Sitting in glorious Bushy Park in south west London is a low-lying doughnut-shaped site, reminiscent of the ruins of a classical amphitheatre, or even, with its clean modern lines, a spaceship.
In fact, this remarkable circular structure is a six-bedroom family home, constructed out of a decommissioned Cold War torpedo testing centre by a team of renowned Brutalist architects.
Taken over by the Admiralty in the Fifties to work with the nearby research lab in Teddington, the building was covered by a copper dome to stop enemy planes from spying from above and featured four-foot-thick blast-proof walls.
Inside, the water tank had a mechanical arm in the centre used to test underwater torpedoes.
Operations at the Bushy Park site finally ceased in 1993 and the majority of the building was demolished with the exception of the lower part with two subterranean levels providing the footprint for the residential build.
In 2004 the firm of Norman & Dawbarn – best known for designing the similarly doughnut-shaped BBC Television Centre in White City – were commissioned to convert the 46-metre circular water tank into a home.
The home spans roughly 10,113-square-feet, with curved electric gates shielding it from intruders and opening directly onto the royal park.
The now-residential property is all shimmering glass and shiny aluminium with a copper roof – in a nod to its heritage – with sweeping spaces and loads of natural light.
On the ground floor, there’s an enormous 120-foot open-plan entertaining area, stainless-steel kitchen and dining room – perfect for party people – while upstairs are six bedrooms and six bathrooms, all of which are en-suite.
On the lower level, there’s a huge unused space that’s crying out for a swimming pool, pending the necessary permissions and paperwork.
Meanwhile, features like spiral staircases and round windows add further interest and character.
Outside, there’s 1.3-acres of garden with manicured lawns and lush trees that blend seamlessly with the parkland beyond the red-brick wall the envelops the property.
Daniel Killick, head of Savills Richmond who are selling the property for £7.5 million, said: “It would make a fantastic family property for an incoming buyer, as it has been for the current owners.
“Its gate into the park – and private access to the Water Gardens each week – add to Rotunda’s special interest.”
