Historic villages, a pristine coastline and sunny islands have long made Croatia a popular European vacation destination. In recent years, however, the property market has seen unprecedented demand, and with Croatia’s impending accession to the EU in 2010, all forecasts point to a continued upward trend. Read Real Estate Feature: Croatia The Next Riviera here.
25 Aug
Land is such a premium in certain parts of the world, and New York City is no exception so I found it this Flickr collection of rooftops of the rich and famous in NYC quite interesting. Some show a suprising amount of green space, whilst others exhibit contemporary designs. Have a browse and see how some of the other half live!
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has gone on record Tuesday to deny reports in French newspapers that he had bought Villa Leopolda, the world’s most expensive home for £392 million.
Earlier reports from AFP and the Nice-Matin newspaper had identified Prokhorov as the mystery Russian oligarch behind the purchase of the French Mediterranean villa.
However, Prokhorov’s spokesman now says the 43-year-old metal tycoon, who now heads Onexim Group, a Russian private investment fund, is not behind the deal.
In an interview with Reuters and UK’s Telegraph, Sergei Chernitsyn was also quoted as saying his boss would not do business in France until he receives an apology from French authorities, who in January 2007, rounded up Prokhorov at the French ski resort of Courchevel and detained him for an investigation into his suspected involvement in an illegal prostitution ring.
"Before the conflict with French authorities is settled and before he gets an apology from the French side, neither Onexim nor Prokhorov himself would do any business in France," said Sergei Chernitsyn, referring to the metal tycoon's investment vehicle, Onexim Holdings.
If you are looking for a holiday home on the French Riviera, the stock of available properties just got smaller. With grounds so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend them, the Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer has been snapped up by the Russian billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, for some 500 million euros. The deal is to be finalised next month.
One Queensbridge Place, located on prime property in the northwest Las Vegas Valley, brings elite suburban living within reach of The Strip. The premium residential property is the work of Executive Home Builders, one of Las Vegas’ premier custom homebuilders.
The 29-acre development is perfectly situated within an established suburban neighborhood, and lets residents live in comfortable and close proximity to world-class gaming, dining and shopping facilities.
Styled in the spirit of Art Nouveau, and boasting strong European design influences, the project incorporates a variety of premium materials from around the world. Limestone from Jerusalem, dolomite from Jordan, and Alicante marble from Spain are just some of the materials used in construction and the handcrafted detailing around the property.
One Queensbridge has nearly 50 different floor plans ranging in size from 2,100 to 16,000 square feet, and offers its residents facilities such as a Roman spa, access to a lounge with recreational facilities, and a conference room.
via JustLuxe
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has been revealed as the mystery buyer who splashed out £390 million on Villa Leopolda, making it the world’s most expensive real estate property, AFP reports on Sunday.
Built for King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, the Belle Époque mansion was used as a summer retreat for the king. The property has since changed hands a couple of times, and its previous owners include the late Giovanni Agnelli, of the Italian marque Fiat, and Lebanese-born Swiss banker Edmond Safra.
It was Safra's widow Lily Safra who sold the property to Prokhorov. Prokhorov made headline news in January 2007 when he and 25 others, including several Russian businessmen, were briefly involved in an investigation into a suspected prostitution ring. But the charges had since been dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Ranked by Forbes magazine as the 24th richest man in the world, with reported fortunes of US$19.5 billion, the former head of Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel now heads Onexim Group, a Russian private investment fund with a focus on mining industry and projects in energy, nanotechnology and real estate.
Villa Leopolda set a record for being the world’s most expensive property when it was sold to an anonymous Russian oil oligarch for a record £390 million.
The princely sum dwarfs the previous record of £70 million when Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal purchased a property (which he now calls home) in Kensington Palace Gardens in 2004.
The cream-colored villa commands stunning views of Cote d'Azur (or the French Riviera), overlooking Cap Ferrat near Villefranche-sur-Mer.
The Belle Époque mansion is nestled within 20 acres of gardens with 1,200 olive, orange, lemon and cypress trees, and the attention of 50 full-time gardeners.
Originally constructed for King Leopold II of Belgium, who used the villa as a summer retreat, the property has since changed hands a couple of times. During World War I, King Albert I used the villa as a makeshift hospital for wounded officers.
The Agnelli family of the Fiat marque were the next proud owners, and the villa served as a party house for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan in the 1960s.
Former Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was at one time reported to be interested in acquiring the property while Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has also been recently linked.
However, it seems current owner Lily Safra, widow of Lebanese banker Edmond Safra, has now decided that the time is right to part ways with her prized asset.
via Telegraph / The Huffington Post
The largest residential development in Singapore’s history will be designed by world-class architect Zaha Hadid. The 78,000 square meter plot is at the former Farrer Court, close to main traffic and highly noticeable across the city. The condominium is slated to have seven 36-storey towers and twelve villas.
The US$2.12 billion (or S$3 billion) project is led by CapitaLand with three partners: Hotel Properties and a Morgan Stanley Real Estate fund together with Wachovia Development.
Hadid’s designs are renowned for their intrinsic geometry and fluid organization that redefine the limits of urban spatial concerns. With this project, the architect has planned around the country’s greenery and concrete mix, subtly hinting of organic architecture influence.
Each tower is subdivided into petal patterns according to the floor plan of each storey. The orientation of the high-rise buildings has been strategized to maximize views of the city skyline as well as the well-known foliage. Hadid’s sole design for Singapore to date is the one-north masterplan, a site for technological industries.
One of the last privately-owned lakes in Austria is up for sale. Occupying a secluded location in the Salzkammergut region near Salzburg, the Mondsee or Moon Lake is being sold by Nicolette Waechter; it has been in her family since the early 18th Century but now she no longer wants to be responsible for its management. Expect a price of around 16,000 euros. Read more at Yahoo! News.
Majestically perched at the Punta Pacifica peninsula on the Panama Bay, the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower promises a lap of luxury that is unrivalled in Panama.
The 68-story mixed-use building, whose exterior bears an uncanny resemblance to Dubai’s seven-star Burj Al Arab with its sail-like façade, will cut an imposing landmark in Panama City.
With magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Bay, the property, developed at a cost of over US$220 million dollar, sits on more than 2.6 million sq ft of land on the artificially constructed peninsula.
It will house 509 residential units, 369 hotel condominium suites and 126 bay lofts, with floor space ranging from 1,076 sq ft to 4,284 sq ft. Prospective owners also get special terms on acquiring the exclusive and limited loft offices in the tower. Apartments start at US$400,000.
Amenities that come with owning the keys to a suite: a yacht club and pier, a private beach club on nearby Contadora island, three-story sky lobby, oversized pool deck, spa, gym, oceanfront pool café, a business center, boutiques and shoppes, and a 45,000 sq ft Trump Casino.
The tower is designed by Colombian architectural firm Arias Serna Saravia, and developed by the Trump Organization in partnership with the K-Group Developers. The project is due to be inaugurated at the end of 2009.
