Albemarle, The $100 Million Listing
Earlier a bunch of you lamented that we didn't have the $100 million listing in Charlottesville, Virginia up yet. Thanks to a kind gentleman for directing me toward the listing which has now gone live. The Wall Street Journal broke the story that Virginia winemaker and philanthropist Patricia Kluge has put Albemarle House, her 300-acre English country estate up for sale for $100 million,making it one of just a handful of listings in the nine-figure range. Kluge is the former wife of John Kluge, a billionaire who founded the Metromedia. She has been living in the area for a while making wine and working on a development called Vineyard Estates which is selling multi-million homes in the area.
Her estate is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland on over 300 acres. On the grounds there are three ponds, a pool as well as a pool house, log cabin, a greenhouse and several staff cottages. The main house was completed in 1985 and spans over 25,000 square feet with 45 rooms. The home was designed by architect David Easton and his team and includes a theater, library, recreation room with spa and sauna, a card room and an Islamic gallery featuring an antique Syrian fountain. It's a bit of a pastiche, gilded Versailles-like rooms contrast with simpler spaces that have a more Early American style. Should you have some leftover cash after buying the home you can turn the front grounds into an 18-hole golf course. Arnold Palmer has already designed it.
Any guesses on a final sale price?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jay Oct 31st 2009 2:46AM
There is nothing "Versailles like" about these rooms.
They are entirely English -derived and very well done. Certainly many levels of quality above most of the "estates" that you generally feature.
The kitchen prehaps appears "American" because of the windsor chairs, but has English precedents, as well. The Spelling house shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as this house- this house is miles above it in quality!
Do I find it stylish? No. Easton's work tends to have a certain stiffness, which is evident here. But there is no question of the superior quality.
By the way, Easton is not an architect. He is an interior designer. There is an architect's office that he works with, whose name escapes me.
This is one of very few American houses that actually deserves to be called an "Estate".
ps- notice the extensive number of candle sconces in the English Chinoiserie dining room- the room must look AMAZING at night, when lit entirely with candles, which is how, I am sure, that she lights it!
Evan Oct 31st 2009 4:30AM
I get that the house is big and well made, but how do you say "This is one of very few American houses that actually deserves to be called an "Estate"," when it was build in 1985 and copies and feaux-creates a classical and antique look? I don't know why, but I imagine something a little more established as a historical example when thinking of things that define an American genre. It also takes originality. Had the architect and builder designed a home that captured the essence of America in the year they were living, using contemporary styles and available technologies, it could one day become a great estate of America, as is, they just copied the style of a bygone era, one in which the houses we now see as great estates were designed and built.
Spectacular Bid Oct 31st 2009 12:34PM
Thanks Deidre for chasing this down. I saw the WSJ release in Thursday eve and likewise couldn't find a peep about it on the Sotheby's site all day Friday.
C'Ville Virginia is lovely countryside and frankly you could put a concrete box in the middle of a rolling meadow and people will say how lovely. The landscape work of this property is as expected so no real surprises although nothing 'wow' as a $100M tag would expect. For that much money I'd think more specimen trees and/or quaint out-building structures using native stone.
I like Easton's interior designs when given smaller spaces as his own personal residence by him (since sold) known as 'Balderbrae' hit all the right marks. It was a lovely French-inspired cottage. His grand architecture works - see also Bracebridge Hall in Maryland - just are uninspired and bulky. This neo-Georgian just seems big for the sake of being big and is largely uninspired with its facade. The indoor rooms seem to cross that line between being reserved wealth and "look at me I'm rich" presentation.
Just my opinion but too much of a 'Dynasty' cloned feel (and era of construction) yet if you good to the Woodside CA home - Filoli - that was the basis of that '80's TV show it is tastefully reserved inside and the exterior has far more detail to it.
If this had been designed by a Mark Alan Hewitt or a Fairfax & Sammons it would've looked, the day after completion, less "new" and more like it had been Kluge's country seat held for generations. I will give props that at least it doesn't have a basketball court or a 10-car garage front and center which too many folks think is 'klassy'.
I cannot see this fetching a dime over $30 million and even that would be too generous as there isn't enough land. Far more interesting, historic and secluded homes - for less - to be found in Northern VA's Hunt Country of Upperville and Middleburg (like the noted sale of Llangollen a couple years ago) which make buying a property under 500-acres in C'ville less enticing. If she included the winery then maybe it would be pitched in the $50M mark but even then dubious to command that price.
Wahoowa Oct 31st 2009 1:15PM
Spectacular Bid, Thank you for your comments of both yesterday & today; they are some of the best I've encountered on this site.
As a 40 something lifelong Georgetown resident who's been going down to Charlottesville with his family of UVA alums for 30+ years (i.e., someone who also knows the Plains/Upperville/Middleburg area) I can't argue with any of your points -- thanks for the great read....and good luck, Pat, you're gonna need it!
Amey Nov 1st 2009 1:14AM
I can't imagine people that can afford that house would want one in Charlottesville, VA
MARY Nov 16th 2009 3:32AM
I came across this article by accident. Please take me to the estate agents. I wish I had that kind of money to afford such a lovely place, I don't think I would change a thing, I can see myself having a cocktail or two on those well kept lawns on a bright warm sunny day with a few friends round. Whoever has the cash(I'll have to marry a footballer) to buy such a place, they are very, very lucky people, So good luck to them that all I can say,not that I'm jealous or anything. Anyway I live such a long, long way away.
Koolchic8000 Nov 3rd 2009 11:47PM
Yeah fucking right.
This'll go for less than 20 mil in the end...this lady is seriously crazy.
I'm a born and bred Virginian, and I love Charlottesville, and this estate, bAut there's no WAY I'd pay that much.