Luxury Real Estate

By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate

The year is 1888. 12 years later, distinguished Athens architect Ioannis Moussis will take home an award from the Paris International Exhibition of 1900 in the Architecture class. But first, the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris graduate would build a beautiful 1000 sqm mansion in Kifissia.

The somewhat exuberant exoticism of Kifissia’s 19th century villas was remarked upon by Osbert Sitwell in the ‘30s as being “quite unique”. Indeed, Moussis modeled this particular villa after the fashion of the times—it was built in the “romantic medievalist” style, complete with its own turret. Originally built of massive stone blocks with carved stone detailing, the most recent renovation dates to 2010.

The details are not dedicated to the exterior of the historic mansion. The most remarkable artistic feature of the villa is the monumental carved marble mantelpiece in the main reception area. It was created by Ioannis Vitsaris (1844 – 1892), one of the most famous Greek sculptors of the late 19th century. As an unparalleled example of Hellenic sculptural art, the mantelpiece was transported to the Paris Exhibition of 1900 at the expense of the Greek State and exhibited at the Grand Palais where it was awarded a Gold Medal.

Throughout the course of its existence the villa has been linked to important historic personalities and events in Modern Greek history, all contributing to the modern day significance and appeal of the beautiful, historic home.

€9,900,000 EUR

Courtesy of Stuart Silk

(Stuart Silk is a featured keynote speaker at the upcoming LuxuryRealEstate.com Fall Conference)

Removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvigorate Seattle's central waterfront and create a string of parks, public gathering areas, and people places. In doing so, downtown will be reconnected to the Elliott Bay waterfront and realize its full potential of becoming Seattle's front porch for visitors and the living room for those who live and work here.

If Seattle seizes this magnificent opportunity, it will join a worldwide movement of cities that have been studying the challenges, opportunities, and solutions for their old waterfronts during the past 50 years. More about these other cities below.

Click here to link to the full story.

By Frederick Peters of Warburg Realty

Yesterday my wife Alexandra and I were taking the ferry across Victoria Bay between Hong Kong and Kowloon. We were looking at the architecturally fascinating Hong Kong skyline, when I noticed a big building going up, right on the water, designed by architect Robert A. M. Stern.


 

The building is in its early stages and it was impossible to see if it would conform to the Neoclassical Stern paradigm we have become familiar with in New York, in which a graceful Neoclassical red brick tower articulated with limestone rises from a limestone base. But it did start me thinking about a certain sort of nouveau prewar product of which Stern’s building The Chatham, on 65th and Third, was an early example, and what distinguishes the newly constructed apartments of today from their counterparts of 20 years ago.

The distinction is space. Most apartments built in the 50’s and 60’s favored the notion of efficiency.  Hallway and foyer space were minimal, and ceilings were low. Formal dining rooms were abandoned in favor of the dining area. The architects of the time concentrated on fitting as many units as possible into the allotted floorplate. With very few exceptions even the “luxury” product of the period felt decidedly utilitarian.

Today’s new buildings have once again embraced the pre-war idea that space is the ultimate luxury. Their architects appreciate that there is no such thing as “wasted space.”  The sense of entry created by a spacious foyer, the sense of grace created by a formal dining room, and the understanding that height and volume are as important as square footage demonstrate the debt these architects feel to Rosario Candela, J.E.R. Carpenter, and Emery Roth, the Big 3 architects from the golden age of New York apartment construction in the 20’s and 30’s.

This change in design fundamentally altered buying patterns in the city. As better crafted, more spacious apartments like those in the Chatham became the norm in the new construction market, formerly die hard pre-war co-op owners began to flock to them, finally able to get contemporary amenities (and blister free walls!) without having to sacrifice space, ceiling height, or layout.  Nothing has been more significant in contributing to the democratization of the city’s many neighborhoods than this transformation in the planning and construction quality of new building inventory. Today, everyone lives everywhere, and this is a big part of the reason why!

Courtesy of: George Penner of deasy/penner&partners

Los Angeles, CA (March 19, 2010) – deasy/penner&partners( www.homeasart.com ),a Southern California-based luxury real estate firm focusing on design-centric and architecturally significant homes and estates, is pleased to announce that Mike Deasy and George Penner are representing The Canyon House designed by the architectural firm of Cigolle X Coleman - located at 455 Upper Mesa Road, Santa Monica, CA

Designed originally for the architects’ young family, this compound in steel, copper & glass, is softened by hardwood floors, colorful tiles and the verdancy of Rustic Canyon’s forest. Top level atelier with separate entrances. Indoor/outdoor living room has fireplace & full-length patio platform. Eat-in kitchen with island. Separate but informal dining, family & media library rooms. Master suite with fireplace, bath and closets. Double children’s bedroom & two bathrooms with playroom. Guest wing with bath and tower retreat with additional bath. Lower pavilion overlooks lawnscape with swimmers pool. Two car garage and motorcourt. Virtually all rooms access outdoors via garden, deck or terraces. Sited on a double lot overlooking canyon, palisade and Pacific, midway between Uplifters Park and Will Rogers Beach.

