Once the home of ‘Britain’s Oscar Schindler’ then a refuge for the victims of Nazi persecution, 14 Netherhall Gardens has been restored and re-imagined as a boutique development of family apartments
We’ve got bookend buyers up in Highgate, and new build homes of almost every conceivable configuration across north London, but what about new family homes for Hampstead?
Enter Godfrey London. The boutique developers have acquired a prime NW3 address, restoring the original mansion and creating a new separate pavilion housing a total of 14 substantial family homes.
“Otto Schiff House is a historically significant building and it has been a privilege for us to restore and return the property to its residential origins,” says Paul Godfrey, managing director of Godfrey London.
“In our view these beautiful lateral apartments with their high specification and landscaped grounds provide the finest new apartment address for sale in Hampstead.”
Family fortunes
With land at such a premium in the area it’s rare for developers to hold back and opt for fewer units with more space, but the team behind the project at 14 Netherhall Gardens have done just that.
The two, three, four and five bedroom apartments in Otto Schiff House and Mansions will measure up to 3,500 sq ft in size, more than equivalent to a large London house.
There are just 14 homes available in the boutique development, with seven apartments set in the restored and converted Otto Schiff House and seven in the neighbouring Otto Schiff Mansions.
Of course, with that amount of space at a prime Hampstead address, the apartments don’t come cheap.
Prices start at 2.4 million, but the developers are confident that the combination of location, history and luxurious touches will tempt families and downsizers keen to acquire high quality turnkey accommodation in their beloved neighbourhood.
“There are less than half a dozen new apartment developments of this type in the local area and 14 Netherhall Gardens is a very special and totally unique project, says Bambos Haralambous, chief operating sales officer at Golschmidt and Howland.
Historic precedence
14 Netherhall Gardens has an interesting history. Architect Richard Norman Shaw designed the house in the Victorian Gothic revival style in 1885 by Hampstead landowner, the 10th Baronet Sir Spencer Maryon-Wilson.
In the 1920s the house was aquired by ‘Britain’s Oskar Schindler’, banker and philanthropist Otto Schiff. Schiff was a son of the Anglo-American-German Schiff banking dynasty, brokers to the Rothschild’s. He moved to London in 1896 at the age of 21 to join the merchant banking firm Bourke, Schiff and Co.
When the Nazis came to power in 1933 Schiff worked to establish the Jewish Refugees Committee (JRC), organising the rescue and sheltering of German and Austrian Jews.
Schiff turned over his house at 14 Netherhall Gardens to provide offices for the JRC and accommodation for families escaping Nazi Germany. He was awarded a CBE for his work, and upon his death in 1952 he left the property, now called Otto Schiff House, as a Trust and care home for victims of Nazi persecution.
Restored glory
With the Trust and care home incorporated into Jewish Care and re-housed in the new hospice facilities in Golders Green in 2010, the property was acquired by boutique developer Godfrey London.
Working with architects Squire and Partners, the period home has been restored to its residential origins, retaining the original tile hung façade and large bays with stained glass windows.
Inside, the original entrance hall with its high ceiling, fireplace and grand staircase has been carefully refurbished and will provide access to the new apartments.
Ranging from 1,443 sq ft to 3,068 sq ft, the residences will include reception rooms with high, ornate ceilings and fireplaces, with a modern open plan kitchen and dining area.
Ground floor apartments open on to courtyards, whilst those on the first and second floors will have private balconies.
The top two floors have been transformed into a loft style duplex apartment
New luxury
Separate from the original house, the newly built Otto Schiff Mansions contain seven two, three, four and five bedroom lateral and duplex apartments, including a four bedroom penthouse.
Echoing the main house, the apartments have high ceilings, reinterpreted in a contemporary style with floor to ceiling glazing and a high spec automated home control system.
Other luxe touches include Boffi kitchens with Gaggenau appliances, CP Hart bathrooms with Italian Statuario porcelain and bespoke oak parquet flooring.
The gardens and courtyards surrounding the apartment complex were designed by Chealsea Flower Show gold medallist Kate Gould.
“The apartments at Otto Schiff House & Mansions on Netherhall Gardens occupy a superb corner plot and have the benefit of mature trees and significant grounds, says Peter Brookes, associate director at Savills (Hampstead).
Hungry for homes
Demand for new homes is soaring across London, but so is supply. Since 2015, 13,500 more units have begun construction than have been sold, so savvy developers need a USP to stand out from the crowd.
The team behind 14 Netherhall Gardens are hoping the niche appeal of prime apartments in a top location will pay dividends.
“This local area has continued to be highly desirable, says Haralambous.
“In the last 12 months, sales in the local district have been driven by serious applicants who have a strong appetite to buy and the appeal for premium new build homes which is what this project provides, continues to grow.”
Family friendly new builds are in short supply, particularly in such a central location.
Turnkey apartments are often popular too, particularly to downsizers looking for something immediate to move in to, rather than having to wait months for completion to roll around.
Despite the prime price points, the apartments aren’t outrageous for the area, where the average terraced house sells for £2,158,000, and a semi-detached house fetches over £4 million according to Zoopla.com.
“Premium new build apartments in the local area achieve in the region of £1,550 to £1,700 per sq ft which still presents excellent value when compared with neighbouring St John’s Wood and Regent’s Park, with values at a 25-30 per cent premium,” adds Goldschmidt & Howland director Neir Gigi.
Looking for a high end home with a rich history, room for the family and high spec finishes that also represents good value? It would appear Otto Schiff House and Mansions has it all.
Prices start at £2.4 million for a two bedroom apartment on a 250 year lease.
For further sales and visitor information contact joint sole agents:
Goldschmidt and Howland / 020 7435 4404
Savills (Hampstead Office) / 020 7472 5000
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