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Tag: Spain

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Published on 1 Comment on Contemporary Architecture in Spain: Bilbao Airport, Basque Country

On 19th November 2000 during the inauguration of La Paloma, the Bilbao International Airport, architect Santiago CALATRAVA announced that the new terminal was “a message of love to Baskland”.

White and very expressive, Bilbao International Airport is a gigantic three storey block of steel and glass with a sharp silhouette expressing the idea of flight and the leap that the metropolitan area had begun to take.

The steel and concrete structure , nicknamed La Paloma (the Dove) because of its resemblance to a giant bird about to take flight, is integrated into the hilly green landscape in the Txoriherri Valley in close proximity to Bilbao. The aluminium skin of the Central Terminal sweeps across the 140 meter long terminal entry, providing cover for multiple levels of arrival and departure.

The layout was designed to limit the impact of auxiliary buildings on the vista of the main building. An elegant four-story parking structure, with a skylit walkway leading to the Terminal Building, is tucked into a grassy embankment.

Bilbao Airport - Contemporary Architecture in Spain: Bilbao Airport, Basque Country
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Published on Leave a comment on The Increase in Chinese Tourism

The World Tourism Organization says that last year, 83 million Chinese took their vacations abroad, an eight-fold increase on 2000. The Chinese overtook the Russians as the main consumers of tax-free goods in Europe, and in 2012, overtook the Germans on the amount they spend on travel. Last year they spent 78.4 billion euros, a 40-percent increase on 2011.

The increase in Chinese Tourism 300x195 - The Increase in Chinese TourismSpain has set itself the challenge of trying to attract more Chinese visitors, setting the target of one million by 2020. This year's January-July period saw 112,000 Chinese visit Spain, a 30-percent increase on 2012. In general, Spain, like the rest of Europe, is moving away from organized mass tourism: France comes 11th out of the top 25 destinations for Chinese vacationers. Spain is not on the list.

Rowdy or not, governments around the world are doing all they can to attract Chinese visitors, seeing them as a simple way to improve their ailing economies. But tempting the Chinese is no easy task, says Chanarong Mookjai of the Thai Association of Travel Agencies. "The absolutely essential thing is having enough people who can speak Chinese around so that visitors feel comfortable, and that also means that we have to adapt to their needs. ...continue reading "The Increase in Chinese Tourism"

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Published on 1 Comment on Awesome Penthouse Duplex for Sale in Ojén (Málaga)

La Mairena, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Swimming-pool, Seaside Resort, Second Hand, Luxury property, In Rural Area, On golf course, Ojen (Malaga)

Beautifully presented duplex penthouse with panoramic views of Mijas mountain and the coastline in a luxury Golf complex set in the exclusive La Mairena area. Situated on the Elviria’s hill side in an area of outstanding natural beauty protected by UNESCO. The community includes extensive tropical gardens with 6 swimming pools (1 is heated) and there is also tennis, paddle, gym, Spa and a private 9 hole golf course free for residents. Bar & restaurant in the on-site club house. This penthouse provides great sized accommodation which is ideal as a family home or a luxury holiday getaway. The property has garage parking spaces in addition to a store room. Hot and cold air conditioning. Cream marble floors and marble bathrooms. Electric blinds and 'intelligent' house system.

The price is 275,000 €.

Click on the following link to see more information about this property: spainhouses.net

22404645 1203708 foto25120895 - Awesome Penthouse Duplex for Sale in Ojén (Málaga)
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Published on 1 Comment on Architecture in Spain: Hotel Arts in Barcelona

Designed by the distinguished architect Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Hotel Arts is part of Barcelona’s recent cultural renaissance, and as modern as the city itself.

Built to coincide with the Olympic Games in 1992, this luxury hotel is a landmark on the Barceloneta boardwalk: 44 stories of blue glass and exposed steel soaring high above the seafront. Inside, hard edges and materials give way to an environment of elegance and refinement, filled with luxurious spaces to explore and discover at your leisure.

The seafront hotel overlooks the Mediterranean on the Port Olimpic, next to the marina and Barcelona’s famous beaches, and surrounded by lush terraces and lively promenades. Close by, the district of Barceloneta is a hive of characterful bars, cafes and local seafood restaurants.

The hotel’s terraced gardens bask in the dappled shade of Frank Gehry’s monumental golden fish sculpture, one of Barcelona’s most iconic works of contemporary public art.

hotel arts barcelona 2 1024x576 - Architecture in Spain: Hotel Arts in Barcelona

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Published on Leave a comment on Spanish bad bank reorders property sale as bids fall short: sources

Spain’s bad bank failed to attract high enough bids in its first sale of commercial real estate and will cut the size of the portfolio being offered to make it easier to sell, Bloomberg quoted three people familiar with the matter as saying on Friday.

house in orihuela costa - Spanish bad bank reorders property sale as bids fall short: sourcesThe bad bank, known as Sareb, received more than 30 offers for the portfolio that were lower than it expected, said one of the people, who declined to be named because the information isn’t public. It will reduce the number of buildings in the package known as Corona to four from seven, the person said. A spokeswoman for Madrid-based Sareb declined to comment.

