Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Mackintosh Icebergs

Iceberg home formed in part from the former Chelsea studios of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012

The grand location used as Uncle Monty’s London home in Withnail & I – the 1987 classic dark comedy starring Richard E. Grant – was West House at 35 Glebe Place in Chelsea. That building was sold to François Pinault, the owner of amongst other things Christie’s, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, for £20 million in 2011, whilst last month we featured an equally fabled residence in a street once home to artists, but now the preserve of billionaires – the £6.95 million former residence of the now in exile oligarch Sergei Pugachev at 53 and 54 Glebe Place.

Yesterday, the Daily Mail reported that Pugachev’s publicity craving ex-partner and mother of three of his children, ‘Karen-esque’ Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, had finally been evicted from that property. “It’s not our choice to leave, it’s painful and oh so sad” blubbed this batshit bonkers woman on Instagram, but now there’s another house for sale in the street that will make headlines and this time because of its connections to an esteemed art nouveau architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928).

Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
Glasgow born Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his Black Country born wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (top) and a replacement plaque commemorating their association with the building that is located on the garage door at 43 Glebe Place. A plaque was first erected to mark the centenary of the Glasgow School of Art in 2009, but was “removed at some point between 2009 and 2015.”

Bizarrely sold in November 2012 for a sum £55,000 lower than in February that year, 43 Glebe Place has just come to the market for £14.95 million through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – a sum 1,178% higher than eight years ago.

 

Now vastly larger due to the fact that it has been ‘iceberged’ with the addition of an entirely new ‘mega-basement’ level (of similar concept to that created under the five houses opposite during their controversial merger by Monsoon and Accessorize owner Peter Simon in 2015), 43 Glebe Place is formed from the merger of a simple cottage and two artists’ studios. It now extends to 3,871 square foot in total over three levels.

 

One section of the property formed from the artists’ studios – known at that time as 43a Hans Studio – was used by Mackintosh from August 1915 to circa 1923 whilst his wife, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864 – 1933), occupied the adjoining space.

 

The studios were entered through “a small high walled courtyard” which now forms the garden of the newly created house and during this period, the couple lived nearby in Oakley Street, SW3 also. They had been forced to move to London after being banned from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, where they had previously lived, as Mackintosh had been suspected of being a German spy due to his “affinity with Austria.”

 

Of their time there, writing in 2016, Mackintosh expert Sheila Harris remarked:

 

“As with most studios the ceilings were high, in order, most probably, to capture as much as light as possible and although they were fairly austere, with the furniture, artefacts and decorative panels originally housed in their Glasgow home, the place would soon have become an extension of their artistic lives.”

 

“Let’s not forget that whilst Mackintosh was working quietly in his studio another, completely different, scenario was unfolding outside his studio door.  A resident of Glebe Place wrote: ‘Never shall I forget how suddenly Chelsea seemed to become an armed camp… Army motor lorries were rattling noisily along the normally quiet Embankment, and those hot nights we lay awake listening to the heavy rumble of laden troop-trains, all night long… It was a heart-rending sight to see the young men of all ranks going up the steps of Chelsea Town Hall to enlist.’”

 

“Clearly Mackintosh and Margaret embraced life in Chelsea and made the very best of their new-found circumstances.  They adopted their new surroundings, making their studios an inviting, hospitable place to spend their days, often in the company of like-minded people.  They certainly faced up to the challenges of living in the capital city which was the target of so many bombing raids.”

 

“Whilst little evidence can be found on the daily routine of the Mackintoshes’ life in London, we know that they… spent their days in the adjoining studios in Glebe Place, and many evenings were enjoyed at the Blue Cockatoo [a long since gone local hostelry in Oakley Street that was popular also with Augustus John and other “artistic Chelsea denizens”] meeting friends and colleagues for dinner… We do know that Margaret held parties, including children’s parties, at the studios.”

 

Given what the estate agent Turnbull terms a “three year, multi-million pound rebuild by the current owners, creating an exquisite and self-indulgent London home for themselves,” it is doubtful that the Mackintoshes would now recognise their former home. It now provides a 21-foot by 16-foot reception room with a ceiling heght of 14-feet and a study area with a mezzanine beyond, a 30-foot long dining kitchen, 3 bedroom suites, a wine cellar and a gym with a steam room. There is a somewhat narrow garage, off-street parking for an additional car, a 24-foot by 23-foot garden and a 22-foot long roof terrace also.

 

In their marketing literature, The London Broker interestingly point out also of the freehold house: “This property currently has mixed use. The buyer should speak to their solicitor and seek advice to confirm that this could significantly reduce SDLT.” Who said the rich don’t like a bargain?

 

The Numbers – 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom

 

July 2020 – For sale for £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) through agents The London Broker.

 

November 2012 – Sold for £1.17 million ($1.48 million, €1.30 million or درهم5.43 million)

 

February 2012 – Sold for £1.225 million ($1.548 million, €1.366 million or درهم5.687 million).

 

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Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
A large entrance hall is formed out of the majority of the ground floor of the original, surprisingly unlisted cottage.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
Out of one of the studio spaces, a vast dining kitchen with doors to the courtyard garden has been created. It is bright and airy as a result of its ceiling lights.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
Beyond is a reception space, again with studio windows above.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
Another view of the room.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
A dividing glass partition leads to a space intended as a study. It has a mezzanine above.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
The master bedroom suite is to be found in the original cottage. It has its own terrace.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
The bathroom of the master bedroom also has a door onto the terrace.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
In the newly recreated ‘iceberg mega-basement’ daylight is brought in courtesy of a lightwell. A most useful wine cellar can be seen at the end of this corridor.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
The other two bedroom suites are located on the lower level.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
Also below ground is a large gym. It seems an ideal space for health conscious super-rich yummy mummy types to work out their frustrations in.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
The courtyard garden (looking towards the original house and garage) is quite charming and restful.
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
The courtyard garden (looking towards the studio conversion section).
Mackintosh Icebergs – £14.95 million ($18.90 million, €16.67 million or درهم69.40 million) for 43 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, SW3 5JE, United Kingdom through agent Johnny Turnbull of The London Broker – ‘Iceberg home’ formed in part from the former Glebe Place, Chelsea, SW3 studios of Rennie Mackintosh and his wife for sale for sum 1,178% higher than in 2012.
A floor plan of the very much enlarged property.
A BBC video briefly mentioning Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s time at 43 Glebe Place. Video courtesy of The 78 Derngate Northampton Trust.
Flamboyant Uncle Monty plied Withnail and Marwood with booze in his drawing room at 35 Glebe Place in the film. His intentions were less than decent. In 2011, the house was sold for £20 million to the billionaire businessman François Pinault – reportedly the 27th richest man in the world as of October 2019.
Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Matthew Steeples is a writer and marketing consultant. He conceived The Steeple Times as a media arena to fill the void between the Mail Online, The Huffington Post and such organs as the New York Social Diary in 2012.

2 COMMENTS

  1. As a bit of an aside, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was the most underrated architect of the century, more talented than Frank Lloyd Wright IMO. Just sayin’.

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