The gorgeous duplex for sale is located in the heart of the city
If you’re looking to buy a piece of luxury property in central London right before Brexit is finalised, here’s your chance. Of the 170 finely appointed apartments at The Nova Building – part of Nova, Victoria, a recently completed LandSec development in SW1 – The Nova Penthouse is its crowning glory. The 472.8sqm duplex penthouse (£20 million, RM109 million) boasts four bedrooms, a generously proportioned roof terrace and exceptional living spaces.
Occupying the 13th and 14th floors of the development’s highest mansion block, the apartment is very much a love letter to London, as Lucy Southall, co-founder of the design studio responsible for dressing the unit, Bowler James Brindley, explains.
“We wanted something that looked special, luxurious and had a Sixties-inspired vibe,” remarks Southall.
The interiors not only reflect the building’s architectural design, which references the work of European modernist architects from the 1960s and 1970s, but pays tribute to London’s artists, writers and musicians from that period who sparked a cultural revolution.
The personality-driven, eclectic aesthetics within The Nova Penthouse draw on figures such as Mick Jagger, Barbara Hulanicki, Jimi Hendrix in his The Wind Cries Mary era, and Twiggy — individuals who challenged conventions, changed paradigms and cultivated new attitudes.
Against a palette of light oak and strong blue, cleverly selected pieces of art and bespoke furniture bring the Swinging London theme to life. Chandeliers from Alfie’s Antiques in Marylebone decorate the striking hallway, for instance, while the open-plan living and dining area features dark burgundy dining chairs from Jonathan Adler and ‘hanging hoop’ swing chairs by Lee Broom.
Although the apartment can certainly be described as expansive, Bowler James Brindley and architects Benson + Forsyth have made the most of the space, introducing a wide oak stairway that leads upwards to the main reception area. The curved cocktail bar, with its black galaxy granite bar top, plated brass detailing and bronze-mirrored, illuminated backdrop, is sure to be a popular statement feature, elevating celebratory nights to new heights.
Polished rosewood, blue velvet, veneered walls, daring portraits and wraparound drapes put the finishing touches on The Nova Penthouse, along with a spectacular master bathroom outfitted entirely in marble, which imparts a sophisticated spa-at-home atmosphere.
Outside on the roof terrace, which provides enough space for lounging, cooking and dining, occupants can make the most of every sunrise and sunset, as well as the view onto Nova, Victoria’s distinguished next-door neighbours at Buckingham Palace. (And if that’s not enough for the extra-inquisitive, a shared roof garden and a private residents’ lounge on the ninth floor also overlook the Palace.) Meanwhile, Nova Food’s 17 restaurants at the base of the estate ensure residents won’t go hungry, with tempting options in the form of new dining concepts like Stoke House by Will Ricker and Hai Cenato by Jason Atherton.
The unparalleled 360-degree panorama offered by the apartment is mirrored by its prime position in central London once on ground level. The 2.2-hectare estate of Nova South, Nova North and The Nova Building is a stone’s throw from Belgravia and within walking distance of Pimlico, Knightsbridge and Mayfair, allowing residents to keep their thumbs on the city’s pulse.
Its proximity to royal buildings, museums and heritage spaces means that opportunities for working and playing hard are unlimited for local and international residents, be it a jaunt through Tate Britain or even an invitation to afternoon tea next door.