is focused on developments such as 15 Central Park West and 220 Central Park South, and new buildings overlooking the Hudson, such as 70 Vestry and 443 Greenwich in Tribeca, and Lantern House in Chelsea. Many pied-à-terre buyers are empty nesters “splitting their time between various homes”, says McMullen. Those from further afield include “celebrities, tech millionaires and entrepreneurs”, of whom about two-thirds are American and one-third international. Most have a budget of $2m-$5m, and are finding prices are now 50 per cent higher than they were in 2019. Across the pond, many Brits who fled to the country are also fuelled not quite by buyer’s remorse, but by a feeling that a new balance between town and country life has to be struck. The view in 2020 was that “people didn’t need to get into town, and jobs were flexible, so transport was not a priority”, says Liza-Jane Kelly, Savills director of London residential. “Now there’s a bit of tension with that decision.” At the top end of the market are pied-à-terre seekers in prime central London, who typically sold a townhouse in Belgravia, Mayfair, Marylebone or Knightsbridge, moved to the country and now need a part-time city base, for which they will pay £5m-£10m. They’re in their late twenties to early forties, mostly working in hedge funds, private equity and tech. They want to live near their former homes, says Kelly, or in The Whiteley and Park Modern developments in newly desirable Bayswater, and prioritise “security, a concierge service, good public transport, access to airports, theatres and the motorway”. Demand is hot in the rental market, according to Amelia Greene, director of residential lettings at Savills: “We have a serious lack of stock because the sales market has been so strong.” That shortage plus the increase in demand “have meant price rises in most parts of London this year”. Now, most offers on rentals “are going to best and final bids”. The motivations for those seeking prime rentals, defined as £2,000 to £5,000 a week, are the same as in the sales market. As charming as a rural lifestyle is, “If you’ve been in London, that’s one hell of a lifestyle change. This is totally driving the pied-à-terre trend.” Many of these clients are choosing to rent because they want to “try before they buy”, says Greene. She expects prices to level out, however. “The heat will come out of the sales market, more stock will come to lettings, the backlog of applicants who held off over lockdowns will find somewhere and it will settle down,” Greene predicts. But, as in Paris and New York, she believes the fundamental attraction of a city bolthole will not diminish: “It’s eternal.” 66

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LONDON

ALBION GATE This newly renovated two-bedroom apartment is in a portered building opposite Hyde Park; £2.2m, Claire Reynolds, claire.reynolds@savills.com

PARIS

LUXEMBOURG A second-floor apartment in the 6th arrondissement, with views of the Jardin du Luxembourg; €3.622m, Alice Storrie, astorrie@savills.com

NEW YORK

130 WILLIAM David Adjaye designed this skyscraper in Manhattan; residences from $2.5m, penthouses from $6.856m, Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com


WILLIAM MEWS Moments from Hyde Park, this five-bedroom house is in a gated mews in Knightsbridge; £6.5m, Mark Redfern, mark.redfern@savills.com

EMPERORS GATE A three-bedroom lateral apartment on Gloucester Road, Kensington; £1,800 per week, Alex Melton, alex.melton@savills.com

OPÉRA In the 2nd arrondissement, near Place Vendôme, this peaceful 6th-floor apartment has an Eiffel Tower view; €1.333m, Alice Storrie, astorrie@savills.com

PALAIS ROYAL This four-bedroom apartment is in a 19th-century building in the 1st arrondissement; €2.965m, Alice Storrie, astorrie@savills.com

FLATIRON HOUSE This new development near Madison Square Park has splendid skyline views; $1.9m-$19.75m, Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

CENTRAL PARK TOWER This is the tallest residential building in the world at 1,550ft; from $6.5m, Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION PLACE A VISUAL TOU R OF THE W OR L D' D'S S MOST R E M A R K A BL E HOM ES

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U K Lond o n 70 U K co u ntr y 94 E u ro pe 115 Middle Eas t & Africa 1 49 America & Cari b b e a n 15 6

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UK LONDON

CLAIRE REYNOLDS CO-HEAD OF PRIME CENTRAL LONDON RESIDENTIAL

+44 (0)20 7578 5111 creynolds@savills.com

There’s real demand for turnkey property, whether it’s new-build or newly refurbished. Many buyers are looking for immediacy and a home they can move into straight away. KEY MARKET INSIGHTS London’s £5m-plus residential market has recorded its strongest ever start to the year. There were 128 second-hand and new-build sales priced at £5m or more in the first quarter of 2022 – 25 per cent and 24 per cent higher than in Q1 2021 and Q1 2020 respectively. Marylebone and Fitzrovia have seen significant growth in the past decade. The former has been Savills best-performing micro-market for five years, with deals agreed up by 162 per cent year-on-year. Branded residences are growing massively in popularity, regenerating destinations such as Bayswater in the process. Many can command a price premium of up to 30 per cent.

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Prime central London recorded its strongest quarterly price growth in eight years, according to the latest Savills sales index (Q1 2022), with international buyers re-entering a stock-constrained market that has been dominated by domestic buyers for two years. Prices rose by 1.1 per cent in the quarter and are 2.8 per cent up on a year ago. Mayfair has seen an increase in North American, Australian and German buyers.

Two in five super-prime second-hand sales were in Kensington (up 12.1 per cent), St John’s Wood (up 12.1 per cent), Belgravia (up 10.1 per cent) or Chelsea (up 9.1 per cent). This is the strongest indication of prime central London bouncing back after the pandemic.


THE COLLECTION LONDON

WALPOLE HOUSE, CHISWICK

Offering spectacular views over the River Thames, this exquisite Grade I listed Georgian home has Tudor origins – notable former residents include Charles II’s mistress Barbara Villiers. Set in 0.65 acres of historic walled gardens, Walpole House is on Chiswick Mall, one of west London’s premier addresses. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 6 £18,500,000 Jonathan Hewlett, jhewlett@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON EATON SQUARE, BELGRAVIA

On the market for the first time in a generation, this is an outstanding Grade II* listed house with double mews facing south over the magnificent gardens of Eaton Square. Ideal for entertaining on a grand scale, the seven-storey home has a passenger lift and staff accommodation. Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 7 £39,500,000 Noel de Keyzer, ndekeyzer@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION CAMBRIDGE GATE, REGENT’S PARK

Private and prestigious, with commanding views over 487 acres of royal parkland and gardens, this is one of the largest lateral penthouses in London. Spread over three floors at the top of a property dating from 1875, it has been carefully restored and completely refurbished, with an internal passenger lift and terraces overlooking Regent’s Park. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 £25,500,000 Stephen Lindsay, slindsay@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON

HAT FACTORY PENTHOUSE​, SOHO

A fantastic three-bedroom duplex penthouse in the heart of London’s vibrant West End, this contemporary loft apartment has been designed to the highest standards. It makes for a perfect entertaining space, with an incredibly spacious open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. The impressive windows and stunning skylights allow an abundance of natural light to flood the room. Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 4 £6,500,000 Fehd Alsaidi, fehd.alsaidi@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION

PELHAM PLACE, SOUTH KENSINGTON

On the eastern side of a charming tree-lined street, this Grade II* listed stucco-fronted house has beautiful proportions and a wealth of classical detailing. Set over four storeys, with the main bedroom and an en-suite bathroom on the second floor, it has a 34ft garden and a conservatory on the lower ground floor. Bedrooms 2-3 Bathrooms 2 £6,650,000 Tom Lamb, tlamb@savills.com 76

