El Madroñal, Marbella

Project Summary

We are very proud of this building and the way it has turned out. To quote the owners: “we can’t fault the building at all”.

There are many subtle design details that make the whole living experience almost like a fantasy in a fairy tale setting.
There is a single large open plan kitchen, dining, and living space that integrates with the terrace and swimming pool, into one true sociable space. There are additional private sittings rooms and terraces, 4 en-suite bedrooms and a gymnasium.
The whole project is a financial success for the owners.

Areas and Costs

• Total New Build and Renovation – 685 sq m
• Plot Size – 5,605 sq m
• Build Cost – €760,000
• Professional Fees (inclusive) – €35,000
• Licences and other costs – €14,900
• Total Cost Design and Build – €810,000

Description

This beautiful luxury home in natural surroundings is a living testament to what can be achieved with thoughtful design, and attention to detail, at very reasonable cost. In addition to their dream home the owners now have an asset with a value well in excess of the money spent on the development.

The site is heavily wooded with cork and pine trees and is steeply sloping. There are magnificent views south to the Mediterranean. The natural surroundings have been protected and influence the design and layout.

The original house of some 140 sq metres has been incorporated into a large 4 bedroomed, 685 sq metre villa on two stories with additional basement accommodation, making the most of the views, outside spaces and with many thoughtful design features.

There is an extensive open plan living space with a double height ceiling and large windows to the main views, the terrace and swimming pool. The inside blends seamlessly with the outside and shaded spaces for Mediterranean living. The swimming pool sits on a platform 9m above the ground in order to make it level with the ground floor and there is an infinity and waterfall effect to a terrace below.

Some of the thoughtful, luxury and “sustainable” design features are listed below. They blend together to make quite simply a better way of living

“Sustainable” Design Points

• Pine trees protected: one even goes through the shaded terrace roof
• High tech glass: low emissivity
• Under floor heating for efficient energy consumption and high comfort
• Super insulation walls / roof
• Stones are quarried locally: hand made stone bricks / natural stone finishes
• Light chimney in the dressing room to bring lots of natural light into a basement area with no windows
• Lime cement render
• Extra cavity built round the existing building: thick walls for insulation and thermal mass
• Whole building requires zero maintenance

Better Comfort Design Details

• Wide doors for easy wheelchair access
• Lift
• Sensors switch on lights
• Mezzanine bedroom in study
• Study gallery overlooking the living room
• Kitchen open plan and an island
• Outside drainage (given the slope v important to take the water away from the building)
• Garden will be natural: i.e. left to itself
• Shower by swimming pool placed to enjoy the view
• Winter sun lounge
• A peaceful “reading” terrace
• House fully wired for TV music internet
• Lighting: different mood settings on one switch (programmable scenes)
• A “leave the house” switch that turns everything off (except fridge etc) and security on
• Views from the bath
• Doors that slide into walls to conserve space
• Walk in shower room glass walls with no moving parts
• Pergola for outside shaded living and privacy from neighbours
• Strong active and passive security systems

Subtle Touch Design Points

• Wooden ceiling offsite construction erected in 3 days
• Micro cement floors: continuous no joins
• Double / triple height ceilings
• Wide corridors for a sense of space
• Roof tiles are new but look old (Tejas Borja)
• Traditional on the outside but modern on the inside
• Rusted lintels that are then coated to maintain the look
• 3 piece glass wall
• Wine cellar behind glass, copied from roman baths (arches and roof)
• Dark tiles for the pool to match the natural surroundings

Luxury Finishes

• Stucco walls in bathroom
• Porcelain tiles in bathroom
• Bio ethanol fireplace (practical for appearance because the house is easily warm enough)
• Swimming pool with infinity and waterfall effect
• Decking around the pool
• Gymnasium under the terrace TV room, steam room, and bathroom

Costs and Qualities

The build cost, €760,000, includes the site preparation, house, finishes, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, electricity, the external terraces, landscaping and swimming pool including the rock walls that retain the garden which is at a gradient. It excludes the kitchen and planting in the garden.