Rive Gauche: The view from here – Autumn 2022

Since our last update, 2022 has thrown up all manner of unforeseen global events, from ongoing war and unprecedented wildfires to the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. For many, it has been yet another year of uncertainty and destabilisation.

But with currencies in great flux, Americans and other dollar-rich buyers are seizing the best opportunity in many years to buy prime London and European property. For the world’s wealthiest individuals, the need and desire to invest in property in gold-standard locations is a reliable safety net amid worldwide chaos.

We at Rive Gauche work with many of these individuals from pre-acquisition advice right through to renovation, and we are seeing just how confident investors feel about creating palatial homes that will give them great pleasure in years to come, and/or prove to be hugely beneficial in adding value when they come to sell.

No two projects are ever remotely the same, and what is wonderful design-wise is how ambitious our clients are – or are happy for us to be with their homes. At a client’s property in Grosvenor square, we are re-designing a residence that includes what every owner in this location wants: a doorstep right onto Grosvenor Square. The interiors combine the historic grandeur associated with this prestigious Mayfair address with a modern and eclectic approach that suits these art-loving owners. The result is a beautiful, luxurious and exciting home, which we cannot wait to share.

In the long, wide corridor, we have created an art gallery feel, full of the clients’ works of art. But this doesn’t feel at all like a conventional, historical Mayfair apartment. Some of these artworks are undoubtedly prized collector’s items, but others are quirky and fun, bringing a fresh, colourful feel to the space. Every piece of furniture and decoration is beautiful and bespoke, including a marble dining table with lacquered panels that span dark to light, oversized chandeliers in the large living room, and a marble coffee table that is more than 2.5m long.

We are also half-way through the construction of a spectacular penthouse overlooking Hyde Park. When it completes next Spring, it will have an end value of more than £20m, which is double what the owners paid for it.

The five-bedroom apartment will be a permanent home to some of the family, and they will have a unique property with some of the most breathtaking views of the Royal Park. We have effectively created a brand new home for them by turning the existing single-storey apartment into a duplex property, with a new lift connecting the two floors, and a terrace with panoramic views.  

Our experienced project management and procurement team also anticipated which materials would be needed for the interiors well in advance, so we have been minimally impacted by the delays and shortages that have plagued many individual’s or companies’ renovation projects this year.

Holland Park has seen a huge rise in popularity in the last year, with detached houses and gardens of a size that are hard to find in much of prime central London. We have undertaken a feasibility study for a client there to see if we can create value before they sell – and the answer is yes, we can, by extending the property to double its existing size, with a basement extension and a summer house. We are completely reconfiguring all the interiors, creating a master suite that takes up an entire floor, with double dressing rooms and double bathrooms, and we have designed a basement that will include staff areas and a full entertainment level, with a spa and gym. When it’s complete, this house’s value will be above £40m.

Overseas, we have taken on our first projects in Saudi Arabia, and we are making good progress on a large villa in Dubai. This renovation blends modern design with the owner’s love of classic French design and capitalises on the villa’s grand proportions. Imagine an eight-metre high ceiling in the main reception hall, with a double staircase that weaves its way upwards. To set it off in suitably opulent style, we have designed a 4.5-metre long crystal, glass and metal chandelier that will hang from a dome in the ceiling. As you move up the staircase, you come into close contact with the chandelier and can appreciate every intricate detail.

And in Paris, a client – also from the Middle East – has asked us to turn two top-floor apartments on Avenue Foch, with views over the Arc de Triomph, into a beautiful, open entertainment space. It’s in the concept stages, but with a location like that we will ensure the balcony that runs around the entire apartment, and takes in exquisite views of Paris, is a pivotal part of this turnkey project.

Amid current global uncertainty, property remains a safe haven in which ultra-high-net-worth individuals are investing their money. Rive Gauche can provide further reassurance, too, as an established multi-disciplinary design studio that works with clients all over the world from concept to completion. We ensure your project is in safe hands, and that the result will prove to be a valuable investment in every sense.