Amazon Property, in partnership with McLaren Construction Group, has transformed the historic Victorian headquarters of Lund & Blockley, luxury watch makers to Queen Victoria, the Royal family and Indian Maharajas, into a scheme of four lateral apartments, with ground floor foyer and 2,840 sq ft art gallery: known as The Pall Mall Collection at 42-43 Pall Mall in smart St James’s.
Situated in the heart of St James’s, one of the most prestigious locations in the West End of London, The Pall Mall Collection is situated on the north side of Pall Mall, close to St James’s park and Palace, Clarence House and Mayfair.
Originally the London home and premises of James Fitzpatrick, a leading picture and art dealer, in 1869-70 the property at 42-43 Pall Mall was remodelled and became the shop premises and London headquarters of Lund & Blockley – the Bvlgari of their day. Lund & Blockley were luxury pocket watch makers to Queen Victoria, the Royal family and various Indian Maharajas. The building was given a Portland stone façade, rebuilt in Franco-Italian style by Mayfair architect Charles J Shoppee.
The property was acquired by Amazon Property in 2010 and after almost two years of careful planning, the building was converted between 2013 and late 2015 to provide a prestigious art gallery and apartment foyer with dedicated concierge on the ground floor, with lift access to the four luxury apartments on the floors above.
The Pall Mall Colllection has a retained “floating façade”, the Victorian original restored and turned into an innovative and striking brise soleil because of its historic significance. Behind, Amazon Property have created a striking new building with floor-to-ceiling glazing and open contemporary interiors.
There is one 1,762 sq.ft three bedroom lateral apartment per floor, with a 2,575 sq.ft duplex penthouse located across the top floor floors. The foyer and the entrance hall to each apartment has magnificent Art Deco style feature flooring created from inlaid Grey Basalt and Nero Markini marble bordered by Oak flooring.
Charles Gourgey, Chief Executive of Amazon Property, says: “Precision, fine attention to detail and marquetry are the hallmarks of horology, the art of making fine clocks and watches. The horological and Royal history of the building helped inspire us, and is echoed in the marquetry, fine details and bespoke luxury we have created in the apartment living spaces. In our view it is fitting that a historic luxury brand headquarters from the Victorian era has now been given a fresh lease of life as luxurious ultra prime apartments.”
Chris Lanitis, Director at Amazon Property, says: “Historically St James’s was an overlooked area in the heart of London’s West End. Because of its proximity to the various Royal palaces, it was occupied by luxury brand, wine merchants and antique premises that serviced the Royal household. The Crown Estate have begun a multi-million investment project that is turning St James’s into a luxury retail, 5-star hotel and residential address; a sister neighbourhood to adjacent Mayfair and Belgravia.”
The initial September 2015 off plan release of apartments at The Pall Mall Collection has now been sold, enabling Amazon Property to release the current collection of lateral apartments and duplex penthouse now that the scheme is built complete. Each apartment has a bespoke interior design and dressing and is ready for immediate occupation.
Complete with dedicated concierge and direct lift access to each apartment, prices for the current release at The Pall Mall Collection range from GBP5,250,000 to GBP8,950,000.
