Extraordinary Extensions viewers criticized a property tycoon for his ‘obscene, two-storey megabasement built under his historic Knightsbridge house.
London developer Kam Babaee bought Amberwood House, the former home of renowned ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, for £22 million, but said it was not suited modern way of life spent an extra £28 million renovating the house, including spending £11 million on the sprawling basement.
The house, at at 17A Thurloe Place, was originally built in the 1928 and was the Panamanian embassy between the early 1930s and late 1990s, where Margot resided with her ambassador husband Dr Roberto Emilio Arias.
It is now being transformed into an ultra-luxury property that Kam calls a “seven-star hotel”. The property has a sauna, steam area, swimming pool, gym and living space in the basement. Work is still underway but he hopes to sell the property for £75million once it is complete.
The work was not appreciated by viewers who felt it had damaged the historic property’s integrity. One user tweeted: “Obscene amounts, obscene design and not even one token nod to environmental concerns. Disgusting.
London developer Kam Babaee bought Amberwood House, the former home of renowned ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, for £22 million, but said it was not suited modern way of life spent an extra £28 million renovating the house, including spending £11 million on the sprawling basement. Here’s a shot showing the progress of the work on the property.
Kam described the Knightsbridge house as an ultra-luxury property. The property will include a sauna and steam room, a swimming pool, a gym, and a living area in its basement. Work is still underway but he hopes to sell the property for £75million once it is complete. A shot of the basement, which is high-end, from last night’s program.
Tinie Tempeah, left, was told by the developer that the house wasn’t a five-star-hotel but a seven-star-one and that he used only high-quality materials to build it. Last night’s host and the developer were pictured in the property.
Kam, a well-known developer for his glamorous London house makeovers in the 2010s, bought the house and made it a mega-mansion.
Kam stated, “When Amberwood House first went on the market, it was like a child in toy stores, I couldn’t wait to see the house,”
It’s exciting to see the secret front door when I walk down the driveway.
Kam only kept the house’s exterior walls. He redid the entire house and dug to extend it vertically, digging as deep as 30m below ground.
Presenter Tinie Tempah stated that Kam’s extension was one the last mega basements in Chelsea, Kensington. Due to noise, vibrations, dust, such basements are now banned.
Kam retained only the house’s outer walls. He redid the house from scratch and dug to extend the house vertically, reaching as far as 30 metres below the ground. Pictured: Work is still being done in the property
Presenter Tinie Tempah stated that Kam’s extension was one the last mega basements in Chelsea, Kensington. He explained that such basements are now banned because of noise, vibrations, and dust. An aerial view
The entire basement is covered in highly sought-after marble, shipped directly from Italy. Kam even said that he sent some of his marble back at a price because he wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked.
Amberwood House’s second floor offers many interesting features, including a gym (pictured), a steam room, and a hair stylist.
Kam’s second floor lower ground floor houses the health suite. The swimming-pool is currently empty.
Kam continued, “It didn’t fit the criteria you need to live a modern lifestyle: your hairdressing shop, walk-in closet, indoor swimming pool,” he stated. He explained that he designed the renovations for his target audience, ‘to make it feasible for a modern wealthy family, the stars of the world.
“I believe in leaving legacies, not just building properties.
The main feature of the extension was the 4,000 cube basement, which is spread out over two floors connected by a £480,000 staircase that took weeks to install.
The gym, swimming pool and steam room are located on the second floor.
The first floor of the lower ground floor is home to a commercial kitchen, as well as a family and commercial kitchen, a laundry room, and a large living room.
In order to avoid relying on artificial light, Kam also created a jaw-dropping sunken terrace for natural light.
Kam (pictured) said that Amberwood House was his first love since it was put on the market and that he felt like an ‘intimate child in a toy shop’. The property is still under construction (pictured).
Amberwood house is a brick building dating back to the 1920s that was a socialite hotspot. Kam purchased it with plans for development in the early 2010s
Viewers thought it was obscene to spend so much money on a basement addition, and that the renovations were an act ‘vandalism.
The entire extension is made from one of the most sought after marbles. Tinie commented that Kam was all about ‘attention and detail’ to achieve opulence at the highest level’.
Tinie stated that you must have taken all of the marble from Italy to achieve this. Kam said, “I’ve been to many spas in my life, and it’s not just any Spa, it’s next level,’ he added.
Kam admitted that he had exceeded his budget for Amberwood House renovations, but he didn’t know how much.
Tinie was very impressed by the results of the extension. But viewers thought it was ‘obscene’ and were very impressed with the results.
One said, “Shame on the original listed building and its history is forgotten about for an obscen extension.”
Another person said that “When you’re over budget by millions and you just smile,”
“I’m sick and tired of rich people with too many money.” It’s disgusting and gross,’ one wrote.