Spain is a commendably eco-savvy country that’s making moves to bring its building rules up to date. As a result you can indulge in some truly gorgeous, guilt-free property.
Spain doesn’t take environmental issues lightly. Recent amendments to the country’s building regulations require all new homes and renovated buildings to be fitted with solar panels, making renewable energy systems compulsory, reducing greenhouse gases and saving households money into the bargain. However, the code doesn’t come into force fully until later this month. If you want to get a jump-start on the ecohousing bandwagon, pick one of Spain’s many existing green homes, so you’ll never need to worry about your energy consumption again.
Natural charm
If you would like to live amid nature while doing your bit for the environment, consider this country house deep in the Sierra de la Safor national park.
This small finca, romantically nicknamed ‘La Casita de l’Amor’ (‘the little house of love’), nestles on the hillside close to the Valencian town of Villalonga.
The property was built 12 years ago with top quality materials and occupies a tranquil location, with views stretching to the tall mountain peaks. The house is located on a 3,360-square-metre plot that is part virgin hillside, with the remainder comprising a vineyard of muscatel grapes, plus almond and olive trees. It’s not connected to the mains, but you can live a comfortable life thanks to eco-friendly technology and tradition. The property has its own water supply collected via the traditional method of cleverly organised channels that redirect rain from the roof into a 9,000-litre tank, from which it is automatically pumped up into a holding tank on the roof. The electricity is currently supplied via solar panels, whilea €9,000 upgrade will supply suffi cient electricity to run even a washing machine.
The interior is painted with natural non-toxic paints. The property is being sold fully furnished and comprises a lounge with a corner fi replace and a beam-effect sloped ceiling, a dining room with a breakfast bar, a kitchen, two large double bedrooms and a complete bathroom.
Located in an elevated position within the heart of the vast Sierra de la Safor national park, the property is surrounded by protected countryside, where no further building will be allowed. Behind the property, a quiet country road leads to L’Orcha, a small traditional village. In the valley below you can walk along an old disused railway line that once ran between L’Orcha and Villalonga. The 11km-long line passes through tunnels carved out of the mountainside and alongside the river Serpis. The area is a haven for wildlife that you can look out for if you head out for a day’s trekking, and there are plenty of fresh water drinking fountains to ensure you don’t get parched. The rugged terrain is ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities including walking, horse riding, mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing in the Safor mountain range.
Peaceful peaks
If you like the idea of owning a home with a colourful history and a rosy future, head to this home in Granada’s countryside, far from the bustle of the coast.
This rustic house has a varied history, having served as church and a school in former years. It sits at the edge of a small hamlet called Puebla de Don Fadrique. Recently it has been carefully restored, with care taken to maintain its traditional features while adding modern details to make your life more comfortable.
The house comprises 162 square metres, with 100 square metres of terraces on a 9,000-square-metre plot, with more land available. It sits in the middle of the Sierra de la Sagra nature reserve, with a landscape of mountain ridges thick with pine trees. A small path leads from your parking space to the house, passing a watering place that would have been previously used for sheep or goats and is now ideal for an icy dip on hotter days, with cool water that runs straight from the mountains. The land is fenced in and has been levelled, making it ideal for transforming into a small campsite.
The mayor of Puebla de Don Fadrique is eager to stimulate rural tourism to the area and has already indicated he would be more than willing to co-operate if you have plans along these lines. In addition, the finca has separate guest accommodation for two so you can start earning a rental income right away if you choose to.
The main house comprises a spacious, airy living room with a woodburner and French windows, a large dining room with a fi replace, a well-equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and a fitted bathroom. The guest apartment has its own bedroom and bathroom. There are terracotta tiled fl oors throughout the property, except in the living room, which has a lovely dark parquet floor.
The property currently gets its water from a well and electricity from solar panels. Mains power will be available in the first half of 2007, and a telephone line (often the most difficult utility to get in rural areas) is already connected.
The nearest airport is an hour and 15 minutes’ drive away at Granada.
Sustainable style
If you don’t believe that being eco-friendly should prevent you living a luxurious lifestyle, consider these minimalist apartments teetering above Mallorca’s affluent south-west.
This development is located close to the Mallorcan village of Puerto Andratx. The harbour attracts yacht and motorboat owners, including members of the Spanish royal family, whoenjoy dining out at the seafood restaurants overlooking the waterfront.
The steepness of the road leading to Las Vistas won’t prepare you for the sight of these properties balanced on the cliff edge 135 metres above the bay of Cala Llamp. To provide the homes with the startling panoramic views that the urbanisation takes its name from, the developers excavated through 1,000 tons of tough island rock. The results are well worth it, with a backdrop of mountainous headland beyond the clear waters of the bay, and on clear days you can see the island of Ibiza in the distance.
The modern, minimalist architecture includes vast windows to take advantage of the wonderful views, with luxurious details such as spa baths on the roof terraces, patios and sun decks, while each apartment and penthouse has a flat screen plasma TV and stateof- the-art bathroom.
In total, 18 units of two or three bedrooms are being built, with each block laid out with one property per floor, to ensure your privacy. An infinity pool on the upper level and an underground parking area make the most of every centimetre, while the property interiors are as open as possible to enhance the sense of space.
On the environmentally-friendly side of things, gardens surrounding the units are planted with hardy fl owering shrubs rather than lawns to reduce water consumption. Each apartment has extremely high standards of insulation and the southerly orientation of the homes makes maximum use of sunshine, while special blinds keep out the summer heat and allow for cooling sea breezes, minimising the need for heating and air conditioning. Solar panels heat your water, and double-flush toilets save waste water. All materials used in the properties are 100 per cent natural and designed to age well, requiring less maintenance. The properties are being sold off-plan and completion is expected by summer 2008.