Como, especially Lake Como is well-known world wide not only because of its dream like setting, but more likely because of its very famous resident, George Clooney, who is living part-time in his beautiful period time villa in Cernobbio, a village right on the western shore of Lake Como and opposite the city of Como. However, the region of Lake Como is also known for its large period style mansions either direct on the lake or nestled on the hills surrounding the lake with beautiful panoramic views.

Just recently, I came across a fascinating remodeling of a former monastery located in the outskirts of the city of Como which has been converted into a residential complex where the young architecture firm JM Architecture connected two adjacent units into a stunning duplex apartment.

The shape of the original units is clearly enhanced by the different pitched ceiling direction as well as by their different heights. The architect and owner of JM Architecture, Jacopo Mascheroni, thought to keep the shell intact, maintaining the entire length of the unit open and invading the space minimally. In a result to that, he placed an enclosed box on one side containing a small bedroom and two bathrooms. The rest of the unit is dominated by a huge open space featuring all the main functions of the home. When entering the home through the main entry, the very small foyer creates a sense of compression before entering the main gallery where the spacious open living space features a grandiose living area, open kitchen and dining, all separated from the master bedroom by a lacquered block. A great gimmick is a video projector who is screening pictures on the wall above the kitchen. To allow the maximum projection surface, the upper kitchen cabinets are hidden behind the wall and slide down with a motorized system. An almost sculptural element of the home is the staircase, which is an assembled steel beam with open treads made by a cantilever steel plate covered in wood. Jacopo Mascheroni explains further characteristics and details of its work: “Canadian maple has been carefully selected for the hardwood floors, and since maple wood isn’t stable with radiant floor heating, the floor planks were custom built with 2.5mm Canadian maple top and back layers on a particle board. The 20cm width of the floor planks modulate the position of all the elements, from the walls to the millwork. The floor planks also run up the master suite wall, which is lit by an upper light cove.

All perimeter walls and ceilings hide an additional layer of thermal insulation and the bathrooms are equipped with radiant panels in the ceiling. The walls adjacent to other units have been covered with a led layer to give additional acoustical insulation. Glacier white Corian is used for counter tops and sinks in the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms, for the bath-tub, showers and parts of the bathroom walls. The house is fully automated and is managed by a server located in the studio on the second level. Everything has been custom designed, including the entire kitchen, bathroom sinks, beds, dining table, desks and bath-tub.”

Without a doubt, this duplex is a great example of Italian design and architecture skills and is fascinating by its minimalistic style and ingenuity.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Marrakech is still a destination of interest and with the sale of Yves Saint Laurent former house in Tangier, the country is once again the focus point of many of the city slickers from around the globe. The country features a variety of country sides and fairytale like city living what makes it one of the most sought after it-destinations on the African continent. Besides Marrakech, the red city with its oriental style souks and colourful life throughout the whole city, with its medina and beautiful riads is only one attraction to many of us, but there is much more to explore and one of Morocco’s latest destinations is upcountry, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. This part of Morocco is quite different to the bustling life of Marrakech’s ancient city, but still attracts foreigners who are fascinated by valleys, which are not dissimilar to rural Mallorca or Andalusia and which are only an hour’s drive out of the city. But, despite the increasing interest in locations outside Marrakech’s such as Ouirgane, Marrakech itself still leads the pole position for people demanding living like in the Thousand and One Nights. Although the proliferation of riads may be abating, but the city is still top of the wish list of many individuals such as iconic celebrities as well as many luxury hotel groups like Roco Forte, Gordon Campell Gray, Four Seasons, Banyan Tree and Park Hyatt who all have designs on the city.

I define two major areas within Marrakech where people looking for their dream oriental style hideaway. The Palmeraie, a 10-minute jaunt northeast from the city by air-conditioned 4WD, has been Marrakesh’s most salubrious and expensive area, with beautiful and huge sized villas. A bit more sought-after, but very rare to find are beautiful renovated riads within the Medina of Marrakech. The supply of top-end luxury riads within the Medina and right next to Marrakech’s famous souks and the Djemaa el Fna, the so called “meeting point of Africa”, is rather limited and mostly quiet marketed. Please click here to see two outstanding examples of fabulous Moroccan riads.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

With 7 of 10 positions, European cities dominate the ranking for cities offering the best quality of lifestyle world wide. Swiss cities Zurich and Geneva almost retaining last year’s ranking and scores and hold position two and three while Vienna moved up one position from 2nd to 1st this year. The survey released by the Mercer consultancy last month cited not just Vienna’s affordability but also its improved political and social environment, its safety record, leisure offerings, cleanliness and excellent infrastructure as reasons for its top quality-of-life ranking, which put it ahead of Zurich, Switzerland, for the first time. The real estate market of Vienna is quite stable and in some city quarters prices are even climbed up. The quality of real estate belongs to one of the best within Europe. There are beautiful restored apartment buildings offering great living in top of the line renovated flats. Crown moldings, parquet floors, central heating and all modern amenities are only a few of the high standards to mention here. Neighborhoods like Grinzing and Hietzing are amongst the most sought-after living quarter in Vienna and feature beautiful mansions and villas offering the highest comfort and quality of life.

Source: Mercer Consultancy, Financial Times, Citymajors.com

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Florence – a well known medieval town on the Arno River, right in the heart of famous Tuscany region. It often gets called the “Italian Athens” because of its cultural importance in art. The city – founded in 59 B.C. – got its name by Julius Caesar who named the city after the “Roman goddess of flowers and growth of plant”. A long time, the city didn’t play a role like Pisa or Lucca, but around the 14th and 15th century it became very important and set ne standards in European’s art and culture scene. Many famous artists like Donatello, Botticelli and later on Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilee moved to Florence and the cultural history epoch of the Renaissance emerged. Today, Florence still host numerous samples of its rich history what makes the city a must go to visit when you travel to Italy. The city is also home of HQ of Gucci (one of the few labels not headquartered in Milano) and of some important branch offices of Prada and Roberto Cavalli, just to name a few.

A beautiful, classic style Florentine country estate, built in the 19th century and designed by architect Poggi (one of the Florence’s greatest architects), just came on to the market. Situated in a very convenient distance to the city centre of Florence and the airport sits this estate on almost 100 hectares of private land with woods and olives groves as well formal gardens and a lake. The main villa, stretching over three floors, is beautiful restored and boasts awesome views of the gardens and the surrounding countryside.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Now, Latin America has its first and only hand made island in one of the best locations of South/Middle America – Panama. Ocean Reef is situated just in front of Panama City’s ocean front skyline in a stunning and spectacular location as a private residential community of only 138 home sites to be built in the Gulf of cosmopolitan Panama City. The development consists of two islands featuring a variety of unique low density home sites, available with different areas and dimensions that redefine waterfront property ownership. Special feature: A harbour will be created for a 200+ wet slip marina, owners lounge, harbour master office, crew quarters. World class fishing and unspoiled islands 30+ nautical miles away. Not to forget about the great financial opportunities – The investment approach could be for personal use, yield or both.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Tuscany, a synonym for gently rolling hills, a picturesque countryside with rural farmhouses, olive groves, vineyards and sunshine almost through the whole year. More and more people are attracted to the charm of theses old traditional Tuscan farmhouses and looking to purchase their very own dream of the Tuscan lifestyle.

In great position, slightly elevated on a knobby hillside plot, with countryside to ocean views and only 30 minutes from the sea and only 40km from Livorno, is situated a rare and well restored former abbey turned into cottage. The charming property has been carefully restored under the use of the original building materials to bring back the old charm and keep its great typical Tuscan style.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz