Yahoo Finance The most stunning properties of 2022
It’s been a strange old year in the word of property. Rents, mortgage rates and energy bills shot up, house prices and stock levels dropped and in an attempt to make getting on to and moving up the ladder a little bit easier, the government raised stamp duty thresholds.
Amid all the turbulence, a variety of exciting, unusual and crowd-pleasing individual homes and developments have been listed, launched, sold, completed or won awards over the past 12 months.
From bijou abodes to magnificent mansions, all these properties are in a league of their own.
1. Most viewed: Luckington Court, Chippenham, Wiltshire, £5m
Luckington Court seems to have it all — looks, location and a fascinating history.
It was built on the site of a manor owned by King Harold II who was killed in the 1066 Battle of Hastings, extended and remodelled in the 16th century and in 1947 was bought by Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Horn, the first director of the Badminton Horse trials.
Read more: 2022: Year in review
In 1995 it starred as Longbourn, Elizabeth Bennett’s family home in the BBC’s adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
The recently-modernised eight-bedroom house and its 19 acre estate have captured the nation’s imagination as it’s been viewed more times than any other property on Rightmove. Priced at £5m, through Woolley & Wallis via Rightmove.
2. Record breaker: Park Modern, Bayswater, London, £60m
Even by the capital’s exacting standards, this development is rather special — as it would have to be to justify the price tag.
Due to complete in the first half of 2023, it comprises 57 apartments overlooking Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park, ranging from £2m to £60m for the main trophy penthouse.
Five-star hotel-style facilities include a concierge, valet parking, a lounge, library, restaurant and café and an entire floor focussed on wellbeing with a cinema, glass-walled gym, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, treatment room and salon.
The homes have achieved £7,000 per square foot — a record figure for north of Hyde Park. Register your interest at Park Modern.
3. Best new house: Knights Park, Eddington, Cambridge, £1.9m
This sustainable development on the outskirts of Cambridge performed rather well in November’s WhatHouse? Awards, regarded as the Oscars of the housebuilding industry.
Not only did it win the best exterior design category, but the Cavendish villa was crowned the best new house.
Space flows beautifully throughout the five-bedroom, four-bathroom property, which has a large kitchen with a central island and utility, a family room, a first floor living room, a master bedroom suite with a balcony on the second floor, lots of storage and an integral garage.
The show home complete with all fittings and furniture is ready to move into, priced £1.9m. For more information talk to the Hill.
4. House of the Year: Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Red House in rural Dorset was unveiled as the RIBA House of the Year, an annual award for the best architect-designed home in the UK.
It’s inspired by the Arts and Craft movement, incorporating patterned red brickwork and contrasting bold details, but is also future-proofed with thick walls and overhanging eaves protecting it from the effects of climate change.
Touches such as rounded corners on built-in furniture, grab rails on cupboards and handrails on the central, sculptural staircase make it adaptable should the owners’ accessibility needs change. By David Kohn Architects.
5. Tallest rental: Canary Wharf, London, from £2,150 per month
Live the high life in Newfoundland, the UK’s tallest collection of build-to-rent apartments.
These one-, two- and three-bedroom homes are on the 58th floor of the 220 metre tower and enjoy far-reaching views across the city through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The building includes a gym, studios, a lounge, games and screening rooms, a terrace, an outdoor children’s play area and a ‘kidult’ zone — a work-play space ideal for families, and has a busy programme of social events. From £2,150 per month for a studio, through Canary Wharf Group’s residential leasing arm, Vertus.
6. Smallest freehold house: Chelsea, London, £1.2m
At only 290 square feet, this house is pint-sized, to say the least.
However, it’s detached, Georgian, on a very desirable street tucked behind King’s Road and incredibly luxurious, having been renovated with great attention to detail.
An open plan living area with a top-end Bulthaup kitchen and a shower room are on the ground floor, and a spiral staircase leads up to the bedroom, fitted with a space-saving retractable bed with a projector above.
Underfloor heating and air conditioning are installed throughout, and a rooflight and stairs provide access to the roof. Yours for £1.2 million, through Harding Green.
7. Oldest occupied: Great Tangley, Wonersh, Guildford, Surrey, £11m
Half-timbered, grade I listed Great Tangley Manor dates from the 11th century and is believed to be the country’s oldest continually inhabited house.
With 10 bedrooms, six bathrooms, seven reception rooms, an indoor pool, sauna, office and nearly 10 acres of land, it can accommodate even the largest family, though part could be rented out as holiday lets, a corporate venue or a film and TV location, as has been done in the past. For sale at £11m, Strutt & Parker and Savills.
8. Top holiday let: Mallwyd near Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd, Wales
Nant y Garnedd and Nant y Esgair are a pair of eco-friendly Hobbit-style pods that were placed underground to give guests as much privacy as possibly while blending in seamlessly with the rolling hills of Snowdonia.
Each sleeps four and has a wood-fired hot tub, a walk-in shower and private garden, and the owners plan to install a hydro scheme so that electricity will be generated by running water.
The pods opened for business in May and have since been judged as the UK and Ireland’s best holiday let based on factors including customer reviews, location and facilities. Book through Sykes Holiday Cottages.
9. Grandest sale: Le Val-Saint-Germain, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France, €52m
An hour’s drive from Paris, Château du Marais is a national historic monument so palatial that it’s known as Petit Versailles.
A mirrored lake runs along the west façade, and the beautifully maintained interiors feature elaborate ceiling murals, patterned hardwood floors and intricately designed wall coverings alongside original furnishings, paintings and sculptures.
The chateau was owned by a succession of French aristocratic families before being bought in June by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský, who also owns the AC Sparta Prague football club.
Its sale price hasn’t been revealed but it was originally on at €52m, through Engel & Völkers via Top Ten Real Estate Deals.
