Ultra-prime developer Caudwell has appointed Heywood Hill, which has assembled libraries all over the world, to curate the spectacular private library at 1 Mayfair, inspired by the Rossi library of Empress Catherine the Great, creating the finest reading room within a luxury residential development in London.
1 Mayfair is the new £2 billion (GDV) residential address, designed and developed by Caudwell to be the foremost residential scheme in London, providing 24 principal residences, five pied-à-terre and stately home inspired entertaining halls and lounges designed around a central garden. Amenities include a health spa featuring a 20-metre (65 ft) swimming pool, gym and treatment rooms, basement parking and 24-hour security and valet parking. With property management, concierge and exceptional hotel-style services by Dorchester Collection, the mark of distinction for the world’s most remarkable hotels and residences including The Dorchester.
Overlooking the central garden the beautiful private library at 1 Mayfair has been designed by world renowned Paris-based American-Chilean designer Juan Pablo (J.P.) Molyneux of the legendary J.P. Molyneux Studio using the famed mahogany panelled library by Carlo Rossi in the Pavlovsk Palace as design inspiration.
The Palladian style Pavlovsk Palace was commissioned in 1780 by Empress Catherine the Great with the library designed and built by Italian architect Carlo Rossi in 1822-1824, with furniture crafted by renowned St Petersburg furniture maker V. Bobkov, considered to be one of the foremost libraries in European civilisation housing one of the largest private Romanov book collections in St Petersburg.
The library at 1 Mayfair will provide residents with a refined atmospheric space in which to read and entertain. French windows with an ornamental balcony will provide views onto the garden below with Red marble pilasters with gilding and Louis XVI style wallsconces with the Romanov double headed eagle complementing the bespoke library joinery created by master ensemblier in the tradition of 18th and 19th Century boiseries. The mahogany wall panels will feature wonderful hand engraved architectural panels inspired by those created by Raphael for the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
The parquet flooring of the library is inspired by French palace design with a unique finish in the style of the library flooring at the Pavlovsk Palace. The parquet will be overlaid with a bespoke design central rug from Aubusson whose pattern continues the colours of the library with the detailing reflecting the gardens outside.
The library will be dressed with beautiful furniture and objets d’art inspired by the Rossi library including handcrafted George II Rococo style armchairs, a conference table, a wood-marquetry games table with a central chessboard pattern, a Catherine the Great ceramic chess-set, Italianate vases, an oval library table with handcrafted marble marquetry top and carved Italian style mahogany chairs.
The 1 Mayfair library will have a feature fireplace with a mirror above the mantel, the mirror doubling as a cinema screen for entertainment or business meetings. Behind the panelling is a hidden pantry which will allow the team from The Dorchester to service the library with refreshments when it is used for dining and receptions.
To bring the new library at 1 Mayfair to life renowned Mayfair bookshop and leading purveyor of bespoke private libraries Heywood Hill have been appointed by Caudwell to carefully curate and fill the library with a bespoke collection of relevant, beautiful and interesting books.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2026, Heywood Hill have since 1936 curated libraries all over the world. Under the auspices of The Duke of Devonshire and overseen by Bookseller-in-Chief Nicholas Dunne, Heywood Hill was the official bookseller and library stockist to HLM Queen Elizabeth II and the Curzon Street shop, on the doorstep of 1 Mayfair, has received acclaim from Vogue, The New York Times and The Economist.
The library at 1 Mayfair will display over 1,000 books which will be carefully researched and curated by the Libraries team at Heywood Hill, led by Zoe Dickey, Head of Libraries. It will provide a general reading library filled with a wide range of subjects and authors covering history, biography, great literature, contemporary fiction, travel, nature writing and art and design.
There will also be a special London section, providing residents and visitors to 1 Mayfair with books on the UK capital’s history, from the Romans to the present day. Biographies, memoirs and novels set in London alongside wonderful local books about Mayfair and its rich heritage.
John Caudwell, Founder of Caudwell says: “Throughout history libraries such as those of Aristotle, Alexandria, Pavlovsk, Congress and the Bodleian have been places of learning, contemplation and interaction. The private library at 1 Mayfair is an extremely special reading room and we needed a world-renowned specialist to help curate its content. We chose Heywood Hill who are renowned amongst bibliophiles over decades for their ability to locate special books and curate libraries for passionate readers and the literary curious alike.”
Stoker Cavendish, The 12th Duke of Devonshire says: “Heywood Hill are delighted to be part of such an important Mayfair development such as 1 Mayfair which is on our doorstep. With our experience and expertise in library curation and the spectacular design and attention to detail of the library at 1 Mayfair we believe that the collaboration will create a marvellous library for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Nicky Dunne, Chairman of Heywood Hill says: “Our aim is to assemble nourishing books for the spectacular reading room at 1 Mayfair where people can embrace the joy of reading and immerse themselves in beautiful and fascinating books. Just as residents will be able to enjoy personal fitness training in the gym at 1 Mayfair the library will be a place of intellectual personal training since reading provides inspiration and escapism for the human mind.”
1 Mayfair is scheduled for completion in Q1 2027 and in 2026 the main sales phase will start when the first dressed residence is unveiled, allowing buyers to experience the true magnificence of 1 Mayfair. Prices for the residences at 1 Mayfair are estimated to start at £35,000,000.