Updown Court

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Updown Court is a private residence in Windlesham, Surrey, England and is the most expensive private residence for sale in the world.[1] [2] It is the largest private residence to be built in the United Kingdom since the 19th century. It was launched on the market in 2005 for £70,000,000 ($143,591,000 USD) but as of May 2008 remains unsold.

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[edit] History

The original Updown Court, built in 1924 and owned by Prince Sami Gayed of Egypt, was severely damaged by a fire in 1987. The estate is set in the centre of 58 acres of grounds, comprising a stable and lake within its gardens and woodland.

Developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe then proceeded to purchase the property, which was just a burnt-out shell of the property it had been, for the approximate equivalent of $38.4 million. He has since invested a further $60 million, through the backing of an Irish bank, with the new property designed by John B Scholz, an Arizona architect. Notable aspects of the architecture include the double staircase that is modeled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace had in his mansion in Miami, its grey-slated rooftops, and the bathroom's honey-colored granite and green Guatemalan marble. It has been described by The Times newspaper as Californian Neo-classical.

[edit] The estate

Entered by a £3million heated marble driveway,[3] Updown Court has 103 rooms, of which the 24 bedrooms each has its own marble en-suite bathroom. Among other features, it has a two lane bowling alley, five swimming pools, squash court, floodlit tennis court, wine cellar, and panic room in the event of a terrorist attack, five acres of more than 30 different types of imported Italian marble, expansive terraces, and a 50-seat cinema. It also features an underground garage, with granite flooring, that has enough room to harbor eight limousines. The first floor is the main residential area, featuring 8 generous bedroom suites. The penthouse floor contains two separate penthouses, each with 2 bedrooms and occupying an entire wing of the property.

The estimated cost for upkeep alone is over £250,000 ($362,725.21 USD) a month.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The World's Most Expensive Homes 2006
  2. ^ In Pictures: World's Most Expensive Homes - Forbes.com
  3. ^ The most expensive house in Britain? (July 15, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  4. ^ A Billionaire's "Statement House" article in BusinessWeek

[edit] External links

Videos of Updown Court

  • ['A Brief Introduction']
  • [Sky News Report]