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THE COLLECTION LONDON CHESTER TERRACE, REGENT’S PARK

Offering uninterrupted views over one of London’s finest parks, this neoclassical home has been beautifully refurbished, retaining period elements while adding a modern twist. There’s a roof terrace, and the master bedroom occupies the entire second floor, with a dressing room and luxurious en-suite bathroom. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 £15,500,000 ​Stephen Lindsay, slindsay@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION TREGUNTER ROAD, CHELSEA

An exceptional home on a tree-lined street in the desirable Boltons conservation area, this six-storey house was recently remodelled and extended. It has an exceptional family/media room, a gym and a kitchen that’s made for entertaining, with glass doors leading to the landscaped south-facing garden. There is gated parking to the front of the property. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 £18,750,000 Richard Gutteridge, richard.gutteridge@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON KENSINGTON SQUARE, KENSINGTON

Built in Queen Anne style in the early 18th century, this charming Grade II listed house is one of the finest houses on an enchanting communal garden square. It has a terrace, a pretty garden and original wooden panelling in some rooms.​ Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 £6,750,000 Pete Bevan, peter.bevan@savills.com

SURREY LANE, BATTERSEA

Minutes from the Thames and Battersea Park and Chelsea, this one-of-a-kind gated house feels like a country stately home. It has a grand cantilever staircase, a private driveway, a garage/outhouse and a swimming pool in the unusually large walled garden. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 6 £9,950,000 Mayow Short, ​mshort@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION LITTLE COLLEGE STREET, WESTMINSTER

Renovated to an impressive standard, this beautifully proportioned, versatile family home has a triple-window drawing room with a decorative period fireplace, and provides a lateral aspect of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. A staircase at the centre of the property floods the house with natural light. The master suite spans the entire third floor and has a fully fitted dressing room. Bedrooms 5-6 Bathrooms 4 £6,350,000 ​Laura Wilcox-Chandley, laura.wilcoxchandley@savills.com

HYDE PARK GARDENS, HYDE PARK ESTATE

Offering fabulous views over Hyde Park, this beautifully presented apartment has 1,786 sq ft of lateral living space. The design is luxurious and contemporary, with Gaggenau appliances in the Bulthaup kitchen and an abundance of natural light throughout. Sash windows in the reception room overlook the building’s private communal gardens. Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 £5,750,000 Claire Reynolds, creynolds@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON STRATFORD PLACE, MARYLEBONE

An incredible Grade ll listed house in a quiet cul-de-sac just off Oxford Street, with two terraces, a six-person lift, a Japanese hot tub and a gym. The rooms have grand proportions and the attention to detail is exceptional: the elegant bathrooms have steam showers, Japanese toilets and smart glass, and there are carbon-fibre wardrobes in the two principal bedroom suites. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 7 £18,500,000 ​Nick Poppe, ​npoppe@savills.com

WILTON STREET, BELGRAVIA

This is a rare low-built house with a lift in one of the capital’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, near Belgrave Square, Eaton Square and Buckingham Palace. It has a ground-floor reception room with bay windows and a La Cornue range in the kitchen. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 £8,950,000 Richard Gutteridge, richard.gutteridge@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION

REGENT'S CRESCENT

Regent’s Crescent, Regent’s Park London’s only Grade I listed new-build development, Regent’s Crescent is a historical masterpiece. Built in 1820 for the Prince Regent, later King George IV, it was designed by famed architect John Nash – who remodelled Buckingham Palace in 1826. Bedrooms 1-5 Bathrooms 1-6 Prices from £1.3m Adam Simmonds, adam.simmonds@savills.com 82

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THE COLLECTION LONDON 8 EATON LANE, BELGRAVIA

Inspired by the grandeur of the building’s distinguished history, 8 Eaton Lane will comprise 42 new residences behind an elegant Grade II listed façade, delivering the best in contemporary living. Ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom duplexes, this unique collection of landmark residences will have views of the Goring hotel’s gardens and Buckingham Palace. Bedrooms 1-5 Bathrooms 1-5 POA Theo Gordon, thgordon@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION HOLLAND PARK GATE, KENSINGTON

This new development consists of four elegant buildings offering generously proportioned apartments, each finished with Lodha UK’s trademark attention to quality and detail. Residents will enjoy a dedicated health club and spa with 25-metre pool, gym, treatment rooms, dining room and library. The property will be fully serviced by Lodha UK’s highly regarded private management hospitality company, Saint Amand. Bedrooms 1-4 Bathrooms 1-4 POA Adam Simmonds, adam.simmonds@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON

POWERHOUSE, CHELSEA

The Powerhouse completes the Chelsea Waterfront development with the conversion of the landmark Lots Road Power Station. The light-filled atrium that combines modern and natural elements with unique points of historical interest. Many of the apartments have balconies facing the creek, with views of the Thames beyond. The shops and restaurants on the ground floor will make this a dynamic new destination. Bedrooms 1-4 Bathrooms 1-4 POA Richard Osborne-Young, royoung@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION

THE OWO RESIDENCES, WHITEHALL

The Old War Office, where Ian Fleming created James Bond, is being reincarnated as the world-class lifestyle destination The OWO. Set to open early next year, it comprises an integrated Raffles hotel, 85 private residences, 11 restaurants, a rooftop cocktail bar, best-in-class services and a plethora of private amenities. The OWO will be a truly memorable destination in one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Bedrooms 1-5 Bathrooms 1-5 POA Adam Simmonds, adam.simmonds@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON THE WHITELEY, BAYSWATER

Located in one of London’s most sought-after areas, the redevelopment of the much-loved Whiteleys shopping centre will offer 139 private apartments and the first Six Senses London hotel and spa. Renowned for its dedication to wellness and sustainability, Six Senses will provide residents with exclusive spaces and world-class amenities and services. Bedrooms 1-5 Bathrooms 1-5 POA Hamish Batchen, hamish.batchen@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION

FITZROY PARK, HIGHGATE

This modern family home on the eastern side of Hampstead Heath has a cinema room, a swimming pool and 6,230 sq ft of living space. Hidden behind secure gates, the house is accessed via a short footpath through a tranquil Japanese garden with a waterfall flowing into a pond. It’s a short walk to the shops, pubs and restaurants of Highgate village. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 7 From £8,000 per week (£34,666 per month) Isabella Birch Reynardson, ibreynardson@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON

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LONDON THE COLLECTION TITE STREET, CHELSEA

This outstanding house in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods has 6,503ft of living space and a wonderful double-height hall with a feature staircase. Four of the bedrooms are en suite, and the principal reception rooms have double doors leading to the secluded Italianate garden or the balcony and terrace on the first floor. There’s also a roof terrace. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 6 From £12,000 per week (£52,000 per month) Isabella Birch Reynardson, ibreynardson@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON

EDWARDES SQUARE, KENSINGTON

Spread over 3,419 sq ft, this exceptionally pretty house is on one of the most sought-after garden squares in Kensington. The reception room on the ground floor leads out to the garden, at the end of which is a guest house with a kitchenette. Edwardes Square is a short walk from Holland Park and the shops, restaurants and transport links on Kensington High Street. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 4 £5,500 per week (£23,833 per month) Isabella Birch Reynardson, ibreynardson@savills.com

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LONDON THE COLLECTION

CUMBERLAND TERRACE, REGENT’S PARK

This 4,693 sq ft house is part of a Grade I listed terrace designed by John Nash, with panoramic views over Regent's Park. The triple-aspect property has been refurbished to exacting standards, with high ceilings and renewed decoration that complements the period features. The five reception rooms offer a sense of grandeur while providing a family feel. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 £10,950 per week (£47,450 per month) Isabella Birch Reynardson, ibreynardson@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION LONDON CAMBRIDGE PLACE, KENSINGTON

This stucco-fronted house is on a cul-de-sac in a conservation area near Kensington Gardens. Laid out over four floors, the 2,867 sq ft home has undergone an extensive renovation, combining period detail with modern fixtures and fittings. There’s a south-facing garden and the living and entertaining spaces are exceptional. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 £7,500 per week (£32,500 per month) Isabella Birch Reynardson, ibreynardson@savills.com

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UK COUNTRY

LINDSAY CUTHILL HEAD OF SAVILLS COUNTRY DEPARTMENT +44 (0)20 7016 3820 lcuthill@savills.com

Whether it’s the Cotswolds, North Yorkshire or the Norfolk coast, the whole of the UK has seen a renewed appreciation for rural living. KEY MARKET INSIGHTS In the £2m-plus country house market, a limited number of available properties has supported price growth. Indeed, values have already increased by 2 per cent in the three months to March 2022.

