A London penthouse that had a previous life as a German tyre company showroom and prisoner of war shelter has gone on the market for £6.95million.
Empire House in Kensington was built between 1911 and 1916 to house the British branch of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Company.
The grand premises were due to become the firm’s UK headquarters with a showroom, warehouse and offices.
But by 1915 part of the building site had been requisitioned and temporary huts were built there instead to house First World War prisoners.
Empire House (pictured) in Kensington was built between 1911 and 1916 to house the British branch of the German Continental Tyre and Rubber Company. It sits between the museums at South Kenginston and Knightsbridge
The Grade II-listed property boasts a rooftop terrace with stunning views over the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum
The property is spread across four floors, with a huge reception, living space and kitchen area, as well as five bedrooms
On the first floor potential buyers will find a huge reception room, kitchen, five bedrooms, four of which are en-suite, a bathroom and a laundry room
The next floor has a stunning roof terrace that looks out over the Victoria and Albert Museum, the dome has another reception
A life of luxury: The kitchen and dining room at Emprie House, Kensington, London is light and spacious
After the war was over, Continental abandoned the site in 1925 and it was converted into luxury shops and flats.
Now a 3,475 square foot space inside the former headquarters up for sale. Spread across four floors with stunning views from the roof terrace of the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum, the Grade-II listed penthouse boasts five bedrooms.
On the first floor potential buyers will find a huge reception room, kitchen, bedrooms, four of which are en-suite, a bathroom and a laundry room.
The next floor has a stunning roof terrace that looks out over the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The third floor within the dome has another reception room while the fourth floor has an internal circular balcony.
Luxury shops and offices can be found on the floors below and the Rembrandt Hotel occupies the other side.
Pictured: The grand premises were due to become the firm’s UK headquarters with a showroom, warehouse and offices
By 1915 part of the building site for Empire House had been requisitioned and temporary huts were built there instead to house First World War prisoners
After the war was over, Continental abandoned the Empire House site in 1925 and it was converted into luxury shops and flats
The property is available on a 125-year lease and comes with an annual service charge of £25,000 and a one off payment of £29,000 for the installation of new communal boilers that are required. There is also a £500 a year ground rent to pay
Now the 3,475 square foot space is up for sale. Spread across four floors with stunning views from the roof terrace of the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum, the Grade-II listed building boasts five bedrooms
Four out of five bedrooms inside the £6.95million Empire House building have large en-suite bathrooms (pictured)
What happened to tyre giant Continental’s Kensington showroom? How German firm’s London HQ was used to hold PoWs during WWI before undergoing a makeover
In 1909 the German Continental Tyre and Rubber Company made an application to move its UK branch from London’s Clerkenwell Road to a brand new headquarters in South Kensington.
Architect Paul Hoffman was charged with drawing up the designs, which the company insisted had to be grandiose and impressive.
The first phase was completed in 1911 and the second in 1915.
In 1909 the German Continental Tyre and Rubber Company made an application to move its UK branch from London’s Clerkenwell Road to a brand new headquarters in South Kensington
That year, part of the site was requisitioned and used to build temporary huts for prisoners of the First World War.
This suggests the entire building wasn’t finished until the end of the war in 1918.
Just a few years later in 1925, Continental decided to abandon the site, which had a showroom, warehouse and offices.
After that it became Empire House. The ground floor was occupied by luxury shops and the upper ones became offices.
Years later the top few floors and the impressive dome rooftop would be turned into a penthouse apartment, boasting views of the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum.
On the other side, on Thurloe Place, the frontage is occupied by the Rembrandt Hotel.
Source: Historic England
The property is available on a 125-year lease and comes with an annual service charge of £25,000 and a one off payment of £29,000 for the installation of new communal boilers that are required. There is also a £500 a year ground rent to pay.
Ollie Blakelock, of estate agents Strutt & Parker, said: ‘This is a superb penthouse in a historic building with a wonderful rare dome and a private roof terrace within view of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
‘In the Edwardian era the building was the grand showroom, warehouse and office of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Company, which signalled the importance of Kensington in the early days of the motor industry.’
Ollie Blakelock, of estate agents Strutt & Parker, said: ‘This is a superb penthouse in a historic building with a wonderful rare dome and a private roof terrace within view of the Victoria and Albert Museum.’