VONDER EVOLVES INTERNATIONAL CO-LIVING CONCEPT : Vonder, the global co-living brand, is expanding its international portfolio with the launch of two new projects in Dubai, Vonder City Walk and Vonder Bluewaters. Combined, these properties will comprise over 250 stylish apartments launching in a series of stages starting from later in May.

Located within Dubai’s famous City Walk, an upscale urban shopping and dining destination, Vonder City Walk is situated among a design-inspired neighbourhood in the heart of Dubai and is in walking distance to the renowned Jumeirah beachfront. Overall, the site will offer 150 units including a selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with floor-to-ceiling windows that capture Dubai’s iconic skyline. Vonder City Walk offers an impressive lifestyle space for residents to live, work and play with onsite amenities such as a fully equipped private gym, a 24/7 concierge service and a stunning rooftop terrace and pool for Vonder members to enjoy.

The second property, Vonder Bluewaters, is located on the impressive man-made island of Bluewaters. The complex contains a selection of high-end one, two and three-bedroom apartments with luxurious design and breath-taking ocean views. Raising the bar one step higher, Vonder Bluewaters also offers Vonder tenants an outstanding communal swimming pool.

Similar to other Vonder locations across Europe, all the Vonder apartments in Dubai come fully furnished with the sophisticated comfort of a contemporary urban design that compliments the open plan kitchens and living spaces. The rent is paid via a one-all-inclusive bill for a hassle-free living experience.  Members of Vonder City Walk and Vonder Bluewaters will also have access to the brand’s global community via the Vonder app that allows them to easily connect and interact with other Vonderers around the globe, in addition to a regularly updated programme of community and networking events.

Commenting on Vonder’s expansion into Dubai, Tomer Bercoviz, CEO of Vonder, said: “Our co-living concept has been working brilliantly in Europe and it is the right time for us to bring it to the Middle East as well. Dubai is an attractive destination for remote workers and digital nomads due to its status as a global financial hub and its proximity to both Europe and Asia. Currently there’s no similar product like Vonder in the local market and we’re proud to be pioneering the co-living revolution in Dubai.

“We have seen how relocation or moving to new cities can be a stressful and difficult process, especially for the younger generation that require flexibility in when they move. Our fresh take on co-living offers young professionals the ideal living platform, allowing them to live in safe, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed living complexes with flexible rental terms and a strong sense of belonging. We’re excited to be launching two new sites in Dubai with a third major flagship project due to launch later this summer with 300 apartments within the Dubai Marina. We are looking forward to seeing our global community grows.” The Dubai openings strengthen the growth of Vonder’s global co-living brand of over 30 locations across London, Berlin, and Dublin, with the US coming later this year.

VONDER EVOLVES INTERNATIONAL CO-LIVING CONCEPT

Property & Development Magazine

Nature by Kronos Homes, Costa Blanca, Spain

Christian de Portzamparc’s open block urban vision has done much to create enriched living experiences for city environments. In front of the golden sands of Playa de San Juan in Alicante, Spain, the avant-garde residential development Nature, from Kronos Homes, is showcasing the high-quality individual and collective living spaces that this approach can deliver. Jesús Gallego of ADORAS atelier architecture explains:

“In Nature, we conceptualized and designed following the criteria of the “Age 3” of CdP and adapting it to a specific place: the beach of San Juan in Alicante. We have created an innovative façade using local, traditional and marine climate-resistant materials (ceramic, trencadís and aluminum) but using them in an innovative way, setting new trends and respecting the environment. Being conscious at the same time of sustainable building practices and social impact.”

Nature’s design uses the open block (“Ilot Ouvert”) concept to deliver family-friendly environments, with gardens and nature at their heart. The 111 apartments, which include two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, are split across three buildings, with different dimensions and numbers of dwellings achieving a balance between mass and voids.

Collective spaces include a large communal pool, spa area, Zen garden, hammock space, children’s playground and paddle tennis court. With the open block layout, the streets in the common areas aren’t simply unprotected areas on the plot perimeters. They are full of commercial shops, filled with life and activity. They are places that invite residents to explore and share.

ADORAS atelier architecture’s Jesús Gallego comments:

“Considering the development potential, Nature could have been a large horizontal block in an ‘L’ shape, accumulating all the dwellings in a single volume and freeing up the whole plot, as is often done without further thought. Perhaps, it would have had better views, more green areas, more housing… but it would have lost that domestic and human scale that has been so well received.”

Nature has been well received by residents and property professionals alike. It was the only Spanish new-build project to be selected by OPAL (Outstanding Property Awards London). The jury recognised the creativity of this innovative project, which takes advantage of all the potential of the site to make it unique. It’s a façade that has never been built before, composed of ceramic baguettes, white aluminium and glass, which modulates the sunlight, wind, energy consumed, views and privacy of the apartments. The effect is both sustainable and stunning – OPAL saw fit to award it the 2020 Residential, Low-Rise Architectural Design Award.

