London’s Pieds-à-terre are reaching new heights of sophistication, according to a leading property developer which is positioning two of its latest offerings in the UK capital as the “perfect” home away from home. 

Pieds-a-terre offer the conveniences of a five-star hotel combined with the relaxed, stylish environment of a private residence, and Amazon Property says it is setting a benchmark in the design of luxury pieds-à-terre, carefully considering the three requirements for the ultimate weekday residence: prime location, flexibility and contemporary style. 

A pied-à-terre’s prime location is determined by its connectivity, giving resident’s access to public transport within a matter of minutes so that the door-to-door commute is kept to a minimum. Properties in areas poised between key entertainment and business districts are the most desirable, offering the best options for work and play, the developer says.

It’s equally important for pieds-à-terre to offer flexibility and accessibility. Residents should be given the freedom to adapt the space for entertaining and be able to accommodate family members who may be staying during the week. 

Finally, the interiors of the property should enhance the pied-à-terre’s convenience, with contemporary design to promote ease of use, as well as featuring luxurious materials to provide the luxurious hotel feel.  

Chris Lanitis, partner at Amazon Property, comments: “With suitable family houses almost unattainable in zone 1, more professionals are moving further away from London with their families and opting to own a bolthole in the city to ease their daily commute. However they are no longer looking for an emotionless hotel room close to the office, instead opting for a miniature family residence that offers the traditional convenience and accessibility of a luxury hotel.

“While homeowners will want all the luxuries and convenience of a five-star hotel, there’s nothing quite like having the freedom and flexibility of owning your own property.”  

Two of Amazon Property’s most recent developments, Buckingham House and The Pall Mall Collection, are said to tick the boxes for the perfect pied-a-terre.


BUCKINGHAM HOUSE

Nestled between the bustling Strand and beautiful Victoria Embankment Gardens, Buckingham House is part of the newly defined Northbank quarter of London. It benefits from being in the heart of a prosperous business district, popular with exclusive retailers and law firms, as well as being just moments away from the buzz of the West End. After working hours, residents are able to enjoy Covent Garden’s Theatreland and myriad of Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill.

Residents are less than a five-minute walk from both Embankment and Charing Cross stations and just eight minutes from Covent Garden, giving them access to a Bakerloo, District, Circle, Northern and Piccadilly lines. Come 2018, residents will also benefit from high-speed Crossrail at Tottenham Court Road which is less than twenty minutes’ from the development.

The contemporary interiors have been crafted to complement the building’s stunning 1930s Art Deco red brick and Portland stone façade, with a modern twist of the traditional townhouse features: grand solid oak hallways and cast iron radiators. As with all Amazon schemes, the properties utilise the finest of materials; stone worktops and handle-less cupboards in the kitchens create a sleek, uncluttered look while Bianco Gioia marble en-suites with waterproof televisions lend a hotel quality to the scheme.

Apartments at Buckingham House also have the unique feature of bespoke moving partitions, which retreat seamlessly into solid walls. Residents can create one large entertainment area or a second bedroom or study when guests descend.

The three remaining apartments at Buckingham House start from £2.2 million ($3.23 million) and are available through CBRE and Savills.


THE PALL MALL COLLECTION

Sitting on one of London’s most iconic streets, The Pall Mall Collection is set to be a major beneficiary of The Crown Estate’s £500-million refinement of St James’. The project, which promises to establish a neighbourhood with an all-encompassing commercial, residential, retail and leisure offering, will give residents access to high quality offices, as well as a world-class shopping destination to rival its Mayfair neighbour.

Residents can spend their evenings at one of St James’ renowned member’s clubs, including The RAC Club just across the road, or experience fine dining at The Ritz or The Wolseley. Nearby Jermyn Street also offers the very best of British tailors should residents wish to add to their corporate wardrobes during the working week. 

The Pall Mall Collection is within equal walking distance of Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross where Bakerloo, Jubilee, Piccadilly, Northern and Victoria services can be picked up. The development will too have access to Crossrail in three years from nearby Bond Street station.

For ultimate convenience, The Pall Mall Collection offers a bespoke lifestyle service with Rhodium. As well as ensuring the security and safety of residents’ homes allowing them to lock up and leave without worry, the concierge is also able to cater to residents’ domestic needs, organising housekeeping, private chefs and chauffeurs.     

All apartments benefit from private lift entrances. In the duplex penthouse this allows residents to keep their entertaining and living areas separate with lifts direct to both levels. Homeowners will be able to invite guests to take the lift to the upper floor which opens out onto a sophisticated reception and dining area, maintaining the bedrooms as a private sanctuary. The penthouse also boasts an impressive balcony overlooking the historic thoroughfare. 

The interiors feature luxurious materials such as Calacatta Michelangelo marble, from the same quarry utilised by Michelangelo to create his masterpiece, the statue of David. Amazon has selected this distinctive stone for the kitchen worktops and features wall-to-floor in the bathrooms creating a contemporary, clean and professional look, in keeping with the pied-à-terre’s purpose of being low-maintenance convenient yet luxurious. 

Three apartments and a duplex penthouse are available at the Pall Mall Collection from £5.9 million ($8.65 million) through Knight Frank.

Amazon Property is a multi-disciplinary investment and development group, with an impressive track record in the real estate sectors, in particular the prime central London luxury residential market.  

To date Amazon Property has acquired well in excess of 2 million sq ft comprising investments, developments and trading assets.