Spain created Sareb last year to absorb 50 billion euros of real-estate assets from lenders including Bankia group that took aid as part of the nation’s European bailout. Its failure to attract high enough bids may undermine growing optimism in Spain as the stock market has surged 20 percent this year and foreign investors including Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates buy into Spanish companies.
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Published on 1 Comment on Lovely Country Style Villa for Sale in Torrox (Malaga)

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Swimming-pool, In Rural Area, In a mountain area, Torrox, Malaga (Andalusia)

Spectacular country home in Torrox, located in an exceptional environment where you can enjoy the peacefulness. It has 10. 000 m2 of plot, providing great privacy, pool, garden with fruit trees and plants and several terraces. Very nice views to the mountains. The house has 260 m2 divided in 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room with dining area and fireplace and fitted kitchen. Spacious and bright. It has also 6 fitted wardrobes and garage. Contact us for more information and pictures.

The price is: 490,000 €

View more information about this house on the following link: spainhouses.net

48747 1197443 foto24928974 - Lovely Country Style Villa for Sale in Torrox (Malaga)
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Published on Leave a comment on Contemporary Architecture: Ysios Winery in the Rioja Alavesa, Spain

Standing in the loveliest part of the Rioja Alavesa (Basque Country) the surprising silhouette rises of Bodegas Ysios, conceived as the spearhead of the Rioja appellation in the 21st century.

Bodegas Ysios, conceived as a temple dedicated to wine and inaugurated in 2001, has rapidly become the pioneering "signature winery" in La Rioja, setting the trend for the construction of a steady progression of avant-garde wineries, a trend which still continues today.

Ysios Winery in La Rioja - Contemporary Architecture: Ysios Winery in the Rioja Alavesa, Spain

For the project development, Ysios turned to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, headed by the reputed architect Santiago Calatrava. His mission was to construct a unique, avant-garde winery, conceived as a place of worship, a place exclusively dedicated to the creation of wines boasting nothing less than the highest quality, with the decisive guidance of expert oenologists.
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Published on Leave a comment on Spanish Home Sales Drop 15 Percent in August

Total home sales in Spain in August plunged 15.3 percent from a year earlier to 23,552 as rampant unemployment and downward pressure on wages more than offset the impact of ongoing falls in prices, according to figures released Monday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

house for rent in Spain 300x224 - Spanish Home Sales Drop 15 Percent in AugustThe fall was the biggest registered this year and the fourth of its kind in a row. The government announced in the summer of last year that tax relief on purchases of family homes would disappear at the start of this year, prompting households to buy in anticipation of the change. The administration also announced at the same time that the VAT rate on new homes would be raised from 4 percent to 10 percent.

The INE’s figures are based on transactions recorded by property registrars, meaning that the actual sales took place about two months prior to that.

Despite the sharp fall in August, sales for the first eight months of the year were up 1.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, in part spurred by growing interest by foreign purchasers. The number of transactions paid for without recourse to a mortgage accounted for 70 percent of the total.

According to figures released by the INE, house prices have fallen 37 percent from their peaks just before the bubble burst. The jobless rate at the end of June stood at 26.3 percent.
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Published on Leave a comment on Majestic Detached Villa for Sale in Oia / Pontevedra, Galicia

5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, Swimming-pool, 1st Row from the Sea, Luxury property, In Urban Area, Magnificent villa of 824m2 on a plot of 2. 175m2

This week we would like to continue with a house located in Northern Spain, specifically in Oia, Pontevedra, Galicia.
It features, apart from great views to the sea: ground floor 256 m2; hall 21m2; dining room 75m2; Kitchen 34m2; Guest bathroom 10m2; bedroom 23m2; bathroom 7m2; cellar 76m2; porch 7m2; first floor 268m2; lobby 17m2; dressing room 6m2; garage 55m2; porches 60m2; attic 150m2; area study and library.
Top quality import materials.

The price is: 2,499,000 €

More information on the following link: spainhouses.net

6688976 1182545 foto24693588 - Majestic Detached Villa for Sale in Oia / Pontevedra, Galicia
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Published on Leave a comment on Trade Fairs an Congress Centre in Malaga, Andalusia (Spain)

The Trade Fairs and Congress Centre of Malaga emerged as a strategic location for trade fairs, events and congress activities. It offers its clients the chance to strengthen business and collaboration links in the city of Malaga, the economic engine of Andalusia considered a crossroad of relations and business activities due its important communications network.

congresscenter malaga - Trade Fairs an Congress Centre in Malaga, Andalusia (Spain)The venue was built with the vocation to become a leading referral centre for convention and fair activities in the national and international arena, bringing Malaga to the convention business forefront among countries in the Mediterranean basin. Its contemporary architecture blend maritime Malaga tradition with avant - garde trends of the XXI century. It is a building with a spirit of elegance, modernity and functionality.

Since its opening in March 2003, Malaga´s most important business centre has consolidated its position as one of the leading venues nationwide with a considerable international projection in the convention industry.
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