1 Mayfair: Is This The Most Luxurious Apartment Block In The World?

The Pavlovsk Palace. The Winter Palace. Versailles. The Sistine Chapel. The Pantheon. Blenheim Palace. Buckingham Palace. The Orient Express. The Piazza del Campidoglio. Chatsworth House.

These are just some of the architectural and design references behind Phones 4u billionaire John Caudwell’s latest property venture: 1 Mayfair. Located on South Audley Street, moments from Park Lane and Hyde Park, this £2 billion development was dreamt up by Caudwell, and brought to life by architect Robert A.M. Stern of RAMSA, designer Juan Pablo (J.P.) Molyneux, and interior designer Jamie Drake.

The goal? To build ‘the most prestigious apartment block in the whole world’. And with prices rising from £35m to somewhere in the region of £200m for the penthouse suites, it seems the brief has been achieved. 

Take A Look Inside 1 Mayfair

Hidden beyond the Portland stone, the gaudy gold interiors, Roman busts, painted marble-effect and furniture – exact replicas of those found in the Spencer family’s home – will not be to everybody’s taste, and particularly the more understated palate of old money Brits. Not that it matters. While there are some natives interested, most of the interest has been stirred up overseas, with buyers from all four corners of the globe flocking over for a first viewing.

Whether it’s your cup or tea or not, you cannot deny that it’s an impressive feat. The quality is literally second to none. There is no stone unturned and no detail, however small, not considered by this hyper-obsessive billionaire dreamer. The internal volume, for example, will never reach beyond a certain number of decibels. The bathrooms are crafted with book-matched stone (meaning that the veins all line up between tiles). The fittings are perfected. The air conditioning is as quiet as it can be and blows out evenly from all directions – but from where would take a keen eye to make out (psst, it’s hidden behind some coving based on that in Blenheim Palace).

And there’s still more to be done. The completed product will feature a recreation of the Hall of Mirrors from the Palace of Versailles. As we speak, two Venetian factories are making the 3,500 or so handmade crystals needed to make that gaudy vision a reality. Then there’s the garden room, also based on a loggia at Versailles and a private library curated by the Duke of Devonshire with Heywood Hill. There will, of course, be a rainforest-inspired spa, including a swimming pool, a gym, boxing ring, treatment rooms, a studio space, and lounge areas.

Walk in through the back entrance, as we did on our tour, and you’ll be greeted by a showstopping rotunda crowned with an archived Michelangelo fresco of a constellation that was originally designed for the Sistine Chapel. Special permission had to be obtained from the Vatican to use it here. Around the walls, a fake painted marble effect – much more expensive than using just the stone, we are told – and golden busts of influential Roman emperors. Hidden in the wall is a secret door. The Dorchester hotel, who manage the property, will have your details on file to know whether you’d rather be greeted by no one, your butler, or a full-fledged security detail. 

In fact, if you have any issues, any struggles, any aches or pains at all, just call The Dorchester up. Each 1 Mayfair residence is fitted out with secondary entrances for staff, allowing uniformed Dorchester Collection housekeeping, butler, dining, entertainment, floristry, wellness and concierge teams to enter and meet all your wants, needs and dreams. They’ll be able to book a room out for you, make your favourite drink, or pull together a last-minute afternoon tea. They’re also on hand to serve you one of their signature dishes, or whip up their chef-approved take on your favourite home comfort meal. Residents of 1 Mayfair also automatically receive the benefit of priority reservations at The Dorchester and The Dorchester Collection, as well as preferential booking at The Dorchester’s Spa. 

The Dorchester’s legacy can be found throughout the interiors too, drawing inspiration from former Dorchester guests like Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, and Sita Devi, Maharani of Baroda. The design is anything but boring. Catering to the younger demographic slowly making Mayfair their own, alongside buyers from across America, India and the Middle East, there’s no dull beige here.

As I wander round, it’s hard to imagine a property of this calibre ever being repeated. According to Caudwell, it won’t: ‘If they want the best quality, this is the only game in town. If they want size, this is never going to be done again.’ These days new-build developments in Westminster are restricted to 2,150 sq ft. The smallest here is 3,100 sq ft, while the largest extends to 16,500 sq ft. It’s hard to believe that the five-bedroom, three-reception room, 6,500 sq ft apartment I’m touring (price tag: £83.7m) is one of the more mediocre of the bunch.

At such scale, you may be wondering who could possibly pay up in these economically trying times. But Caudwell remains ‘super confident’ – because while the world is thrown into madness, ‘the super rich are getting richer’. When you’ve got billions in the bank, geopolitical crises and that cost of living crisis you keep reading about in the news mean nothing to you. This is not prime property. This is ultra exclusive super prime, never been done before property. As Caudwell puts it: ‘Amongst the 4,000 billionaires in the world, there’ll be plenty of uptake.’

Despite the heart-stopping costs, this is not a money-making endeavour at heart. As he puts it: ‘I don’t mind making money, but I want to create things of beauty, because I’ve already made my wealth.’ No one in their right mind would sink so much time, money and detail into something in the hope of a fat profit margin. This is a legacy-making endeavour. An attempt to recreate the intricate palaces of ages past that the rich and powerful simply don’t make anymore. For once, here’s a billionaire bidding farewell to the all-white walls. 

Find out more at 1mayfair.com