Custom Design and Build

The Journey to Your Custom-Designed Villa

Not long ago a client said (and I quote) “You’re not just building me a new home John. You’re building me a new life.” And for many people this is indeed the case. Building a home in this beautiful, friendly, country, is a lifestyle transformation.

YOUR VISION  So we need to understand how you like to live, whether you’re a sunrise person sunset person or both. We need to understand how you’re going to use your new home perhaps to raise a family, perhaps to have holidays or parties, or perhaps to retire to. At the same time we need to look at the opportunities presented by the land, the views, aspect, orientation.  Our job is to make your vision a reality. Its exciting and its inspiring.

Our job is to handle the three things standing in your way: cost overrun, the heavy bureaucracy, and unreliable people.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1 Helping You Evaluate and Buy the Land Safely

If you haven’t already secured a plot of land, this is where we begin. Selecting the right plot is crucial, and we help ensure that your chosen land is suitable for your vision, both legally and financially. Our team will verify zoning regulations, building allowances, and any potential restrictions to make sure your investment is sound.

Click Get Started for how we can help.

 

Step 2 Designing Your Villa

If you already have your land you will start here.

This stage is where your dream begins to take shape. In Spain, this phase is known as the anteproyecto, but rather than a preliminary sketch, we treat it as the foundation for all key design decisions.

Together, we will determine the villa’s solar orientation, precise positioning on the land, architectural style, and internal layout. Our process is collaborative: we provide initial drawings, refine them based on your input, and ensure the design aligns with your vision, optimizes the views, and stays within budget.

Before advancing to the next stage, we consult a quantity surveyor to gain accurate cost estimates. While still preliminary, these figures are now based on real measurements, foundation assessments, and input from our construction team. If adjustments are needed to stay within budget, we refine the design accordingly.

Step 2 begins with a geotechnical and topographical survey (if not already available) and concludes with a regulatory check to confirm compliance with local planning rules.

Step 3 Securing the Building Licence

In Spain, this phase is called the proyecto básico and involves preparing the official drawings and documentation required for the building licence application.

Since all major design decisions have been finalized in Step 2, we handle this process independently, ensuring the necessary documents meet legal and technical standards. Before submitting the application, we send the plans to you for final approval. We also manage all the bureaucratic requirements, ensuring a smooth approval process.

At this stage, the size, shape, and precise location of your home are locked in.

Step 4 The Detailed Specification & Working Drawings

Known in Spain as the proyecto de ejecución, this phase involves developing the technical details necessary for construction.

Working closely with you, we finalize material finishes, mechanical and engineering systems, and structural calculations. We produce working drawings, detailed specifications, and a bill of quantities, to come up with a firm costing which can then be value engineered (see below).

This phase often runs concurrently with the building licence approval process to save time. Once completed, the project is submitted to the College of Architects for certification.

Step 5: Value Engineering, Procurement & Construction Supervision

With the execution project complete, Eco Vida Homes takes full responsibility for the construction process as the contractor. This provides our clients with greater confidence, as we remain accountable for the quality, budget, and timely delivery of your villa.

Before construction begins, we undertake a rigorous process of value engineering. We review the detailed quotation line by line, ensuring every aspect of the specification makes sense, aligns with your vision, and stays within budget. Where necessary, we refine materials, methods, or scope to optimize cost-efficiency without compromising quality.

Throughout the build, our expert team—including the architect and technical architect—manages the entire process, ensuring the highest standards are met. Each month, we provide a valuation certificate detailing completed work, which we meticulously review with you before submitting our invoice.

We also handle all bureaucratic formalities, including:
• Official commencement and completion of the works (certificado final de obra)
• Formal acceptance of the completed villa (acta recepción de obra)
• Obtaining the First Occupation Licence (licencia de primera ocupación)

Make an appointment

Use the link below to book an initial consultation.

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