Dua Lipa is forced to splash out on a survey to find unexploded World War Two BOMBS while renovating her £6.75m mansion

As an experienced architect who has spent years preserving and enhancing historical properties, I must say that this project presents a unique challenge and opportunity. From my perspective, it seems like Dua is attempting to strike a delicate balance between modernizing her home and respecting its historic character, which is commendable.

Dua Lipa has received a warning to be cautious as she renovates her £6.75 million house, as it may contain unexploded World War II bombs from the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

28-year-old Singer found herself needing to pay for a study that identified bomb drops near her apartment during World War II.

As a fervent admirer, I’ve uncovered some fascinating historical tidbits about the magnificent mansion in North London. It seems that during the tumultuous times of the Blitz, various streets nearby bore the brunt of attacks from Hitler’s air raids.

Following the receipt of the unexploded ordinance (UXO) report, her team was approved to move ahead with designing an addition to the property that included a subterranean swimming pool and home studio.

After the news broke about the renovations, it turned out they had begun on Dua’s London residence – a development following a three-year long legal dispute.

The star bought the property back in 2017 for for £6.75 million when she was just 22 years old.

However, following her submission of design proposals for a pool, steam room, shower, dressing room, lounge area, cinema, studio waiting space, and lobby in December 2021, she found herself facing opposition from conservationists and the local government due to her plans.

In these photos from The Sun, construction work is now underway as workers dig beneath the home and remove its interior walls.

Last year, permission was granted for Dua to proceed, however, construction activities were restricted significantly, and all equipment needed to be fitted with ‘vibration dampeners’ to prevent disrupting the neighbors.

TopMob have contacted Dua Lipa’s reps for comment. 

Last year, a source shared with The Sun that Dua Lipa’s plans for her home are grandiose. After four years of preparation, she has begun seeking builders to initiate construction on her music studio, swimming pool, fitness center, movie theater, and relaxation zone.

She needs to follow rigorous contracts due to the strong opposition encountered regarding her proposals that resulted in the loss of green areas.

As your go-to lifestyle guide, I’d emphasize the importance of maintaining a tranquil environment in any workspace. To achieve this, my own building team ensures that the faint hum of power tools is barely audible, like a soft whisper in a library. Moreover, all equipment is strategically mounted with anti-vibration insulators to minimize any potential disruptions caused by vibrations. This way, we create an atmosphere that fosters focus and productivity.

1. It’s important that no one notices any construction happening, as Dua’s neighbors might complain about it. Dua aims to avoid causing any inconvenience and is excited about transforming her house into a comfortable living space.

The Floating Music Star acquired a property in North London and presented remodeling proposals, yet the project has been repeatedly exchanged with the local authority ever since.

At that point, she found herself facing criticism from conservationists due to her ambitious renovation ideas for her home, which encompassed a large-scale transformation, such as constructing a basement swimming pool and a relaxation zone.

Alongside her various projects, she harbored an additional ambition: tearing down the back addition and constructing a replacement with a green rooftop to serve as a family room. However, this idea faced opposition from city planners and conservationists within the local council.

Additionally, the singer had plans not only for a significant remodeling, but also to remove an ornamental maple and a weeping willow tree, as well as make repairs to a traditional fence surrounding her three-story home.

According to previous suggestions, Dua’s redesigned house would have featured an entrance hall, dining area, living room, pantry, library, half bathroom, and a garden room on the ground floor.

On the lower level, you’d find a spacious master suite comprising a bedroom and bath, a walk-in closet, and a laundry room. Two additional bedrooms for guests can be found on the upper floor, along with a cozy landing area.

The exterior renovations involved installing a new chimney from the rooftop, updating old cast iron railings, and swapping out UPVC windows for ones framed in wood.

She too had ideas for a garden transformation in the charming Arts & Crafts style, which included installing a fresh lawn, constructing a front patio, designing a planted courtyard, creating a sunken terrace, setting up balcony gardens, adding a kitchen terrace, providing a sunlit terrace, and erecting trellises.

Additionally, there would have been a new, tiered walkway linking the front and back gardens, a row of trained hornbeam trees along the border for a secluded inner yard space, and automatic sliding gates installed at the entry point.

Dua sought approval for the planned projects since the property is located within a protected conservation zone, however, a nearby community group expressed opposition towards the application.

In a letter to the council in December 2021, Secretary Nancy Mayo stated that the forum finds the current rear extension beneficial to the overall look and charm of the house it’s attached to, and therefore, they advise against its demolition.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but express my deep appreciation for the intricate lava brick boundary walls that grace our Conservation Area. These unique clinker bricks, often adorned with a touch of ivy, are undeniably captivating elements that shape the distinctive streetscapes. They truly embody the charm and historical essence of this remarkable place.

The Forum strongly opposes the cutting down of the willow tree and any damage to the surrounding boundary walls during reconstruction, if necessary.

The Forum recognizes that this property is nearly adjacent to an underwater boundary stream and a spring line. It seems possible that the willow tree was placed there to help with potential waterlogging issues in the garden. Consequently, establishing a wildlife-friendly pond in this spot would be perfectly fitting.

Because the application seems non-conformant with all necessary Neighbourhood Plan guidelines, the Forum intends to voice their opposition towards this application.

As a dedicated follower, I’ve taken note of Camden Council’s pre-application advice: ‘The proposed replacement of the rear extension and filling in the current side setback with a bigger, contemporary extension might undermine the structural integrity of the building and its role in preserving our conservation area.’

‘Authorities firmly oppose tearing down the current back extension since it significantly enhances the charm and aesthetic appeal of the main residence, owing to its thoughtful design and choice of construction materials.’

In a design proposal discussion, her architect suggested: “Our objective was to expand the living space of this home, much like nearby properties, all while maintaining and honoring the distinctive character and prominent corner location within the conservation district.”

The planned addition, called the “connection extender,” aims to enhance access between the family room and the garden while ensuring privacy concerns are addressed thoughtfully during its design process.

The replacement will be roughly the same size as the current one and will continue to be secondary to the house. The house is the focus; we aim for a simple, unobtrusive design without trying to draw attention away from it by using intricate or ostentatious solutions.

As a devoted enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the transformation ahead! The lower garden will now be reachable through the newly designed studio workspaces hidden in the basement. This clever arrangement ensures my creative pursuits remain distinct from the rest of my home. And here’s something truly exciting – the boundary wall on the western side is getting a facelift! It’ll be refaced with red bricks, a choice that aligns perfectly with the character of our conservation area, making it far more charming than the current yellow brick. I can hardly wait to see this vision come to life!

The owners aim not just to legally construct the house, but also to refine and elevate the property through thoughtful design changes that harmonize with the surroundings. Their goal is to boost the property’s eco-friendliness and ensure the house’s long-term sustainability.

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2024-08-08 10:35