Polished to Perfection

Seldom has an apartment block generated so much publicity, but then seldom do apartments command such eye-watering prices. One Hyde Park materialised at the start of the credit crunch, but has apparently been unaffected by it, sailing above the economic storms battering the rest of Britain and the West. Conceived by the developer brothers, Candy & Candy, it is not a single apartment block, but 4 inter-linked buildings designed by architects, Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners. The exterior divides opinion, but I'd been itching to get inside the building ever since it was completed. Fortunately, award winning Interior Designers, Casa Forma asked me to photograph what must be their most impressive project to date. The shoot was not without its challenges. Simply getting into the building is a hurdle in itself, as security is understandably tight. The main issue however concerns the finishes throughout the apartment. 'Antique' mirrored walls, highly laquered timber veneers and polished stone and marble. All look fabulous, but are super glossy and reflective, making it almost impossible to conceal the tripod and camera, let alone any flashlight. On occasion it's unavoidable, so thank heaven for Photoshop!

As I mentioned, many column inches have been devoted to the subject of One Hyde Park. Here's a thought provoking one that appeared in Vanity Fair recently.

Mayfair Lady

I could feel her piercing stare from across the room. Surely it wasn't her? What was she doing in the apartment I was photographing? Elizabeth Taylor, and not just any old Liz but one of Andy Warhol's famous screenprints no less. She was the focal point of this astonishingly elegant room, in a Mayfair mansion block. The block, dates from the twenties, but very little remained of this apartment's interior, save for the old electric bell panel, formerly used to summon servants, and now incorporated into a sleek mirrored bar alcove.

Stepping through the entrance to the apartment, it's immediately clear that this is the sort of place that Hollywood royalty would feel quite at home. The stunning floor to ceiling backlit marble panels and the gilded Louis chair make that abundantly clear. Creamy hi-gloss stone flooring inlaid with bronze, flows through to the main rooms, where other equally polished finishes take over; various marbles in the bathrooms, lacquered hardwood panelling in the dining room, and bronze tinted mirrors in the drawing room. All detailed exquisitely by the designers at Casa Forma.

If ever there was any doubt about Mayfair's prime position on the Monopoly board being usurped by flashy west London upstarts, this apartment knocks that idea squarely on the head.