Channel Islands 114 East 97 Home Counties 95, 96, 98, 102 Ireland 113 North 112

Scotland 113 South of England 98, 105, 106 West 110

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At the top end, buyers aren’t looking for somewhere instead of London, but somewhere as well as London. A country house is a purchase that reflects their desire to enjoy the best of both worlds – town and country. Annual price growth in this exclusive segment of the market reached 10.3 per cent in the year to March 2022, led by the ultimate lifestyle and second-home locations – in the Cotswolds, prices increased annually

by 16.6 per cent. In the home counties, the prestigious private estates of St George’s Hill and Wentworth saw a price rise of 2.6 per cent during the first three months of 2022. Buyers aren’t looking for complete isolation – an increasing number want to be close to social hubs such as Petworth in West Sussex or local cultural hubs such as the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Somerset and Messums Wiltshire. Buyers are seaching further afield. The opportunity to work from home means an end to the tyranny of daily commuting, allowing people to live further away from London.


THE COLLECTION BEDFORDSHIRE

HINWICK HOUSE, HINWICK

On the market for only the third time in 300 years, this Grade I listed Queen Anne manor is set in 37 acres of mature parkland and woodland, with a stream, two lakes, an orchard and paddocks. It has a Victorian wing and several outbuildings, including three cottages, a dovecote and an 18th-century clock tower. Bedrooms 12 Bathrooms 6 £7,950,000 Hugh Maconochie, hmaconochie@savills.com

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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE THE COLLECTION

RIVERSIDE MANOR, BOURNE END

This waterside home offers the highest standards of contemporary living on a glorious stretch of the Thames, within close proximity of London and Heathrow airport. Designed by renowned architects EPR and William Bertram, the house has an indoor pool with spa facilities, a cinema and a ballroom for 230 guests. Riverside Manor is set in 4.3 acres, with a guest house, staff cottages, boathouse and tennis court.

Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 £36,500,000 Crispin Holborow, cholborow@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION ESSEX WALTON, EPPING UPLAND

This handsome house is in a village in one of the most beautiful areas of Essex, with views of Epping Forest and superb links to London, Cambridge and the principal airports via the M25 and M11. The property has been respectfully modernised, retaining the high ceilings and sash windows, many of which have original shutters. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 5 £7,000,000 Tim Phillips, tmphillips@savills.com

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HAMPSHIRE/SURREY THE COLLECTION HIGHFIELD HOUSE, WENTWORTH ESTATE

Believed to date back from around 1920’s, Highfield House is a substantial and impressive home that has been thoughtfully extended and updated over the years, located in the internationally known and very highly regarded Wentworth Estate. Extending to c.15,000sqft on 2.31 acres, with its elegant dimensions, Highfield House is an impressive and imposing home with warm homely features. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 6 £9,950,000 Trevor Kearney trevor.kearney@savills.com

SPARSHOLT MANOR, SPARSHOLT

This Grade II listed Edwardian house is in an elevated setting on the edge of one of Hampshire’s finest villages, just west of Winchester. It’s set in almost 13 acres of beautiful grounds, with a detached cottage and annexe, a walled kitchen garden,a swimming pool and a tennis court. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 4 £5,450,000 Lindsay Cuthill, lcuthill@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION SURREY

CHERRY HILL, WENTWORTH ESTATE

This landmark modernist masterpiece is set in four acres at the heart of the prestigious Wentworth Estate, next to the golf club’s famous West Course. Built in the 1930s by architect Oliver Hill, it has been lovingly restored to create a sustainable, luxurious home with a cinema, separate guest accommodation and a new wing with a spa suite and a spectacular indoor pool. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 POA Paul Finnegan, paul.finnegan@savills.com

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SURREY THE COLLECTION THE WATER MILL, SHAMLEY GREEN

A unique fusion of English industrial history and 21st-century design, this Grade II listed mill in the Surrey Hills was rescued from dereliction by its current owner, who spent seven years turning it into a family home. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and the dining room in the former turbine hall is ideal for entertaining. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 £8,500,000 Theo James-Wright, theo.jameswright@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION SURREY

ROCKWOOD, WITLEY

Dating from around 1910, this Arts and Crafts house near Godalming is set in 89 acres, with magnificent views of the Surrey Hills. Recently enlarged and upgraded, it has landscaped gardens and excellent leisure facilities, including a cinema, a cocktail lounge, a swimming pool, spa facilities and a recording studio. There’s planning permission for an extended stable block and an all-weather manège. Bedrooms 9 Bathrooms 9 £19,750,000 Crispin Holborow, cholborow@savills.com

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HERTFORDSHIRE THE COLLECTION

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THE COLLECTION HERTFORDSHIRE HEXTON MANOR ESTATE, HEXTON

Just 40 miles north of London, this Grade II listed manor is in a charming village in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The main house is set in 773 acres of farmland and woodland, with landscaped gardens, lakes for trout fishing and one of the best high bird shoots in the home counties. Bedrooms 11 Bathrooms 7 £15,000,000 Louise Harrison, lharrison@savills.com

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HERTFORDSHIRE THE COLLECTION

CLOUDS HILL, OFFLEY

An exciting restoration project set in 81 acres of parkland and woodland, this 18th-century house is on the market for the first time since the 1930s. Approached via a long driveway off a pretty country lane, it has a 36ft drawing room with views of the formal gardens. The 1,500 sq ft coach house is ripe for conversion and the new owner could reinstate and improve the disused swimming pool and tennis court. Bedrooms 10 Bathrooms 5 £4,000,000 Hugh Maconochie, hmaconochie@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION SUSSEX BARNHAM COURT, BARNHAM

An exceptionally restored Grade I listed property built in the 1630s, offering 21st century contemporary living in a private setting near Goodwood, Cowdray, and 30 miles to Gatwick. Pevsner described it as “the best of its date in the county”. Formal Anglo-Dutch gardens, orchard, woodland, swimming pool, magnificent Great Room, cellars, cottage and outbuildings. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 £4,500,000 Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, pdwelsh@savills.com

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KENT THE COLLECTION

ASHURST MANOR, FORDCOMBE

This Grade II listed stucco house near Tunbridge Wells was built in the early 19th century and has been fully updated to a standard rarely found in this area. Set in almost 96 acres of parkland and grazing fields, it has a lake and sweeping views over the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bedrooms 9 Bathrooms 6 £10,000,000 Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, pdwelsh@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION KENT

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THE COLLECTION KENT

MILGATE HOUSE, BEARSTED

Jane Austen stayed at this Grade I listed country house, which has a rich history stretching back more than 600 years. Meticulously renovated for contemporary living, it has a double-height staircase with 18th-century murals, beautifully landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a pavilion and a lake. Bedrooms 9 Bathrooms 7 £4,500,000 Will Peppitt, wpeppitt@savills.com

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OXFORDSHIRE THE COLLECTION EWELME PARK ESTATE, NETTLEBED

This outstanding residential and sporting estate is situated within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, eight miles from Henley-on-Thames. Reached via a long tree-lined driveway, the unlisted Lutyens-style principal house is surrounded by formal gardens, with an outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. The rest of the 741-acre estate is a mix of arable land, pasture and woodland, with a pheasant and partridge shoot, paddocks, a stable yard and six houses and cottages.

Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 6 In excess of £23,000,000 Crispin Holborow, cholborow@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION OXFORDSHIRE

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YORKSHIRE THE COLLECTION STUDLEY ROYAL HOUSE, RIPON

Set in a glorious deer park with UNESCO World Heritage status, this Grade II listed Palladian house has beautiful gardens, an open courtyard and a ballroom for entertaining on a grand scale. The ruins of medieval Fountains Abbey are within walking distance. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 11 POA Lindsay Cuthill, lcuthill@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION SCOTLAND/IRELAND STRONACHLACHAR LODGE, STIRLING

This outstanding house has panoramic views of Loch Katrine, in the heart of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. Part of a substantial country home, it is run as a successful holiday-let business, but would also make a perfect weekend retreat or family home. Stone steps lead down to the loch. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 4 Offers over £650,000 Caroleanne Gallagher, cgallagher@savills.com

CARNISEAL, RAMELTON, CO DONEGAL

This compact estate near the market town of Ramelton comprises a contemporary house in mature parkland and about 46 acres of ring-fenced land, with 600 metres of frontage on Lough Swilly. The elevated setting and outstanding waterfront situation place Carniseal in the premier league of coastal residential estates in Ireland. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 €2,750,000 James Butler, james.butler@savills.ie

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GUERNSEY THE COLLECTION

ST GEORGE

Widely recognised as one of the finest country estates in the Channel Islands, St George comprises 35 acres of meticulously maintained ornamental gardens, parkland, wildflower meadows and woodland, with a lake, a reflecting pond, a swimming pool and tennis and squash courts. The beautifully presented home has a health suite and the outbuildings include three family and staff cottages. Bedrooms 14 Bathrooms 18 £25,000,000 Lindsay Cuthill, lcuthill@savills.com

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EUROPE

JELENA CVJETKOVIC DIRECTOR, SAVILLS GLOBAL RESIDENTIAL +44 (0)20 7016 3754

jcvjetkovic@savills.com

We are seeing a new breed of highly mobile professionals who we call ‘executive nomads’, turning what were previously holiday-home markets into year-round destinations. KEY MARKET INSIGHTS The ability to work from home has had a positive impact on seasonality in many second-home markets, with people spending extended periods of time in resorts beyond the holiday season – and many relocating altogether.

Austria 134 France 116 Germany 134 Italy 129 Monaco 128 Portugal 135 Spain 139 Switzerland 146

Popular areas such as the Algarve, Mallorca and the French and Italian Rivieras, as well as key Alpine resorts, report continually high sales volumes. This has contributed to a shortage of available property, leading to price increases in these markets. In cities, prime residential activity picked up in the second half of 2021, as people returned to urban life. Many European cities experienced positive price growth.

Capital values increased noticeably in cities renowned for international prime buyers, such as Amsterdam and Milan. Berlin achieved the highest capital value growth in 2021, followed closely by Lisbon and Geneva. Lisbon tops the Savills Executive Nomad Index, which ranks locations worldwide that appeal to long-term remote workers. The Algarve ranked fourth and Barcelona sixth. Lisbon tops the ranking thanks to the high quality of life that Portugal offers. Berlin has secured its place on the world cities stage, with growth of more than 10 per cent forecast for 2022. It is now a prime residential location thanks to its superb museums and galleries, lively foodie scene and great quality of life.

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FRANCE THE COLLECTION

VAUCRESSON, WEST OF PARIS

This unique property, 15km from the city centre, is a replica of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s house in Virginia. Built in 1931, it has been remodelled for contemporary living, with increased room sizes and views of the 1.6 acres of gardens. There’s a huge family room on the second floor and a soundproofed music studio in the basement. The house is on the edge of a golf course and a forest. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 4 POA Abra Walsh, awalsh@varenne.fr

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE DUROC, PARIS

On the fifth floor of an old stone building on Avenue Daniel Lesueur, in the 7th arrondissement, this 220-square-metre apartment offers views of the Eiffel Tower. Renovated by a renowned architect, it has a principal suite with a bathroom and a dressing room, a spacious reception room, wrought-iron balconies, high ceilings and a Sonos sound system. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 €4,850,000 Ludovic Brabant, lbrabant@varenne.fr

PALAIS ROYAL, PARIS

This light-filled apartment is in the 1st arrondissement, a few steps from the gardens of the Palais Royal and the former stock exchange that now houses the Pinault Collection. On the second floor of a beautiful building from 1880, with lift access, the 180-square-metre property is in immaculate condition. There is a 20-square-metre cellar and a courtyard with bicycle storage. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 €2,965,000 Ludovic Brabant, lbrabant@varenne.fr

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FRANCE THE COLLECTION CANNES, FRENCH RIVIERA

This exceptional modern home is in the exclusive Super Cannes residential area, with superb views of the Mediterranean, spacious gardens and a swimming pool. The three-storey villa has open-plan reception rooms, a cinema room, a gym, a spa and a garage. Sole agent. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 €7,600,000 Savills Cannes, cannes@savills.com

CAP D’ANTIBES, FRENCH RIVIERA

This light-filled villa is in one of the most exclusive locations on the Côte d’Azur, a short drive from Nice and Cannes. It has sea views and more than an acre of landscaped grounds, with a heated swimming pool, a tennis court, a gym and a garage. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 POA Riviera Seasonal Rentals, capdantibes@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER, FRENCH RIVIERA

This contemporary villa, set in a dominant position in a secure estate, makes the most of its exceptional sea views, with an infinity pool, balconies, terraces, a summer kitchen and extensive gardens. The top floor is given over to the principal bedroom suite.

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 €11,000,000 Savills Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, capferrat@savills.com

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PLACE THE COLLECTION SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT, FRENCH RIVIERA

This light, airy contemporary villa is on the beautiful Cap-Ferrat peninsula, between Nice and Monaco. Set in nearly two acres, it has a circular swimming pool and spacious reception rooms on both levels. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 €24,000,000 Savills Beaulieu-sur-Mer, beaulieu@savills.com

CASTELLARAS LE NEUF, FRENCH RIVIERA

This strikingly contemporary villa in a secure estate north of Cannes was designed by the architect Jacques Couëlle, who counted Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí as friends. Surrounded by traditional landscaped gardens, the house has a swimming pool and spectacular countryside and sea views. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 5 €4,850,000 Savills Valbonne-Mougins, valbonne@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE

SAINT-TROPEZ, FRENCH RIVIERA

This newly built villa on a secure estate offers a tranquil setting and excellent sea views. Arranged across a main villa, a guest house and a caretaker’s house, the property features spacious accommodation, including a cinema, billiards room, massage room and swimming pool.

Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 POA Riviera Seasonal Rentals, sainttropez@savills.com

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FRANCE THE COLLECTION SAINT-TROPEZ, FRENCH RIVIERA

In a sought-after area near the centre of Saint-Tropez, this elegant villa has sea views, a swimming pool and a charming landscaped garden. The principal bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, a dressing room and two spacious balconies, and there is a pool house with a fitness room. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 €12,900,000 Savills Saint-Tropez, sainttropez@savills.com

NICE, FRENCH RIVIERA

This vast 19th-century villa in the hills above Nice enjoys panoramic views. Following a luxurious renovation, it has a 17-metre outdoor pool, terraces under period pergolas and a standalone spa. The principal bedroom has his-and-hers bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes, and there is an underground garage for 10 cars. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 6 €17,000,000 Savills Beaulieu-sur-Mer, beaulieu@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE CAP MARTIN, FRENCH RIVIERA

Once home to the world-famous design duo Dolce and Gabbana, this contemporary villa overlooking the Bay of Cap Martin has undergone extensive refurbishment, but retains their impeccable aesthetic and sense of fun. Entered via a sweeping driveway, it has an infinity pool with a cabana, a boules pitch, a vegetable garden, spacious grounds and a covered dining terrace. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 €14,900,000 Savills Beaulieu-sur-Mer, beaulieu@savills.com

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FRANCE THE COLLECTION COURCHEVEL, FRENCH ALPS

Sundance Lodge is a new development in the centre of Courchevel Moriond, just 200 metres from the ski slopes. Each of the 41 apartments has a cellar, a ski locker and a garage, and there is a swimming pool in the communal spa complex. Bedrooms 2-5 Bathrooms 2-5 POA Savills Courchevel Moriond, courchevel@savills.com

CHAMONIX, FRENCH ALPS

A minute’s walk from the Brévent ski lift, the architect-designed Chalet Savoy is one of the most impressive turnkey homes in the centre of this prestigious resort. It has a mature garden and a glass-fronted living room that opens onto a south-facing terrace with views of Mont Blanc. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 7 €7,200,000 Guy Murdoch, gmurdoch@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE

MÉRIBEL, FRENCH ALPS

Offering breathtaking views of the Roc de Fer and easy access to the ski slopes, this five-storey chalet is ideally located for the centre of Méribel. It has a wellness area with a swimming pool and a spacious top-floor reception room that opens onto a west-facing balcony.

Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 €8,530,000 Savills Méribel, meribel@savills.com

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FRANCE THE COLLECTION VEYRIER DU LAC, LAKE ANNECY

Au Coeur du Mont Veyrier is one of the finest villa estates on the lake, with panoramic views across the water to the Semnoz mountain. Extensively refurbished by the current owners, it comprises two luxurious residences and a wellness and entertainment centre with an indoor pool. The vibrant, historic city of Annecy is 6km away. Bedrooms 12 Bathrooms 12 €11,500,000 Guy Murdoch, gmurdoch@savills.com

MORZINE, FRENCH ALPS

Built to an exceptional standard by a renowned local architect, Chalet Chardon occupies an enviable location in Morzine, near the ski slopes and the centre of the village. It has exposed woodwork, a cinema room, a games room, a fabulous bar and a fitness room with a sauna. The open-plan living area has large windows and a terrace with mountain views. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 €4,250,000 Guy Murdoch, gmurdoch@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION FRANCE

LYON, SOUTH-WEST FRANCE

Built in 1610, this magnificent château is in a peaceful setting near the Rhône, with nearly 40 hectares of woodland, paddocks, orchards and gardens. Recognised as a historic monument, it is full of history and charm, retaining period features such as impressive fireplaces and a grand staircase. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 5 €12,600,000 Judith Whitlow, judith.whitlow@beauxvillages.com

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MONACO THE COLLECTION CHÂTEAU PÉRIGORD

A stone’s throw from the beach, and close to restaurants and bars, this tastefully renovated modern apartment boasts exceptional views of Monaco and the Mediterranean from its light-filled living room and terrace. Both of the en-suite bedrooms have mountain views, and there is a dressing room in the principal suite. Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 €6,900,000 Irene Luke,​iluke@savills.com

LE ROCHER

This is a rare opportunity to purchase a stand-alone house with a large garage in the historic setting of Monaco-Ville, which benefits from the highest levels of security in Monaco. Pavillon Paulnette is a four-storey Belle Époque villa on a quiet street near the Prince’s Palace. It has been beautifully refurbished, with a floating staircase in the open-plan living area and a shower room offering views out to sea. Bedrooms 1 Bathrooms 2 POA Irene Luke,​iluke@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION ITALY

PALLANZA, LAKE MAGGIORE

Set in beautifully planted gardens, Villa L'Eremitaggio is one of the most historically significant houses on Lake Maggiore – the care and attention lavished on the villa by the original owner can be seen in every detail, from the frescoed ceilings to the mosaic floor of the lake-facing courtyard. On the western shore of the lake, the property has 500 metres of water frontage, with a dock and two small ports. Bedrooms 8-10 Bathrooms 8 POA ​Tom Vickery, ​tvickery@savills.com

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ITALY THE COLLECTION PORTOFINO, LIGURIA

With views of the harbour and the open sea, this house enjoys one of the finest locations in Portofino. A short walk from the beautiful main square, it has a garden and balconies or terraces on each floor, as well as a roof terrace. There is a private bathing area by the water’s edge, reached by lift. Bedrooms 12 Bathrooms 12 POA Lucy Walton, l.walton@ar92.com

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THE COLLECTION PLACE PORTOFINO, LIGURIA

On the top two floors of a period building on Portofino’s main square, this apartment has glorious views of the village’s harbour and wooded cliffs from many of the rooms. The large terrace is a rare find in a property occupying such a prominent position. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 4 POA Lucy Walton, l.walton@ar92.com

SYNTONIA PALACE, ROME

This boutique collection of 39 apartments and penthouses in the city centre aims to balance luxury living and the well-being of the environment. The interiors of the light-filled apartments have been created in collaboration with renowned Italian design brands. Residents have access to a concierge and landscaped roof gardens with spectacular views of the Eternal City.​ Bedrooms Studios-4 Bathrooms 1-4 ​€370,000-€1,600,000 Danilo Orlando, danilo@beliving.it

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ITALY THE COLLECTION

MANIFATTURA TABACCHI, FLORENCE

A multimillion-euro regeneration project is transforming a former tobacco factory in northwest Florence into a new cultural hub, with schools, a kindergarten, ateliers, offices, a hotel and a brewery. The oldest building on site will house 22 lofts by the renowned Italian architecture practice q-bic, and a building designed by the world-famous Studio Urquiola will be converted into 21 luxury apartments. Bedrooms 1-3 Bathrooms 1-3 From €430,000 ​Danilo Orlando, danilo@beliving.it

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THE COLLECTION ITALY PIAZZANO, UMBRIA

Villa Fontanicchio is a secluded farmhouse with a beautiful garden and panoramic views of the Tuscan and Umbrian hills, as well as the Etruscan city of Cortona, 6km away. Restored with great care, using materials historically associated with the area, the property has exposed wooden beams, handmade terracotta floor and ceiling tiles, and a swimming pool in travertine. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 €2,100,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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GERMANY/AUSTRIA THE COLLECTION RIEHMERS HOFGARTEN, BERLIN

This elegant apartment is in a beautiful late-19th-century building on a private street in the sought-after Kreuzberg district. Restored by expert curators, it has high ceilings, stucco decoration and wooden floors. The communal courtyard garden is a tranquil urban oasis with children’s play areas and a boules court. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 2 €2,249,900 Nadine Mirke, nadine.mirke@savills.com

BAD HOFGASTEIN, AUSTRIAN ALPS

A contemporary twist on the classic wooden chalet, this penthouse at Residence Berghof, in the winter-sports resort of Bad Hofgastein combines cosiness with modern flair and luxury. Reached by a private lift, it has full-height windows and terraces that offer panoramic mountain views. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 €3,950,000 Jeremy Rollason, jrollason@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION PORTUGAL

