Mayfair flat with Oval Office created by JFK’s father to resemble one in White House sells for £140m

A luxury Mayfair apartment featuring a replica of the Oval Office that was created by JFK’s father has been bought for £140m.

As the nail-biting wait continues over who will step into the real Oval Office in the White House, the mystery new owner can enjoy their own taste of what it feels like to be the US president.

The replica office was built by Joseph Kennedy when he was based at the American embassy in 1938. It was used as an embassy until 1960.

The president’s Oval Office replica (pictured) was built by Joseph Kennedy when he was based at the American embassy in 1938. It was used as an embassy until 1960

The anonymous owner has bought the top storey and two lower ground apartments at No 1 Grosvenor Square and plans to knock all three together to create a bigger space

The Mayfair apartment, which has since been converted into swanky residential dwellings, is said to have inspired junior John F. Kennedy to get into politics. 

The new owner has bought the top storey and two lower ground apartments at No 1 Grosvenor Square. 

Purchased as an empty shell, the anonymous buyer will be shelling out millions more to transform the place into a comfortable residence.

The owner is planning to open up the 15,600sq ft space by knocking the three apartments together.  

Although Gabriel York, chief executive of developer Lodha UK, was unable to disclose the identity of the new owner, he did say the majority of the buyers in the building were ‘those who run businesses based in the UK including some of the top FTSE companies’

In 2018 the 8,100sq ft single storey penthouse together with another apartment in the building, was almost purchased by a Chinese buyer for around £110million but the sale fell through.

Portrait of United States President John F. Kennedy at his desk in the Oval Office of the White House JFK, Washington DC, USA – 02 Nov 1961

The Mayfair building, which has since been converted into swanky residential dwellings, is said to have inspired junior JFK to get into politics

With activity in the housing market somewhat unsettled this year, the purchase of this flat is believed to be the most expensive yet in 2020.

But experts say despite the pandemic and numerous properties up for sale, the higher end of the market has been buoyant. 

Estate agents Knight Frank reported that during the first eight months of 2020 there have been 56 sales of homes which went for more than £10million in central London.

In February 1938 Joseph Kennedy was was named by President Roosevelt to be the American ambassador in the UK.

With war looming over Europe, many Americans were wary of being drawn into another conflict. The father of a future U.S. president, too wanted to keep America out of the war with Nazi Germany.

When the Kennedys landed on British soil, they were an immediate hit with the public and the upper class society but as Hitler’s power grew and he made increasing menacing moves in Central and Eastern Europe, Kennedy’s family returned to the US.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Joseph Kennedy, the US Ambassador to the UK, outside 10 Downing Street in London, 17th October 1940. Kenned disagreed with the premier that any compromise with Hitler was impossible

The Kennedys were popular with the British Public and mingled with the elite society. Pictured above are John F. Kennedy (left) with his father Joseph Kennedy arriving on a visit to London in 1973

He, however remained in London to work through the complexities of pre-war British politics and US-British relations and spent his time working and socialising from No 1.  

Kennedy rejected the firm belief of Winston Churchill that any compromise with Hitler was impossible.

So strong was his belief that throughout 1938, while the Nazi persecution of the Jews in Germany intensified, Kennedy attempted to arrange a meeting with Hitler.

The new owner will be in a prime location in the capital after acquiring a penthouse and two lower level apartments at No 1 Grosvenor Square

After the Americans moved out in the 1960s across the square to London Chancery Building, it became the Canadian High Commission. 

Lodha acquired the property in 2014 for £308million who restored the building facade and converted it into 40 apartments.

Residents who pay around £8million have access to a swimming pool, a spa, a games room, a private screening room, a business suite and 24/7 concierge and  embassy level security.