Originally created to provide wealthy Victorians with a toehold in the most fashionable central London districts, mansion blocks continue to have a timeless appeal.
In late 19th Century London, there were only a handful of locations the wealthy would consider living in. When demand outstripped the supply of houses in the most desirable central areas, the scene was set for the rise of the capital’s impressive and imposing mansion blocks.
“Mansion blocks are a familiar sight in London, the most typical blocks having been built during the late Victorian and early Edwardian era – think of Albert Hall Mansions or the blocks on Prince of Wales Drive overlooking Battersea Park as prime examples,” says Robert Britten, Sales Director at Dexters Mayfair.
Albert Hall Mansions, designed by Richard Norman Shaw in 1880-1887, is the development widely credited for heralding the era of the characteristic London mansion block. These redbrick apartments, with their detailed stone frontage and delicate iron balcony railings, were designed in the ‘Queen Anne Revival’ or ‘Kensington Style’ which was based on the English and Dutch architecture of the early 18th Century. This grandiose design soon became the template for blocks firmly targeted at upper class buyers in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
While initially there was some resistance among the well-heeled to apartment living, Albert Hall Mansions proved a great success and paved the way for further popular mansion block developments across Kensington, Mayfair, Regent’s Park and Marylebone.
The generous layouts of many mansion block apartments have not been changed over the decades. The lateral space and considered floorplans mean today’s buyers can avoid some of the potential pitfalls of buying Victorian conversions where rooms have been less well-planned, or new build properties which may include less than generous proportions in some rooms. Richard says, “Mansion blocks are mid-rise buildings, which are not too dominant on the landscape, offering floor layouts and space not often found in conversions or new properties. There is also a sense of community.”
As well as the convenience, style, space and the superb locations of many mansion blocks make purchasing apartments in these buildings a safe investment. Mansion block apartments remain in high demand. Sellers can boost their chances of finding the right buyer by instructing an agent known for specialising in prime central London, such as Dexters.
