W ithout doubt, Grosvenor Square was the most prestigious address for the great and the good to make their London home after its con-struction in the 1720s. Fast for-ward nearly 300 years, and this expansive, leafy quadrangle in the

heart of north Mayfair—just a few minutes east of Hyde Park—is poised to re-establish its gilded residential credentials.

Twenty Grosvenor Square, the first stand-alone Four Seasons serviced residential development in the world, completes in early 2019 thanks to the vision of Finchatton, the preeminent international design and development firm, which has set a new standard in London real estate with their extraordinary attention to detail and relentless desire to seek out the very best of the best.

“It is the pinnacle, the best address in Mayfair, and the world—a south-facing property overlooking the grandest garden square in London,” says Alex Michelin, co-founder of Finchatton, about their most ambitious project to date. “We’ve partnered with Four Seasons to create the best level of amenity of any building in London. It ticks all the boxes. It’s utterly unique, the culmination of our lives’ work to date, and it’s a responsibility we take seriously. We are cognisant of the history and genuinely want to develop and enhance this incredible classic property with a sensibility to make it one of the listed buildings of the future,” adds Andrew Dunn, co-founder of Finchatton.

History, status, heritage, romance: these are the elements so respectfully safeguarded by Finchatton and so in tune with the renaissance of north Mayfair as a sophisticated “village” of cafés, boutiques and florists. With the departure of the US

Finchatton is proud to introduce Twenty Grosvenor Square—home to the

first stand-alone Four Seasons Private Residences in the world

BY SAR AH EDWORTHY

The best address in London

With Four Seasons service to hand, the Garden Library is an oasis of peace, extending toa covered outdoor terraceand courtyard garden

VANITY FAIR PROMOTION

Embassy (an iconic building itself, which will re-open as a superluxe Rosewood Hotel), Twenty Grosvenor Square leads the way in reverting to discreet yet grand residential status, with each of the 37 private apartments receiving all the benefits of living in a top five-star hotel but with the investment benefits of actually owning the asset.

Architecturally, it is a wonderful scheme. The façade has returned to its 18th-century splendour right down to the exquisite brickwork and original square-facing Georgian front door, and yet it meets contemporary requirements with amenities such as three floors of secure underground parking, a valet service and drivers’ waiting area. Inside, the soaring scale of door and ceiling heights, the proportions and symmetry create an uplifting, tranquil space for high-end modern living. Details such as acoustic windows, personalized lighting, bookmatched marble fireplaces and mechanized dressing-room drawers make for the aesthetic style and ease that represents understated luxury.

There are touching nods to the colourful heritage. From 1939 to 2007, the build-ing was the headquarters

of the US Naval Forces in Europe, heralded by an eagle insignia and including a set of rooms assigned to General Dwight Eisenhower, who directed the D-Day Landings from his map-lined war room. “It’s incred-ible that the fate of Europe was man-aged from this building,” says Dunn. “Whoever buys that apartment will be given a framed photograph of the General in his office as a gift.”

As we have come to expect from Finchatton as specialists in bespoke turn-key homes, the emphasis is on “home” rather than property. Residents can enjoy a grand sense of arrival via the recessed drive-in vehicle entrance on North Audley Street, but can also enter discreetly through a private door. Privacy has not been sacrificed. The impressive lobby stretches back with a vista to the Garden Library with a variety of individual seating arrangements, and further through to a covered outdoor terrace, courtyard garden and more seclusion.

Shared amenities on the lower ground levels include a state-of-the-art, fully staffed spa with a 25-metre pool, 2,500sqft gym, treatment room, steam room and sauna. The personal training room has tremendous appeal. There is also a crèche where your children can play while you use the health and wellbeing facilities.

A private wine room and cellar, cinema room, and business suite

enable residents to organize sommelier tastings, family entertainment or meetings in their own building. Finchatton intuits that people are time-poor. For residents who may have several homes around the world, the joy of Twenty Grosvenor Square is that they can call or email the concierge and find their clothes are pressed and hanging in the wardrobe when they arrive, their fridge fully stocked, and they are ready to roll without the hassle of hiring their own staff.

The apartments start at £17.5million for a four-bedroom property. An in-house Finchatton team of 45 talk each buyer through design requirements, desires and special facilities. “We have an incredibly passionate, talented creative team and we are really fortunate in that,” says Michelin. “It is a team effort and we all spend blood, sweat and tears on every single detail to try our very best to make it perfect.” �

For further information, please visit 20GS.com

The unique Four Seasons Residences at Twenty Grosvenor Square

The spa’s 25m pool with hand-carved marble panelsand personalized lighting

“We have enhanced this incredible classic property with a sensibility to make it one

of the listed buildings of the future”

The grand lobby with drop-off drive and 24-hour concierge

High ceilings, neutral tones and acoustic glazing maintaina refined tranquillity

VANITY FAIR PROMOTION