QUINTA DO LAGO, ALGARVE

Designed by an award-winning architecture practice, this turnkey contemporary home occupies a prime frontline plot in the exclusive year-round resort of Quinta do Lago. Due for completion in 2024, Villa Soprano will be at the heart of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, offering privacy and easy access to the resort’s championship golf courses, professional sports facilities and excellent restaurants. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 9 €40,000,000 Jamie Robinson, ​jamie@qp.pt

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PORTUGAL THE COLLECTION LOULÉ, ALGARVE

In the hills above the exclusive Quinta do Lago resort, Casa Borboleta is a charming quinta near the market town of Loulé, with views across the countryside to the Atlantic. Run as a successful holiday rental business, it comprises a two-bedroom main house with a private sun terrace, two cottages and two apartments, all decorated with traditional Portuguese tiles and brickwork. Outside, there is a terraced bar area surrounding the swimming pool. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 7 €3,290,000 Kimberley Tucker, kimberley@qp.pt

QUINTA DO LAGO, ALGARVE

Near the beach and the San Lorenzo golf course, this elegant contemporary villa is entered via a grand double-height atrium with a bespoke spiral staircase and a circular lift. It has an indoor pool and spa, a home cinema, a wine display wall in the open-plan kitchen and a roof terrace with a Jacuzzi and a bar area. The property is set in 2,000 sq m of grounds, with an infinity pool, a large spa pool and several south-facing terraces. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 7 €14,500,000 Jamie Robinson, ​jamie@qp.pt

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THE COLLECTION PORTUGAL

QUINTA DO LAGO, ALGARVE

One of the finest estate properties in this sought-after resort, Olive Tree Manor is a welcoming, characterful house with a spectacular swimming pool and beautiful mature gardens. Set on one of the largest plots in Quinta do Lago, it has 16th-century Portuguese azulejos on the stone walls and a tailor-made Baroque-style organ in the library and music room. Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 5 €22,500,000 Jamie Robinson, ​jamie@qp.pt

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PORTUGAL THE COLLECTION PRÍNCIPE REAL, LISBON

Spread over two floors of a handsome 19th-century building, this light, airy apartment is the ideal base for exploring Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon’s most stylish neighbourhoods. The interiors retain their period charm, but have been updated to luxurious contemporary standards. The living room and three of the bedrooms lead out to the terrace, garden and swimming pool. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 €5,500,000 ​Joana Vila Nova, joana.vilanova@savills.pt

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THE COLLECTION SPAIN

MANDARIN ORIENTAL RESIDENCES, BARCELONA

These stand-alone residences on the prestigious Passeig de Gràcia are in a 20-storey building designed by Spanish architect Carlos Ferrater. Available to move in by the end of 2022, the 34 apartments and penthouses will have views of Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, mountains and the sea. Owners can enjoy world-class services and amenities on site, as well as the restaurants and spa at the nearby Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona hotel. Bedrooms 1-4 Bathrooms 2-4 POA Harry Philpott, ​hphilpott@savills.com

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SPAIN THE COLLECTION RAMBLA CATALUNYA 29, BARCELONA

This exceptional new development on one of the Catalan capital’s most prestigious avenues consists of 22 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a building dating from 1871. Most have access to a terrace and offer wonderful views of the city. Buyers can choose from apartments with an open-plan layout and contemporary decor, or a more classic style with separate rooms. Bedrooms 1-2 Bathrooms 2 From €1,105,000 ​Sergi Perez, ​sergi@lucasfox.com

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THE COLLECTION SPAIN

CASA GRASES, BARCELONA

This handsome 18th-century building is located in Sarrià, an upscale urban village on the fringes of the Serra de Collserola natural park, with excellent food and wine shops. It has been converted into luxurious, light-filled modern apartments, retaining period features such as wrought iron railings and high ceilings. Also on site is a new-build family house with a swimming pool and a garden. Bedrooms 3-5 Bathrooms 2-6 POA ​Sergi Perez, ​sergi@lucasfox.com

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SPAIN THE COLLECTION SAN JOSÉ, IBIZA

This seafront villa in the south of the island has views across the Mediterranean to the island of Formentera. Designed by the award-winning South African architects SAOTA, it blends natural wood and stone with modern materials such as steel and cement. All the interior spaces have large glass windows offering access to terraces. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 9 €18,900,000 Rémi Gaich, remi@lucasfox.com

SON VIDA, MALLORCA

A few minutes’ drive from Palma, in an exclusive residential area with 24-hour security, this luxurious villa offers views across the city and the bay. Perfect for a family, it has indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a spa area, a Boffi kitchen and a staff apartment. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 €8,900,000 ​Iris Grünewald, gruenewald@balearic-properties.com

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THE COLLECTION SPAIN SOTOGRANDE, ANDALUSIA

Newly finished to an exceptional standard, BLUE is a chic contemporary property on the highest road in Sotogrande, with views over the area’s golf courses and out to the Mediterranean. Almost invisible from the street, it has a triple-height staircase and extra-wide glass doors from the living areas to the terrace and pool. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 €5,800,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

SOTOGRANDE, ANDALUSIA

Casa Alba is a contemporary villa full of Spanish charm, with beamed ceilings, a beautiful split-level garden and views of the Almenara golf course. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a gym, a padel tennis court and a guest cottage. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 8 €6,500,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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SPAIN THE COLLECTION

POLLENSA, MALLORCA

El Moli is a captivating former water mill accessed by a private road at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains and conveniently close to Pollensa. It has exotic landscaped gardens with mature trees and natural ponds, as well as a heated swimming pool.

Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 5 €3,950,000 ​Iris Grünewald, gruenewald@balearic-properties.com

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THE COLLECTION SPAIN PORT D’ANDRATX, MALLORCA

This private estate, dating from the 12th century, offers ample accommodation and reception space within the principal castle residence and staff house. There are 12 acres of grounds, including an infinity pool with bar and treatment room, olive groves and a vineyard. There are several terraces with views of Port d’Andratx and the sea beyond.

Bedrooms 11 Bathrooms 8 POA ​Alice Storrie, astorrie@savills.com

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SWITZERLAND THE COLLECTION PULLY, LAKE GENEVA

This sleek waterfront apartment is in a residence of six units in Pully, one of Lausanne’s most prestigious suburbs. It has a pontoon, a spa, a fitness room, a wine cellar and underground parking. The heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi have views of the lake and the Alps. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 5 POA David Colle, ​david.colle@luxury-places.ch

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THE COLLECTION SWITZERLAND

BURSINS, LAKE GENEVA

Dating back to the 13th century, Château Le Rosey is in a village between Geneva and Lausanne. It has been meticulously restored by its architect owner and many of the rooms have fireplaces, exposed beams and wooden floors. There’s a vegetable garden with views of the Alps and a vineyard that produces organic wines. Bedrooms 14 Bathrooms 14 POA David Colle, david.colle@luxury-places.ch

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SWITZERLAND THE COLLECTION

KLOSTERS, SWISS ALPS

Close to the centre of Klosters, this fabulous duplex penthouse is ideally placed for enjoying the exclusive ski resort’s traditional Alpine feel and upmarket shops and restaurants. There is underground parking and the three balconies have panoramic mountain views. Penthouse Silvretta is on the top floor of the luxury Silvretta Parkhotel, which has bars, a restaurant and spa with indoor pool. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 CHF3,950,000 Jeremy Rollason, jrollason@savills.com

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MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

STAN ENNOR-GLYNN DIRECTOR, SAVILLS, MIDDLE EAST

+971 (0)50 875 0007

stan.ennor-glynn@savills.me

We have witnessed waves of Europeans relocating to Dubai in particular, in awe of how the UAE dealt with the lockdowns thanks to its clear and concise rules. KEY MARKET INSIGHTS

Kenya 155 Mauritius 151 Middle East 150 South Africa 153

Many of the new expatriates are wealthy entrepreneurs and high-level business executives who have sought out the most luxurious properties available for rent and sale. This demand has absorbed all the available inventory in the market, so prices have soared at the high end of the market.

accentuated the trend of upgrades and refurbishments in the more established communities.

