A six-bedroom flat built in Fulham turned into a contemporary gallery-style space painted and decorated by big name artists — one of whom tore holes in the walls — is now for sale.
Architect John Pawson, known for his minimalist style, was commissioned to combine two flats in a former laboratory complex into “a space that could display contemporary artworks at their best, and be great for entertaining,” said the current owner.
Pawson, who is known for his minimalist style, created a 5,318 square foot home that could double as a live-in art gallery.
The property, which is on the market for offers over £3.5 million via Moveli, is divided into two parts.
The main bedroom suite is on one side of the house, along with a large kitchen and living rooms, while the other side has children’s bedrooms, a separate living room, a snug and and a nanny flat.
An art dealer by trade, the homeowner has displayed a 15-metre butterfly mural by Damien Hirst on the living room wall, while Richard Wright created an artwork on the ceiling in gold leaf.
Swiss artist Urs Fischer took a hammer to Pawson’s pared back design to create Middleclass Heroes, a piece of art formed by punching multiple large holes into the fabric of the building through the stairwell and on one of the external walls.
Prospective buyers should be wary of any attempts to patch up any cracks, lest they devalue a literal work of art. Fischer’s installation artworks have sold at auction for as much as $6.8 million (£5.5 million).
Fischer’s piece is reminiscent of a work of the same name that the artist created for the Kunsthaus Zurich by cutting a series of holes in the gallery walls.
His creations frequently explore themes of destruction. For the 2011 Venice Biennale, Fischer cast a replica of the 16th-century sculptor Giambologna’s Abduction of the Sabine Women in wax, turning it into a giant candle that melted over the course of the exhibition.
Hirst’s mural features butterflies on a background of pink, blue and red. The artist, who won the 1995 Turner Prize, employs the metamorphosing insects as symbols of the dichotomy of life and death.
However, while the mural fits perfectly over the dividing wall between the expansive living room and kitchen, the owners will be taking this particular artwork with them.
The diamond-shaped gold leaf mural over one corner of the ceiling will remain in situ. The artist, Wright, won the Turner prize in 2011 for a mural that also employed gold leaf but was painted over after the exhibition closed.
New owners of the Fulham flat looking to redecorate could claim that painting over the mural would be in keeping with Wright’s oeuvre, then.
However, as few murals by Wright still exist — and works by the artist in other mediums have sold at auction for up to $18,984 (£15,712) — they might want to hold back on the paintbrushes.
The property occupies The Piper Building, which was built in the 1950s for The North Thames Gas Board.
It was saved from demolition and redeveloped in the 1990s by property developer Crispin Kelly, who commissioned architecture practice Lifshutz Davidson to convert it into homes.
Each apartment was designed as an empty shell, with buyers able to select their own preferred architect to complete the interior fit-out.
Neighbouring homes have been designed by the likes of industrial designer Ron Arad and architect Seth Stein.
Alongside a unique opportunity to buy a home that comes with one-of-a-kind art installation, the Fulham flat offers many amenities.
"This is an incredible property, and there are numerous design, usage, and layout possibilities for its next lucky owner,” said James Giblin from Moveli.
“Finding a London apartment with such incredible lateral space is no easy feat,” he added.
“When that space also happens to be in an old commercial building with history, huge ceiling heights, secure off-street parking, and concierge team, what’s not to like?”
