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Published on Leave a comment on From Prison to Cultural Civic Center. In Palencia, Spain

Rehabilitation of Former Prison of Palencia as Cultural Civic​ Center / Exit Architects

palencia5 261x300 - From Prison to Cultural Civic Center. In Palencia, SpainRemodelling this "neomudéjar" style prison must have been a tough enterprise. Its grey walls and shadowy passageways have turned in a widely open building. "The former Palencia Provincial Prison complex was created at the end of the XIX century", writes Victoria King for Arch Daily, "built with brick bearing walls following the “neomudéjar” style, and composed mainly of four two-storey wings and some other with one storey. On this building was planned a comprehensive refurbishment to transform the former use and convert it into a center that promotes the social and cultural activity in this part of the town".

As architects  Ángel Sevillano and José Mª Tabuyo, from Exit Architects, say: "Our proposal intends to convert the former prison into a meeting place, recovering some of the old spaces, and creating at the same time new structures that make possible the new planned activities. It is a project that respects the existing building, which is given a contemporary, lighter appearance, and where the natural light will play a key role".

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Published on Leave a comment on Commercial activity grows in Marbella

Marbella sees an increase in applications for opening licences

marbella - Commercial activity grows in MarbellaAccording to an article published in Sur In English.com, a total of 88 applicantions for opening licences were processed in Marbella between December 2011 and January 2012, 70 per cent were for new premises and the remaninder for businesses which had undergone a change in ownership. This shows that, in spite of the economical crisis, Marbella is still a safe value.

This figure is 50 per cent higher than in the same period of the previous year, the Town Hall’s Commerce department confirmed. “What this reveals is that the small business sector remains active in Marbella. Even though many businesses have been forced to cease trading, almost immediately another one opens up, either in the same premises or somewhere else", says the councillor José Eduardo Díaz.
 

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Published on 2 Comments on Vacational rental apartment in Puerto Banús

The House of the Week: Vacational rental apartment in Puerto Banús (Málaga)

Our choice this week is  luxury property in Puerto Banús. Details follow:

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Swimming-pool, 2nd Row from the Sea, Luxury property, In Urban Area

Fantastic apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Large terrace with views to the garden and the swimming-pools. The whole apt was refurbished and all is new. Fully equipped, satellite T. V., DVD, washing machine and tumble drier etc. The price is per week for spring and autumn and for July is 1,800 and August 2,000 euros per week.

848 42385 plano1641051 - Vacational rental apartment in Puerto Banús

 

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Published on Leave a comment on Changes in the Spanish property lending market

The Spanish government is trying to put the country mortgage market back on track, and it is forcing takeovers and mergers to accelerate the change.

Banco Sabadell acquired CAM bank for €1 in December 2011 and BBVA acquired Unnim bank for the same price this month, and Catalunya’s CaixaBank has purchased Banca Cívica, becoming the leading financial institution in Spain in terms of assets.

Although Spain did not have official subprime mortgages as the United States, in the late 2000s it did fall into unrealistic mortgages, which consequences nowadays are banks having to repossess a meaningful number of properties, converting them in enormous real estate owners with no buyers.

‘As the property market in Spain boomed, many banks took a naive approach to lending money and they are suffering for it now. Whilst the UK has various checks and balances in place to prevent the recurrence of scandals such as the endowment mortgage mis-selling of the 1980s and 1990s, Spain has yet to get a watertight grip of its financial products although Rajoy is making huge strides,’ explained Marc Elliott, independent mortgage consultant and owner of Fluent Finance Abroad.

Mortgage 300x224 - Changes in the Spanish property lending market

‘Deals such as those seen in the past are either non existent or hard to find but if you have a good income and clean credit history the banks will lend. Certain banks did not fall into the reckless subprime trap and are lending pretty much as they were prior to the credit crunch,’ he pointed out.

‘If you are a first time buyer and you don’t have a large cash deposit then it might be wise to consider a bank property. If you have a sizeable deposit at your fingertips it would probably be better to look at the traditional real estate market as these properties tend to be slightly better value for money,’ said Elliott.

‘At the moment banks are looking to get the best price possible for their properties to try and recoup the original funds that were lent, they do this is by slightly inflating asking prices and offering excellent finance terms such as little or no money down deals,’ he added.

‘Always speak to more than one mortgage consultant to make sure you are satisfied that you are getting the best person to represent your interests. If anyone suggests that obtaining mortgage finance in Spain is easy, they are not being completely truthful,’ said Elliott.

Source: Property Wire

propertywire.com 

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Published on 1 Comment on Telefonica Corporate University in La Roca del Vallès

Telefonica Corporate University In Parc de Bell-llo by​ Batlle & Roig Architects

Arch Daily publishes an interesting article on Telefonica Corporate University in La roca del Vallès. A beautiful construction indeed:

"Parc de Bell-lloc is a 122-hectare property situated on a hill, in the municipality of La Roca del Vallès, and is reached via the Granollers-Sant Celoni road. Most of the property is a rich mosaic of the oak and pine woods and farmland that is characteristic of the surroundings and of the Vallès county in general. In the 1960s, Caixa de Barcelona, the then owner of the land, built a large school on the peak of the hill as part of its community project.