The hotspots in Dubai are waterfront properties such as Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina – the two top-selling areas – but also luxury gated villa developments.

In 2021 the value of property transactions in Sharjah rose to a four-year high of AED26.2bn, an increase of 64.9 per cent compared to the previous year.

European buyers, particularly French, British and German, have dominated the Middle East market in the past 12 months. Their desire for the highest standards has

We have seen a strong increase in demand for and supply of branded residential projects. Traditional hotel groups such as Marriott have launched projects across the region.

Limited supply and strong growth in investment have boosted capital values in Abu Dhabi. On average, they rose by 6-12 per cent year-on-year in apartment and villa developments.

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MIDDLE EAST THE COLLECTION MURABA RESIDENCES, DUBAI

This light-filled penthouse is on the highest floor of a prestigious new development on the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah. The property offers unrivalled vistas of the city and the Gulf. Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning RCR Arquitectes, Muraba Residences has a 50-metre pool, spa facilities and a gym. There’s a private lift to the top-floor penthouse, which has a minimalist feel and panoramic sea views from the balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 6 ​AED23,954,300 Mohammed Abdulaziz, ​mohammed.abdulaziz@savills.me

NURAI ISLAND, ABU DHABI

Just 15 minutes by boat from Abu Dhabi, Nurai Island is home to a prviate boutique resort with a world-class spa, restaurants, bars and a beach club. This exceptional contemporary villa has a private beach, a swimming pool, landscaped gardens and several dining spaces. There is staff accommodation within the villa and a fitted kitchen with Miele appliances. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 AED45,000,000 ​Lemya Nouri, lemya.nouri@savills.me

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THE COLLECTION MAURITIUS

HERITAGE VILLAS VALRICHE

Set between the azure Indian Ocean and tropical mountains, this villa-only estate offers laid-back luxury living on Mauritius’s pristine southwest coast. There are superb beaches within easy walking distance, and residents have access to the facilities of two five-star hotels, a beach club, a championship golf course, an impressive sports centre and a private nature reserve. Bedrooms 3-5 Bathrooms 3-5 Completed villas from €1,000,000 Richard Haller, richard.haller@pamgolding.co.za

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MAURITIUS THE COLLECTION MONT CHOISY LA RÉSERVE

Next to one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius, Mont Choisy Golf & Beach Estate is located in vibrant Grand Baie, on the island’s north coast. The estate offers a host of facilities, including a championship golf course, a leisure and wellness centre, tennis courts, an equestrian centre and a clubhouse with restaurant and bar Bedrooms 2-5 Bathrooms 2-5 Apartments from €558,000 Villas from €1,200,000 Richard Haller, richard.haller@pamgolding.co.za

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THE COLLECTION SOUTH AFRICA

STELLENBOSCH, WESTERN CAPE

This wine estate in the beautiful Devon Valley, close to the historic town of Stellenbosch, is being sold as a going concern, with established vineyards and orchards, contemporary accommodation for 35 people, a chapel and a highly acclaimed restaurant. The manor house is a luxurious modern home with a swimming pool and mountain views. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 6 POA ​Odette Collins and Clarence Collins, odette.collins@pamgolding.co.za, clarence.collins@pamgolding.co.za

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SOUTH AFRICA THE COLLECTION CONSTANTIA, CAPE TOWN

Amid three acres of pristine gardens in the wine-producing Constantia Valley, this is a classic Cape homestead with a thatched roof, mountain views, a swimming pool and a courtyard and koi pond shaded by an oak tree. The estate comprises a main house with four en-suite bedrooms and a loft suite reached via a separate entrance, two cottages and staff quarters. Cape Town’s world-class restaurants, bars, shopping and culture are a short drive away. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 6 R39,995,000 Arie Kadé and Kim Tresfon, arie.kade@pamgolding.co.za, kim.tresfon@pamgolding.co.za

CLIFTON, CAPE TOWN

A short drive from the city centre, this superb seafront house has a swimming pool and entertaining area next to Clifton’s famous Fourth Beach. The living areas and covered terrace are on the first floor, making the most of unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lion’s Head. Perfect for formal and informal entertaining, the house has exposed white beams, chandeliers and a large gas fireplace. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 4 R75,000,000 Annette Hepburn, ​annette.hepburn@pamgolding.co.za

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THE COLLECTION SOUTH AFRICA/KENYA HERMANUS, WESTERN CAPE

Figa Futi is in an oceanfront location in the Kwaaiwater district of Hermanus, famous as a whale-watching destination. The cliff path runs past the evergreen garden and there’s a private courtyard with a pool. As well as the four-bedroom main house, which is designed for indoor/outdoor living, the property has three cottages, including a caretaker’s lodge. Properties of this quality seldom enter the market in Hermanus. Bedrooms 11 Bathrooms 10 ​R52,500,000 ​Heather Kleynhans and Robert Semer, ​heather.kleynhans@pamgolding.co.za, robert.semer@pamgolding.co.za

NYARI, NAIROBI

In the heart of Nyari Central, one of the most prestigious suburbs of the Kenyan capital, this exceptional property comprises two four-bedroom homes set in 0.75 acres of lush grounds that overlook a beautiful lake. Each house has a large dining and living room that opens onto a balcony above the garden.

Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 10 ​KSh265,000,000 ​Nili Dodhia and Heeral Patel, ​nili.dodhia@pamgolding.co.ke, heeral.patel@pamgolding.co.ke

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AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

RORY McMULLEN HEAD OF SAVILLS NORTH AMERICA DESK +44 (0)7803 013362 rmcmullen@savills.com

The pace at which New York has recovered is extraordinary but not surprising, as is the growth some are predicting in Miami. KEY MARKET INSIGHTS The V-shaped recovery of the New York property market has been extraordinary. The city saw its population fall by 328,000 between April 2020 and July 2021, but once again demand is far exceeding inventory, as buyers look for more space inside and out. Crypto wealth has played a key role in the resurgence of many of the market’s prime cities. Buyers tend to be a young demographic, looking for quick transactions and on-site amenities – often branded residences.

Caribbean 162 USA 157

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Miami is quickly becoming one of the most important cities in the US, especially where finance is concerned. Tipped by some to become the next

Silicon Valley, it was the strongest performer in the Savills World Cities Index last year, achieving prime capital value growth of more than 20 per cent. A record 32 per cent of homebuyers are relocating from coastal cities to more affordable areas to beat inflation and work from home. There are early signs of a housing-market slowdown in those coastal areas. The US capital markets recovery is fully under way, with commercial sales volumes of $196bn in Q3 2021 – a record high.


