The Endesa Pavilion, in Barcelona, is an experimental project from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia which explores how technology can create architectures that are adaptive to particular environments, and particular conditions.
The building starts with a simple premiss of a timber box with a grid façade on which modular components can be mounted. From an analysis of the building orientation and latitude, maps of insolation density can be created which allows façade components to be generated whose forms respond to the precise conditions expected at that point on the building. Moving across the façade each component will be different as its form is optimised to best meet the parameters to which it must respond. In this case that means providing shade and generating electricity from PV cells.
The complexity and variety of components generated is not an issue in terms of manufacture or assembly. Each component is CNC cut according to the shape sent to it from the CAD file meaning that infinite variety is possible at virtually no additional cost. Assembly issues are also resolved within the software so that when the components come to site they are pre-drilled and slotted and can be assembled like flat pack furniture. On this building it meant the whole thing could be assembled in a month. ...continue reading "Endesa Pavilion, Smart City Expo, Barcelona, Spain"
House prices have fallen by 14.4% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, according to the House Price Index (HPI) of the National Statistics Institute (INE). This percentage represents the largest decline in this statistic since it was published in 2008.
This reduction in the house prices is almost two points higher than the experience in the first quarter of 2012, when prices fell by 12.6%. Thus, there were already 17 consecutive quarters in which house prices have negative annual rates. Actually, since this 'CPI housing' started in the second quarter of 2008 (-0.3%). Since then, the trend has not been reversed.
So says Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing director of Taylor Wimpey de Espana, who stressed potential buyers should look at the merits of the market at present and "strike while the iron is hot".
"A favourable exchange rate between sterling and the euro combined with Spain's dip in real estate prices have meant that Spanish property is more attractive to buyers than ever before," he asserted.
Mr Pritchard also highlighted another reason to make a purchase now, rather than waiting - a potential tax increase which could come into force from next January.
He revealed value-added tax on real estate transactions, which currently stands at four per cent, may rise to ten per cent at the start of 2013.
Last month, director of international mortgage specialist Conti Clare Nessling told This is Money that Spanish property is a good long-term investment because the market is at its bottom and is expected to improve in the coming years.
Bargain-hunting Scandinavians and Russians replace British buyers as Spain faces up to banks' toxic debts
Spain's property market is changing, with apartments in Barcelona and other major cities costing far less than in recent years.
Estate agents in Spain say there is a new realism in the property market as officials finally face up to the issue of the banks' toxic debts.
Henri Dovermann, of Hedrealestate.com, an agency in Torrevieja, said: "Things are changing – we are being given whole developments to sell, and pressure is on to sell them fast."
In the past foreign buyers getting into financial difficulties were quietly switched to interest-only mortgages which slashed monthly repayments for three to four years, he said. Spaniards who have got into difficulties have been allowed to stay in their home paying a rent rather than making mortgage payments. Developers, he said, that were technically bankrupt, were propped up so the banks did not have to own up to their bad debts.
But, according to Dovermann, apartments on the coast that were making €200,000 at the top are now, he said, going for €70,000-€80,000, although there are signs that those prices may be reaching the bottom, with local buy-to-let landlords starting to invest.
Bargain-hunting Scandinavians, Russians and even Ukrainians have replaced Britons as the key foreign buyers, often arriving with cash generated at home.
Spanish Crisis Triggers Real Estate Price Collapse
A move by Spanish banks to offload the build-up of foreclosed properties on their books is triggering a massive decline in real estate prices.
Spain's real estate market saw a flurry of building activity prompted by rising real estate prices and property speculation up until 2007, when transactions came to a near standstill.
As a result, Spain now has an estimated two million units worth of excess residential property.
Spanish banks had been slow to offload the properties, which came into their possession when struggling developers proved unable to repay loans.
However, the banks now need an estimated $77.4 billion to stay afloat. And so the financial institutions are now attempting to liquidate as much of their inventory as possible.
The move is good news for overseas buyers who can now secure Spanish real estate for a fraction of its peak prices.
A series of newly completed condos in a historic area of Granada, for instance – hailed as Spain's most beautiful city – have just been offered by one Spanish bank with a price tag starting from less than $100,000 per unit.
The 800-square-foot units are within walking distance of the city's Old Town and come with 95% financing available for both domestic and overseas buyers.
A series of rectilinear elements, clad in sandstone, combined with sweeping panels of gold and pink titanium, and mirror finish stainless steel.
The winery of Vinos Herederos del Marques de Riscal is located in Elciego, in the Rioja region of Spain, and is one of the oldest wineries in the region.
Traditionally the wineries in the region are not open to the public, but as a component of an overall plan to redefine and invigorate its public image, Marques de Riscal commissioned the design of a small building intended to provide a unique experience for visitors to the winery.
The site for the building is approached along a road that leads through the vineyards and through existing wine production facilities that date primarily from the mid-nineteenth century.
The building is lifted above the site on columns, creating a small entry plaza beneath the building itself and providing breathtaking views of the vineyards, the San Andres Church, and the surrounding town and region from each of the areas located in the upper levels of the building.
The entry plaza leads to the reception area and to a bar, which are set along the edge of a small area of the vineyards. An outdoor terrace leads to a small pool, and a covered walkway extending from the building allows visitors the opportunity to overlook the vineyards and the surrounding region.
