Gecko Towers
Hand’s up who thought “Location, Location, Location” we’re the only three rules that needed to be followed to ensure that you made the right buying decisions for your Marbella property?
Rules including the old UK yard-stick of “Buy the Worst House in the Best Street!” may also be relevant, but there’s a further consideration.
The penny only dropped from seeing an insightful post by a Marbella “Marketing Guru”, Alfredo Bloy-Dawson, who had enjoyed watching Frank Knipschild’s excellent promo-film featuring an interview with renowned Architect, Rafael de La-Hoz. Most recently responsible for the stunning “Palmitos – Real de la Quinta” project.
In his wonderfully prosaic way, S. La-Hoz, noted that only two coasts on the Mediterranean Sea had true southerly aspects. One being the Côte d’Azur in the South of France and the second, more pertinent to us here in Marbella and his new project, is here on the Costa del Sol. He further noted that neither Italy nor Greece had such gems.
A stunning new development Palmitos Real de la Quinta occupies an elevated position high above the coast but sloping and thus engaging with the sea vistas. But what is the relevance of the Southerly aspect?
If you buy a property in the UK, aside from the essential original features, the prize is when the back garden benefits from a South Westerly orientation. As a result the maximum light from the sun – and, sadly in the UK, other climatic conditions are available – will be enjoyed for the largest part of the day as it tracks East to West.
In Marbella it’s actually a little more complicated and seems, oddly, somewhat to depend on where the buyer is from.
True southerly orientations are, as we have seen above, rare, so largely developers position houses in a South Westerly or South Eastely orientations.
A South Westerly orientation, during the Summer, enjoys less warmth in the morning and more warmth in the evening when outdoor cooking and socializing are the order of the day. In the winter the South Easterly orientation enjoys more sunlight so the idea is that the property is warmer for longer in the colder months.
When a property is located in a South Westerly orientation in Marbella, and with sufficient height, the prevailing view from the house will be “along the beach” in the direction of Gibraltar.
The South Westerly orientation appears, unsurprisingly, to be a preference for those who hail from warmer climates such as those from Spain and other warmer countries.
The South Easterly orientated house will, in the Summer, be warmer in the morning and cooler in the evening. Conversely, in the Winter, South Easterly orientated houses are warm for a longer part of the day. As a result, it seems that such South Easterly orientated houses are preferred by those from colder climates such as the Brits, Irish and Scandinavians.
This is, of course, slightly anecdotal as the variance is only a few degrees of sunlight or shade that may not impact meaningfully on your enjoyment of your property. However, it pays to carry your iPhone with you on property visits. A properly calibrated digital compass is featured on most versions of the iPhone or can be downloaded if its not immediately apparent.
I have tested this on my home and it sits firmly on a SouthSouthEast orientation. I think is ok as given its plot and neighbouring properties as we seem to enjoy sun virtually all day!
The sun has been moving in its trajectory for millennia so make sure that you preferred property gives you – and your internal spaces, bed rooms and swimming pool – the kind of sun exposure that you are hoping for.
Should you be interested in discussing the legal process involved in buying a property in the Marbella region, we would be delighted to assist you. Our multi-disciplinary team of bi-lingual, highly experienced and wholly independent Abogados and Asesores Fiscales are ready to help you.
Please call me, Mark FR Wilkins, during usual business hours on +34 600 343 917 or, if you prefer, or e-mail me at mark@roslegal.es
Please note that our posts are for general interest. There is no substitute for proper legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances as provided by a qualified Abogado who is experienced in the application of the Spanish Law.
Nothing contained in this article should be seen or taken as the writer or the publisher providing legal or financial advice.
© Mark FR Wilkins 2022. All rights reserved.