The 18,000 m2 building, designed by the architect Manuel Baldrich i Tubau (Barcelona, 1911-1966), who also designed the Llars Mundet complex and Sant Jordi Swimming Pool in Barcelona, is constructed in the late rationalist style with Nordic references, and also displays the work of well-known artists of the time such as Josep Maria Subirachs and Arlette Martí".

telefonica - Telefonica Corporate University in La Roca del Vallès

 

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Published on 9 Comments on <!--:en-->Ibiza. Pure Paradise For Sale<!--:-->

The House of the Week: House for sale in Sant Josep de sa Talaia (Baleares)

Let us take you to Ibiza, land of incredible beaches, white sand and unstoppable parties. The House of the Week today is a magnificent villa with 6 bedrooms, 10,000 m2, area useful 500 m2 and an amazing swimming-pool.

772802 53807 1 - <!--:en-->Ibiza. Pure Paradise For Sale<!--:-->

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Published on Leave a comment on Spanish Office Market Goes Down

300,000 square metres of new offices are expected to come on to the market in Madrid over the course of 2012

Madrid 300x225 - Spanish Office Market Goes DownAccording to an article published in Global Real Estate, the office market in Madrid appears to have taken a downward turn since the beginning of 2012. The vacancy rate in the Spanish city has been creeping up over the past few months, while a rising supply of such commercial properties coupled with falling demand is putting pressure on rents.

300,000 square metres of new offices are expected to come on to the market in Madrid over the course of 2012; however, demand is sliding, with many occupiers choosing to downsize due to the current economic climate.

On average, the rent charged for Spanish commercial real estate in Madrid's central business district is now nearly 40 per cent below its peak, and the organisation is forecasting prime rents will stand at 309 euros per sq m per year by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Barcelona also made it into the top ten, ranked as the seventh most desirable location in which to have retail premises on the continent. 

Published on Leave a comment on <!--:en-->Tower Of 75 Units In Europa Square in Barcelona<!--:-->

Social Housing Tower Of 75 Units In Europa Square by Roldán + Berengué

03 150x300 - <!--:en-->Tower Of 75 Units In Europa Square in Barcelona<!--:-->Let us introduce you to the tower  E.I.O.5, a project of social housing promoted by INCASOL and it is located in a new central zone known as Plaça Europa (Europa Square).

The Europa Square, according to Albert Viaplana’s Project, is shaped as the last nude in Llobregat’s direction of the squares sequence that, approximately each kilometer, marking the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes.

The urban model of the Europa Square is a generous public space opened to each side of Gran Via in Barcelona which concentrates, with other buildings, 26 towers of tertiary and residential uses, publics and privates, between 15 and 20 floors. Tower 5 is located in the farthest crown from the Gran Via which runs half- undergrounded.

For all the buildings of this last ring, most of them public housing promoted by different clients, distribution laws in the master planning fix a maximum floor dimension of 24×24 m, as well as height in which should be located the first floor structure and the crowing point of the towers.

"The piece we had built was an object of public client’s competition in February 2005. In our proposal rescaling the tower according to its position as a piece in the limit with the consolidate fabric of Hospitalet trying to visualize with the building a movement between Europa Square and the blocks of 5 floors that form the surrounding".- says the architects Roldán + Berengué.

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Published on Leave a comment on What would it be like to live in a castle? Here’s an opportunity in Coaña, Asturias!

The House of the Week: Detached villa for sale in Coaña (Asturias)

It was not difficult choosing the House of the Week. This amazing detached villa in Coaña, Asturias, conveys charm and comfort. A dream place to live in!

5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Area Lot 30,000 m2, Built area 512 m2, Area useful 255 m2, Seaside Resort, Brand New, Luxury property, In Rural Area, In a mountain area, Adapted for disabled.

14004 754103 foto10840511 - What would it be like to live in a castle? Here's an opportunity in Coaña, Asturias!

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Published on 3 Comments on Vacations in Salobreña: A Moorish villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

House of the Week: Vacation Rental in Salobreña, Granada. 

Villa en alquiler de vacaciones en Salobreña i 300x200 - Vacations in Salobreña: A Moorish villa overlooking the Mediterranean SeaHere's our House of the Week: a vacation rental in the South of Spain, Salobreña.

Situated on a terrace hilltop affording unsurpassed views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline, this exquisite villa successfully combines Spanish country and traditional Moorish architecture.

This 6 room villa is ideally suited for family living vacation.

Designed to combine out- and indoor living, it offers an attractive variety of rooms, patios, loggias and living spaces.

Main Level: Terraces and lush, tiled courtyard with central, star-shaped fountain opening onto Entrance-Hall with fireplace. Living Room featuring 5 sets of French doors opening to gardens. Dining Room opening onto courtyard with terracotta tile floors and beamed ceiling. Large and fully equipped Kitchen with Pantry and Wine Cellar, private Study, 2 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms, Guest Bathroom and Staff Bedrooms. The courtyard, plus east and west terraces connect every room to the exterior.

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