Distributed throughout the three upper levels of the building are fourteen guest bedrooms, a wine tasting room, a 172-seat restaurant including a public dining room, a private dining room and outdoor dining terraces, and conference facilities.
Offices and meeting rooms for administrative staff are located adjacent to the building and are linked both to the building and to existing winery offices and production facilities.
This beautiful penthouse is situated 200 m from the beach and beside the golf course. A bus stop at 50 m and supermarket in the immediate vicinity.
It has an entrance hall, lounge-dining room with views of nature. Spacious kitchen with laundry room and storage room, 3 large bedrooms, all adjacent to the terrace. 2 large bathrooms, a terrace of 66 m² and a roof terrace of 116 m².
In the complex you have parkingspace in frot of the block. The penthouse is in excellent condition and well worth a visit.
Spain had tried already to create the European 'Miami'.
A combination of hotels, apartments and retirement homes for European pensioners and partly-retired professionals, all over the Spanish coast. The project included the construction and updating of communication infrastructures, such as the AVE, highways and airports. Now, big plans are coming again.
Las Vegas
The first one is the Eurovegas,which is getting great presence in the media because the American company that will develop the mega casino is in Spain, checking two likely locations, Madrid and Barcelona. The entrepreneur Adelson demands, among other petitions: lands expropriation, special tax treatment, and smoking permission in public places. In returns, up to 250,000 employs will be created, Adelson say. Some sources make sure that most of Adelson’s requirements has been satisfied, and only the casino location is left to know.
Palma de Mallorca Cathedral
The second project is in Mallorca. The developer Roland Ras has presented to the Govern Balear a plan in order to remodel Palma’s Habor. This undertaking could create up to 33,000 employs. The stipulated period to finish the redesign is around 5 years. The work would be over a surface area of a million square metres and the industrial area would be enlarge in nearly 400,000 square metres.
The project would be developed by a private group with American and German funds. ‘Now is a good moment to invest in Spain and we see an opportunity for it’ Ronald Ras said.
This is the moment for those who would like to purchase a house in the beach
The prices have gone down around a 38% along the Mediterranean Coast. Most of this decrease had been cause by the banks. Here there are examples:
Comunidad Valenciana
In Castellon, towns as Peñíscola o Vinaroz, make the most of the geographical conditions, such as the closeness of the sea and the mountain, to sell houses that in some cases were finished years ago. In the tourists cities of Oropesa or Benicasim is very important also the presence of real estate agencies owned by financial institutions.
Second residence in Spain
Those who are looking for a good offer will find a wide variety of them in Valencia Province, from Sagunto to Oliva, and in many cases is even possible to negotiate the price. The most interesting offers are located around the Ribera Baja, and the comarca of La Safor.
Alicante gather the biggest tourist offer. Marina Alta, Jávea and Calpe are the most famous destinations. The city of Benidorm keeps being one of the main references in the region. It is possible to find properties in Cala Finestrat for a price under 122.300 €, or even less, from 120.000 € in Villajoyosa.
With the exception of Marbella, the financial institutions are the main seller in the Andalusian coast. In Almería, it is easy to find one or two bedrooms flats from 54.000 € to 110.000 €, in towns like Vera, Mojácar or Roquetas de Mar. In Almuñécar, in the coast of Granada, there are 90 square meters for only 189.423 €.
Two bedrooms flats from 136.600 € in Nerja. And in Torrox, one bedroom and 95 meters flats, from 168.840 €. The minimum price in Torre del Mar is 114.246 €. Furthermore, real estate agents and banks are competing for the little area of Rincón de la Victoria.
Additionally, there are apartments for less than 134.030 € in Torremolinos, and studios for less than 45.000 € in Fuengirola. On the other hand,in Marbella where the number of properties from banks is minimum, the prices are higher, between 155.540 € and 259.000 €.
The excess of property in this region is smaller than in Valencia or Andalucía, with the exception of Tarragona.
Although Girona and Tarragona concentrate the biggest amount of properties, some seaside towns in Barcelona, such as Castelldefels o Sitges, keep being important points to buy a second residence or even a first one.
The developers, Realia and Vallehermoso, are selling in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, two and three bedrooms flats from 139.000 € and 232.399 €, respectively.
Cambrils, in Tarragona Province, offers the widest number of available properties.
Balearic and Canary Islands
House in Ibiza for 350.000 €
The islands do not scape from the competition between banks and real estates developers. More relevant in Canarias than in Baleares, it is causing a bigger decrease in prices.
In the Balearic Islands, in Ibiza as well as in Mallorca, it is possible to find three bedrooms flats from 262.000 €, apartments for 165.000 € and studios for 42.500 €. In Ciudadela (Menorca) flats for 110.000 €.
In the Canary Islands, there are houses for sell from 63.000 €, and flats from 55.000 €. Moreover, It is possible to find apartments from 37.700 € in Tenerife.
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The building starts with a simple premiss of a timber box with a grid façade on which modular components can be mounted. From an analysis of the building orientation and latitude, maps of insolation density can be created which allows façade components to be generated whose forms respond to the precise conditions expected at that point on the building. Moving across the façade each component will be different as its form is optimised to best meet the parameters to which it must respond. In this case that means providing shade and generating electricity from PV cells.
