Inside real life £3m ‘Goldfinger lair’ designed by man who inspired James Bond’s most infamous villain
Futuristic glass-walled home designed by the 'real' Goldfinger has all the trappings of a Bond villain's home. There is a golf course nearby and glass walls allowing owners to spy on visitors.
THIS glass-fronted £3m futuristic home designed by the man who inspired 007 nemesis Goldfinger has gone up for sale.
It has all the trappings of a James Bond villain's lair but no Oddjob to do all the dirty work.
The luxurious four-bedroom Surrey pad was built by Hungarian architect Erno Goldfinger and comes complete with spy qualities including a golf course nearby and glass walls for the owners to watch visitors come and go.
Bond author Ian Fleming knew of Erno Goldfinger through a golfing friend and had previously had a run-in with him before the Second World War.
Fleming had objected to Goldfinger's demolition of a row of cottages near his home in Hampstead, north west London, that were removed to make way for a different large modern home.
The encounter rankled with Fleming for more than 20 years when he finally got his own back on the architect by naming the villain Auric Goldfinger after him in his 1959 novel Goldfinger.
Outraged, Erno Goldfinger threatened to sue Fleming but relented after the writer attempted to instead name the character 'Goldp***k'.
As an architect, Erno Goldfinger was best known for his brutalist concrete designs, including the 32-storey Trellick Tower in Kensal Town, west London.
However, this house, Teesdale, could not be more different from the tall-high rise building.
Located in the affluent area of Windlesham, the four-bedroom bungalow is just a few miles from world famous Wentworth Golf Club.
There is a large open plan drawing room and dining room which opens out on to a south facing terrace providing great entertaining space.
At the front of the house is a grand office with two glass walls, allowing the new owner to survey the grounds and spy on visitors from behind their desk.
There is also a separate glass dining hall which serves as a link between the entertaining areas and the four bedrooms.
Outside, the private gardens are well screened on all sides by trees, hedges, shrubs and plants - making it the perfect hideaway. There is also a striking water feature.
Charlie Fisher, of property agents Savills, said: "The house has got an incredible set up and you almost feel like James Bond when you walk into it.
"It's a Grade II listed property and you can really tell why.
"It makes the most of its location brilliantly and was probably a nice chance for Goldfinger to enjoy himself after all the concrete towers he designed throughout his career.
"It's not your traditional family home but we've still had a lot of interest from all over and the Goldfinger-Ian Fleming backstory just adds another little element."
Erno Goldfinger stood at 6ft 2in unlike the Bond villain who tried to rob Fort Knox of America's gold reserves, who Fleming shrunk to 5ft. He died in November 1987 at the age of 85.
Sean Connery starred in the 1964 Bond film which also featured the iconic character of Pussy Galore played by Honor Blackman. Gert Frobe starred as Auric Goldfinger.
It was the first Bond film to win an Academy Award and contains one of the most famous Bond villain quotes 'No Mr Bond, I expect you to die'.
Other famous residents of the village of Windlesham include Queen guitarist Brian May, actor Brian Blessed, golfer Nick Faldo and former England manager Glen Hoddle.
Goldfinger's own home in Hampstead, north London, is now in the care of the National Trust.