Updown Court

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Updown Court is a private residence in Windlesham, Surrey, England which is currently for sale at over $138 million USD and is the most expensive private residence for sale in the world.^{[citation needed]} It is the largest private residence to be built in the United Kingdom since the 19th century. Launched on the market in 2002, the estate remains unsold.

1 Property characteristics
- 1.1 Architecture
- 1.2 History
2 References

[edit] Property characteristics

Updown Court has 103 rooms and five swimming pools. Among other features, it has a bowling alley, a squash court, a heated marble driveway, 24-carat gold leafing on the mosaic floor of the study, a helipad, a tennis court, a 50-seat screening room and eleven bedrooms. It also features an underground garage that has enough room to harbour eight limousines.

Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres of grounds, gardens and woodland. Also neighbors include the Duchess of York, Elton John, and, at nearby Windsor Castle, the Queen. ^[1]

[edit] Architecture

Updown Court was designed by John B Scholz, an Arizona architect. Notable aspects of the architecture include the double staircase that is modelled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace had in his mansion in Miami, its grey-slated rooftops,and the bathroom's honey-coloured granite and green Guatemalan marble. It has been described by The Times newspaper as Californian Neo-classical.

[edit] History

The original Updown Court, built in 1924 and owned by Prince Sami Gayed of Egypt, was severely damaged by a fire in 1987. Developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe then proceeded to purchase the property, which was just a burnt-out shell of the property it had been, for the approximate equivalent of $38.4 million. He has since invested a further $60 million, through the backing of an Irish bank, and is now offering it for sale.