Seven of the world ’ s most acclaimed architects have been invited to design seven villas , creating the ultimate representation of their ethos and aesthetic , tailor made for the site and climate . Each villa sits on a private and secure 10,000 square metre ( one hectare ) plot , yet the hope is that the seven owners and their families will ultimately come together , finding shared ground in the journeys that have brought them to this place .
In many respects , La Reserva is the culmination of the Sotogrande project . Founded in 1962 , the community was a refined and discrete destination from the outset , intended as a place to escape from an increasingly media-saturated world . On this sheltered coast , residents found privacy with style in amongst an environment of exceptional quality , from the design and materials used to the way that space , light and architecture reached out to embrace the Spanish skies . These twenty square kilometres have now served as a distinctive retreat for many decades , with five worldacclaimed golf clubs , some of the world ’ s best Polo fields , tennis and racquet clubs , sailing facilities , an equestrian centre and 1,400 berth marina , as well as a selection of the region ’ s best restaurants .
La Reserva shares all this and more . The seven villas are the work of some of the biggest names in contemporary architecture , including Ben van Berkel of the Amsterdam-based UNStudio , best known for their fluid , elegant villas and bold , sculptural towers . Carlos Ferrater , who heads up the Office of Architecture in Barcelona brings a distinctive angular twist to the white-walled perfectionism of Mediterranean Modern , creating public and private spaces that are refined , gracious and bold . The London office of Philip Gumuchdjian has worked all over the world , with works ranging from tiny boathouses to a collaboration with the legendary Japanese architect Shigeru Ban on the Pompidou Gallery in Metz , France . The Valencian practice of Fran Silvestre shares a delight in the abstract and architectonic possibilities of solids and voids . Silvestre ’ s white-walled architecture is never plain , but always spectacular - an abstract canvas for living . Jan Jensen , founding partner of the Oslo firm of Jensen & Skodvin , creates buildings with a strong connection to their environment , emphasising natural materials and traditional craft in a modern shell . Marcio Kogan , founder of Studio Mk27 in São Paolo , has a similarly close relationship with materials and place , while the Swedish architect Andreas Martin- Löf creates houses that frame their spectacular surroundings .
Sotogrande will provide the perfect canvas for these seven skilled practitioners . Each house will share a sense of grand scale and great occasion , translated through seven very different architectural approaches but all including spacious entertaining rooms and living areas , as well as facilities like pools , wine cellars , gyms and media rooms , staff accommodation , ample parking and studios or art rooms . Amenities include access to Sotogrande ’ s long-established facilities as well as the private new Country Club currently under construction at La Reserva . Here will be an exceptional health and wellness spa , lagoons , tennis club , trails for cyclying , horseriding or strolling , and plenty of activities dedicated exclusively to children ’ s enjoyment .
This is a landscape steeped in prehistoric legacy , with a crucial role in the history of modern Spain . Wildlife abounds around the surrounding 1,500-hectare nature reserve , with its rare marshland and many indigenous species . Jean Mus ’ vision for the landscape embraces Sotogrande ’ s wild and beautiful nature , with authentic Mediterranean flora mixed with hard landscaping that utilises the long-standing Spanish tradition of building with stone .
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