THE COLLECTION USA

111 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK

A landmark development overlooking Central Park, 111 West 57th Street marries the thoughtful restoration of one of New York’s most cherished landmarks, Steinway Hall, with a soaring 1,428ft tower of epic grandeur. Reached by a direct lift, this 4,492 sq ft Tower Residence occupies the whole of the 28th floor. It has rich finishes by Studio Sofield, with white macauba stone floors in the entry gallery, 14ft ceilings and spectacular views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3.5 $16,250,000 Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

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USA THE COLLECTION CENTRAL PARK TOWER, NEW YORK

Central Park Tower is the tallest residential tower in the world, rising 1,550ft in the air and providing breathtaking views of Central Park, the Hudson and East rivers, and the iconic city skyline. The refined interiors by Rottet Studio offer the finest finishes and custom details. Central Park Tower is home to the exclusive Central Park Club, offering around 50,000 sq ft of hotel-style services and amenities. Bedrooms 2-5 Bathrooms 2.5-5.5 From $6,500,000 Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION USA

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USA THE COLLECTION THE RESIDENCES AT HUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK

Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in US history, creating a vibrant new neighbourhood in the heart of Manhattan. Residents of 15 and 35 Hudson Yards will have doorstep access to more than 100 retailers, 25 restaurants, a host of cultural events, 14 acres of green space and world-class health and wellness facilities at the global flagship Equinox Hotel. Bedrooms 2-5 From $5,000,000, penthouse POA Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION USA

THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA

Offering the level of luxury and service associated with the world’s leading hotel brand, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Pompano Beach are on a beautiful stretch of sand on Florida’s Gold Coast, 40 miles north of Miami Beach. The two towers will have 250ft of frontage on the ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway. Owners will have access to a beach club, yacht club and private marina, with 13 boat slips available for purchase. Bedrooms 1-4, plus four penthouses Bathrooms 1-5 $795,000-$1,365,000 Rory McMullen, rmcmullen@savills.com

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CARIBBEAN THE COLLECTION PEARNS POINT, ANTIGUA

Here is a unique opportunity to build a bespoke home in one of the most exclusive destinations in the Caribbean. Pearns Point, on Antigua’s west coast, is an unspoilt peninsula extending into the turquoise sea, with white-sand beaches and glorious views. Aided by architects, builders and interior designers, owners can create a home customised to their individual requirements on a plot chosen for maximum privacy, space and seclusion. $1,300,000-$6,000,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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THE COLLECTION CARIBBEAN

JOLLY HARBOUR, ANTIGUA

Set in mature tropical gardens, Palm Point is the largest and best-positioned villa in Jolly Harbour, a marina and private residential complex with 24-hour security. This exceptional beachfront property has ocean views, a boathouse with staff quarters and a private mooring. Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 6 $9,500,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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CARIBBEAN THE COLLECTION

APES HILL, BARBADOS

Due to reopen in November 2022, Apes Hill is a golf resort in an elevated position at the heart of the island, offering top-class amenities and views of the Atlantic and the Caribbean. There are luxurious turnkey houses on offer, but buyers can also opt to have a home built to their specification. Apes Hill has a fitness centre, flood-lit tennis and padel courts, a spa, clubhouse and beach facilities.

Bedrooms 3-4 $1,675,000-$3,650,000 Altman Real Estate, realestate@altmanbarbados.com 16 4

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THE COLLECTION CARIBBEAN ZAZEN, BARBADOS

Blending Eastern spiritual traditions and a refined industrial aesthetic, this striking chalet-style villa faces the ocean on the dramatic east coast of Barbados, with direct access to Cattlewash Beach. Decorated in a clean, crisp contemporary palette of neutrals and whites, with stainless steel, concrete, stone and timber elements, the light-filled rooms incorporate slabs of multicoloured semi-precious stones that reflect the sparkling waves. Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 4 $4,750,000 Altman Real Estate, realestate@altmanbarbados.com

PLANTATION HOUSE, BARBADOS

Within the exclusive Royal Westmoreland golf and beach resort, on the west coast of the island, this luxuriously appointed villa enjoys spectacular views of the Caribbean. Plantation House has a media room, a games room with pool and table-tennis tables, mature gardens, a swimming pool and a balcony with covered and uncovered areas – perfect for sundowners. The first floor is given over to the principal suite. Bedrooms 8 Bathrooms 8 $5,900,000 Altman Real Estate, realestate@altmanbarbados.com

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CARIBBEAN THE COLLECTION OUJE MANGO RIF HOUSE, NEVIS

This beautiful Cape Dutch-style home offers privacy, security and access to the world-class amenities and services of the Four Seasons Estate Nevis. Set in 3.75 acres of lush grounds, it has an infinity pool and a roof deck with views of Nevis Peak, the Caribbean and St Kitts. The property has four bedroom suites, a fitness room and wine cellar.

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 $9,950,000 Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

PARADISE VILLA, NEVIS

Designed by award-winning architects McLean Quinlan and finished to a superb standard, this contemporary villa is in the exclusive Paradise community, next to the Four Seasons golf course. Set in 4.5 acres of gardens, with more than 250 palms, it has a 50ft infinity pool and terraces that offer wraparound shade throughout the day. Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 $5,000,000 ​Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

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SAVILLS RESIDENTIAL CONTACTS

GLOBAL JUSTIN MARKING

DAVID FORBES

GLOBAL RESIDENTIAL

GLOBAL PRIVATE OFFICE

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EUROPE JONATHAN HEWLETT

ED LEWIS

LONDON RESIDENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SALES

+44 (0)20 7824 9018

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LINDSAY CUTHILL

JELENA CVJETKOVIC

UK COUNTRY

EUROPE RESIDENTIAL NETWORK

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ISABELLA BIRCH REYNARDSON SUPER PRIME LETTINGS +44 (0)20 7824 9009 ibreynardson@savills.com

REST OF THE WORLD ANDREW GOLDING

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VITAL STATISTICS From Georgian grandeur in Edinburgh to sea views in LA, Crete and Singapore, here are four fabulous homes on sale for £5m

5693 HOLLY OAK DRIVE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA What £5m buys you: a modernist pavilion-style house in a gated cul-de-sac, with four bedrooms, a pool, a spa and epic views of LA, the ocean and the hills. How big: 3,783 sq ft (351.45 sq m), plus about 2,000 sq ft of decks and terraces. Where: in the Hollywood Hills, between Hollywood Dell and Griffith Park. And why: with gorgeous gardens and a superb setting, this house is best-in-class. $6.5m; Blair Chang, bchang@theagencyre.com

INNERWICK HOUSE, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND What £5m buys you: a Georgian house with five bedrooms, grand reception rooms and an open-plan kitchen, plus a three-bedroom coach house in the landscaped gardens. How big: 8,068 sq ft (749.54 sq m). Where: in the affluent suburb of Murrayfield, handy for the city centre and airport, with good schools, golf clubs and the rugby stadium. And why: it’s one of Edinburgh’s finest houses. £5m; Ben Fox, bfox@savills.com

SEVEN PALMS SENTOSA COVE, SENTOSA, SINGAPORE What £5m buys you: a three-bedroom apartment in the low-rise Seven Palms Sentosa Cove luxury condominium, with sea views and a 41-metre pool. How big: 2,700 sq ft (250.84 sq m). Where: between a sandy beach and a golf course on Sentosa, “Singapore’s island getaway”. And why: beachside living a short drive from central Singapore. S$9.8m; Jocelyn Choong, jocelyn.choong@savills.com.sg

PLAKA, ELOUNDA BAY, CRETE, GREECE What £5m buys you: a seafront villa with four en-suite bedrooms, an infinity pool, a one-bedroom guesthouse and access to the estate’s private beach. How big: 6,705 sq ft (623 sq m). Where: on a hilltop overlooking Spinalonga in Lasithi, an area of eastern Crete known for its fine scenery. And why: this is a superb villa, just a stroll away from Plaka and the beach. €5.8m; Danae Tsakiris, d.tsakiris@savills.gr

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Finding the right property takes time: our time, not yours. Prime Purchase advises on the acquisition of property in London and the country. 0207 881 2395 | prime-purchase.com

Prime Purchase is a wholly owned subsidiary of Savills PLC.



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