Villa Leopolda, FranceVilla Leopolda, France

Villa Leopolda, France

Admittedly, King Leopold II of Belgium wasn’t a very nice man. Even those who haven’t read Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness know about the horrors committed on his behalf in the Congo.

And yet, back in Europe, the bearded king lived the dream. The magnificent Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer in France was built for King Leopold II in 1902 on an estate he owned.

It was modified in the early 1930s and was even owned by the late Fiat president Gianni Agnelli in the 1950s. In 2008, Villa Leopolda was reportedly sold to Mikhail Prokhorov for €500m but the Russian tycoon backed out, losing his deposit.

Apparently, the villa is still for sale. Whoever buys it will also need a budget to pay for the 50 full-time gardeners.

Walton Manor, UK

If you want to live like royalty, then Walton Manor in Surrey is the right property for you. Built in the mid-13th century, it was given as a wedding gift to Catherine of Aragon by Henry VIII. When the royal couple got divorced in 1533, the monarch promptly repossessed it, only to use it as a residence for his unwanted fourth wife Anne of Cleves. In 1483, Walton Manor hosted King Edward IV’s widow, Elizabeth de Woodville.

The house still retains some of its historic features including the arched entrance, an original Jacobean fireplace and flint walls.

Highclere CastleHighclere Castle

Highclere Castle, UK

We don’t watch Downton Abbey for the plot – rather, it’s the panning shots of the beautiful Highclere Castle that get us all teary eyed.

Home to the Carnarvon family since 1679, Highclere Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of a medieval palace. With its 5,000 acres, Highclere Castle has had its share of history. Redesigned by Sir Charles Barry in 1838, the castle was once home to the fifth Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Nowadays, Highclere Castle enjoys rather more tranquil times – except for when the Dowager Countess of Grantham drops in.

The Cluny House by Guz Architects. Photo: Patrick Bingham HallThe Cluny House by Guz Architects. Photo: Patrick Bingham Hall

Cluny House, Singapore

Designed by Guz Architects, Cluny House in Singapore is a happy marriage between technology and sustainability. Laid out around a central water court, Cluny House looks like a pastoral dream, with lushly planted roof gardens. But backstage is a whole cunning plan involving photovoltaic cells, solar water heaters, a design for passive cooling and cross ventilation, and irrigation tanks to collect and recycle rainwater. Truly a model for sustainable, and luxurious, living.

 

House in Somosaguas by A-ceroHouse in Somosaguas by A-cero

Somosaguas House, Spain

Looking like something straight out of a science fiction novel, the A-cero designed house in Somosaguas, Spain, is a sustained conversation between lines, curves and highly stylised forms. Yet for all its futuristic design, Somosaguas House blends well with its environment and presents itself in layers that appear to emerge naturally from the ground.

Inside is a lavish spread that includes gym, indoor pool, office, kitchen, painting studio, wine cellar, and a curved deck with gorgeous views over the surroundings.

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