Inside A £65M ‘Iceberg House’ In Marylebone

From remarkable renovation projects to high-tech wellness homes, there’s no shortage of intriguing property trends currently sweeping the internet– and the latest phenomenon is known as the iceberg house. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is An Iceberg House?

While it might sound like it only exists in the chilliest parts of the globe, an iceberg house is, in fact, completely unrelated to temperature: it in fact refers to a property that’s at least partly hidden underground. Running parallel to the doomsday bunker trend favoured by billionaires, the iceberg layout ensures that the most extravagant (and expensive) aspects of a home – from gyms and saunas to private cinemas, wine cellars, whiskey tasting rooms – are tucked safely away in cavernous subterranean rooms.

By its nature, an iceberg house is a kind of treasure trove; while it still looks striking from the outside, the real luxury unfolds far underground. Buyers with particularly deep pockets are now custom-designing their own iceberg homes, creating a property that isn’t simply architecturally impressive, but (slightly) more unassuming than a glitzy mansion that leaves everything on show – also allowing for a heightened level of security.

The iceberg trend is particularly popular in the US, but that isn’t to say there aren’t a fair few examples in London, too. A particularly fascinating one is Portland Place, a sprawling townhouse in Marylebone that’s currently on the market for the rather astonishing sum of £65 million. Dating back to 1775, the Grade II* listed property has recently been transformed by London-based MSMR Architects and leading designers at 1508 London.

The interiors are, predictably, spectacular (think soaring ceilings and grand entertaining spaces with glittering chandeliers, swathes of marble and hand-painted wallpaper) but it’s the amenities and layout that really make this home unique. There may be ten bedrooms, more than five reception rooms and two kitchens on the upper floors – not to mention a sky garden at the top – but the basement is by far the most extraordinary part of the property.

From the breathtaking entrance hall, head downstairs and you’ll find nearly 4,500 square feet of space encompassing a swimming pool, a hot tub and a sauna, plus a treatment room, a TV room and a lounge area. And if it all sounds enviable enough to rival a five-star hotel, there’s more: just check out the juice bar and the wine cellar.

So, while iceberg houses might still be a somewhat novel concept, they’re hiding in plain sight (if you know where to look). There’s certainly nothing frosty about this Marylebone home; it might just have the finest basement around.

Portland Place is available through Knight Frank. For more information, visit knightfrank.com