The award-winning Nature delivers urban sophistication through this reinvention of traditional coastal architecture. Jesús Gallego continues:

“The architect, like the sculptor, has to shape the forms. So that air and light can pass between the buildings and into the street, but without opening up distances that are too wide to create urban fissures.”

Nature is the first project that Kronos Homes has created in line with the open block concept. Partner and CEO Saïd Hejal comments:

“Nature was a very important project for us as it was the first time we were attempting to execute an ‘ilot ouvert’. In Nature we continued to follow our philosophy of ‘puredesign,’ which integrates modern architecture with its surroundings.”

Saïd Hejal, Partner and CEO, Kronos Homes

The architectural design centres on energy efficiency and the warmth of the materials. The external appearance is defined by white aluminium rings that generate sinuous lines around the building, and ceramic that forms a second skin of variable density, with vertical slats that work as a large lattice, protecting the facades from the intensity of the Spanish sunlight.

The light-filled homes feature spacious living areas and large terraces, while the penthouses have private rooftop pools and sea views. On the ground floor, the design of Nature’s shared amenities flows outward from the pool, with a green gradient delivering plant species with low water requirements around the perimeter through to more ornamental Mediterranean and tropical species as the centrepiece. ADORAS’ Jesús Gallego concludes:

“Even the unforeseen has a place in these blocks. The unknown, the future. Combining the innovative with the ordinary, the ordinary with the exceptional, to be lived and to continue to evolve without limits. Nature was created in order to respond to high densities. It combines the freedom of being of the hygienist blocks of the modern movement and the sustainable compactness of the closed block of the traditional city.”

For more information visit www.kronoshomes.com

Nature by Kronos Homes, Costa Blanca, Spain

Property & Development Magazine

A guide to Monaco real estate for sale, prices, and trends

From its vantage point as a favoured destination on the French Riviera, Monaco offers a luxe lifestyle and an opportunity for purchasing some of the most sought-after real estate in the world. Topping the list of luxury residential propertiesin Monaco real estate for sale are two-room apartments, luxury homes, and studio apartments.

According to a Monaco Government Tweet, Monaco real estate prices have increased by more than 52% in the past 10 years as demand outstrips supply. However, in 2019 and 2020, Monaco real estate prices decreased slightly for the first time in the past decade, dropping below the 48,000 Euro per square metre mark. With a rare slight dip in prices, now could be the ideal time to invest in Monaco’s hyper-competitive real estate market.

Whether you’re looking for a second home, a new family residence, or a holiday home — not to mention an excellent investment — now is the perfect time to consider your options. Here’s a list of the top five most desired properties among searches for Monaco real estate for sale.

The most popular Monaco real estate for sale

One-room apartments

These Monaco studios for sale are perfect for a weekend getaway or retreat, as they offer a private space with stunning views in some of the principality’s most prestigious buildings. Marble bathrooms, broad terraces, and equipped kitchenettes are among the amenities, offering everything needed for a long or short stay in one of the world’s most glamorous destinations.

Two-room apartments

Ideal as a vacation home or for singles, one-bedroom apartments for sale in Monaco are a sound investment. Whether featuring sea views or garden views, these two-room apartments typically offer one bedroom, a well-equipped kitchenette, a spacious living room, as well as a balcony, terrace, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Three-room apartments

For those looking for something in the “just right” size category, three-room apartments may tick the right box and are one of the most popular Monaco real estate for sale searches. With two bedrooms, more often than not spacious terraces, and some featuring a master bedroom with a dressing room, these apartments appeal to small families and those who would like a spare bedroom for guests or perhaps a dedicated home office.

Four-room apartments

Beach views are prominently featured in a number of these three-bedroom apartments for sale in Monaco. Many of the properties have been restructured or refurbished with the most updated amenities, including closets, kitchens, and shower rooms. One room may be used as a study, leaving plenty of living space for family and friends to gather.

Five-plus rooms

As prices dip slightly for the first time in a decade, now is the ideal time to look at luxury homes for sale in Monaco. Amenities at these spectacular properties may include a swimming pool, pool house, sauna, fitness centre, 24-hour security service, high-quality finishes, and panoramic views. These luxury homes, which are found in some of the most sought-after areas of Monaco, typically offer four to five bedrooms, including a master suite, and often feature rare materials and designer touches throughout. They are a great option for families with children or for couples for whom privacy is a priority.

Monaco real estate for sale offers a broad selection of properties for the world’s wealthiest investors. Located in some of the world’s most exclusive addresses, owning Monaco real estate is a buyers’ gateway to enjoying all that the principality has to offer year-round.

Property & Development Magazine