A luxurious woodland estate in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, will come under the hammer at an auction next month for offers exceeding US$1 million – having previously been offered for sale at US$5 million.
Platinum Luxury Auctions, a U.S. auction firm specialising in multimillion-dollar properties, will conduct the sale on June 27 in cooperation with local real estate agent Heather Starr of The Starr Group, part of RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts in West Des Moines.
Situated on approximately 3.6 acres overlooking a private pond, the 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom estate was built by Neumann Brothers builders and designed by Des Moines-based architect Ken Kendall, who is known for designing the Ruan Center, Iowa’s second tallest building. The home’s unique architecture and design makes it distinct from any other property in the area.
Reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s residential designs, which often emphasized the elegant blending of a property with its surrounding, natural landscape, the 9,500 sq ft estate features sloping architectural lines set under stacks of triangular-shaped roofs. Large, open living areas – highlighted by a spectacular, two-story grand salon – define the estate. Interiors are finished with beautiful woods, while the home’s many custom windows allow its rooms to be filled with natural light.
Ted Townsend, the property’s owner, is a philanthropist and the former CEO of Townsend Engineering. In 1981, he invested US$4 million to acquire the land and build the estate. He noted that his insurer now places a US$10 million replacement value on the property.
While Townsend has enjoyed calling the property home for many years, he is currently looking to downsize his real estate holdings.
He said: “This is a very special property, not only for me personally, but also due to its unique design and exceptional build quality.”
Additional property features include a gourmet-catering kitchen, formal dining room with seating for 24 guests, a six-car garage, indoor greenhouse, exercise room, hidden massage suite, wet bar, built-in aquarium, theatre area, and even a dance floor.
“We’re pleased to be joining forces with the Starr Group to represent Mr. Townsend’s impressive residence,” said Trayor Lesnock, Platinum’s President and Founder.
“Meticulous attention to detail and pride of ownership is very evident throughout the property. I’m confident visitors will be impressed.”
The estate is technically located in Urbandale, a city that is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan area. It is an area known for its luxurious residential neighbourhoods, and has been ranked by Money magazine as one of the “100 Best Places to Live” in the United States.
Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and most populous city, is within ten minutes of Urbandale. While the city is not usually included on a short list of the nation’s prominent business hubs, Des Moines is in fact home to the headquarters for many of the country’s largest insurance companies. As such, it has consistently earned favourable rankings in various business publications for its high quality of life for working professional and their families.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru Group, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