The property is listed at $5,295,000. For more information, please see: (http://www.deasypenner.com or the property website at: http://www.deasypenner.com/propertydetails.php?property_ID=1990 ) Contact Mike Deasy or George Penner at deasy/penner&partners directly: 310.275.1000.

deasy/penner&partners diverse architectural reach extends from Malibu to Palm Springs, with offices in Venice, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Palm Springs. They bring decades of experience and unmatched expertise in sourcing and representing home as art. Over the past 35+ years, their team has been active players in the Southern California architectural movement, having represented some of the region's most significant estate and architectural properties by the likes of Irving Gill, Richard Neutra, Marston & Van Pelt, Rudolph Schindler, John Lautner, Craig Elwood, Ray Kappe, Raphael Soriano, Buff & Hensman, Gregory Ain and Donald Wexler –as well as contemporary talents: Frank Gehry, Philippe Stark, Lorcan O'Herlihy, Steven Ehrlich, Johnston Marklee, Michael Sant, Patrick Tighe, Koning Eizenberg, Marmol Radziner, Scott Johnson, Stephen Kanner, Predock_Frane and Cigolle X Coleman.

For more information on deasy/penner&partners, please contact George Penner: 310.275.1000.

By Gary De Martini of Hill & Co. Real Estate

San Francisco, CA – November 3, 2009 – Architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970) has long been considered one of Modernism’s most important architects. His design thought has been described as being based on a proposed “new realism” of focus; the realism of the “needs of the user,” the human. His concentration was based on designing specific relations among rooms and outdoor views. His open floor plan, wide expanses of glass, and use of industrial finishes have withstood the test of time and are popular choices for modern living today.

The home now for sale at 2056-2058 Jefferson is a stunning example of the Neutra style of architecture in a prime San Francisco location, near the Palace of Fine Arts and Marina.

The building includes two flats plus a studio. The upper three bedroom, three bath unit occupies two levels, with an expansive roof terrace off the master suite that affords Golden Gate & bay views. The penthouse level also houses a 600-bottle wine room. The lower unit has the same footprint of the upper's main floor, with two bedrooms and two baths. The property includes a gorgeous garden, plus a four-car garage and a dumbwaiter from the garage to every floor.

A local newspaper once explained how home owners engaging Neutra played a significant role in shaping the design of the home itself. “What may have contributed to the individuality of a Neutra design was part of the process that was unique for architects at the time: to methodically inquire, using detailed questionnaires, what the owners of the homes truly wanted, allowing them to define the true needs for their residences.” This was indeed a remarkable approach, displaying an astonishing ability to address practical lifestyle needs coupled with brilliant architectural design.

2056-2058 Jefferson was built for Dr. William Schiff and Dr. Ernest Wolfes in 1938. The current owner – an architect – purchased the building from original owner, Ilse Schiff, in 1993 and has spent the last decade restoring the building with remarkable care and precision.

Neutra’s affinity for designing spaces which incorporate the outdoors through seemingly transparent walls of windows is evident throughout all the living areas. Overall, the property is a stunning example of the Bauhaus style of architecture in a prime San Francisco location. The Schiff house was featured in the Architectural Record of 1939 and Sunset Magazine in April 2005, along with many other publications.

More photos and information on this very special property can be found at www.2058Jefferson.com. Private showings can be arranged by contacting Hill & Co. Real Estate’s Caroline Kahn Werboff at (415) 321-4260.

Please Note: Sources for this piece include Richard Neutra Complete Works by Barbara Mac Lamprecht, and Time Magazine’s cover story on Neutra in August of 1949.

Hill & Co.

Founded in 1956, Hill & Co. Real Estate is a San Francisco brokerage long associated with the City’s finest properties. With four offices and nearly 100 full-time agents, the company enables clients to successfully navigate San Francisco’s complex real estate market. Two additional Hill & Co. offices provide property management and rental services. For more information, visit www.hill-co.com.

By Melody Brown of Zephyr Real Estate

Former residence of prolific San Francisco artists, Frank Brown and William Campbell, is for sale.

San Francisco, CA – June 4, 2009 – More than a century after its humble beginnings, when cows grazed the hilltop separating NoeValley from Eureka Valley, this dignified Victorian home offers a colorful glimpse of neighborhood history unique to San Francisco.Now part of the Dolores Heights Special Use District, a designation established in 1980 to preserve the unique character defined by the historic architecture and dramatic topography of the area, 3733 21st Street occupies a doublewide city lot at the crest of the hilltop. Appreciated as much for its sunny microclimate as for its architectural diversity, Dolores Heights has emerged as a premiere neighborhood, positioned close to the heart of the city, yet easily missed by both tourists and natives.

Based on available records, the Victorian structure was apparently built around 1885. The home is noted in two local publications including Here and Now and Painted Ladies, San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians. While its dignified symmetrical façade with center entry and brick stair captures the hearts of any passer by, the story of its inhabitants is even more compelling.

In 1955 the home was purchased for $9,500 by Frank Brown and William Campbell, both artists and lifelong companions who probably met first at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland where Campbell was teaching after World War II. While it is known that Campbell had exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art in the 1930s and 40s, their engagement in the art community likely ended in the mid 50s, yet they continued to work. Only after Brown’s death in 2000, was it learned just how dedicated these men were to their art.

When the current owners took occupancy of the home in 2000, along with the house, they inherited a lifetime collection of artifacts and personal belongings. Among these belongings, stored in furniture, closets and the home’s full-length walk-around attic, were the life’s work of the two artists. After years of careful excavation and cataloging, a collection of 793 paintings was recovered.

The collection documents a diversity of styles that reflected the decades of the painters’ lives. Frank Brown’s work includes illustrations, traditional still lifes, landscapes and figuratives, as well as cubist, abstract, fantasy and surreal. William Campbell’s work encompasses early muted-palette still lifes, vibrant Mexican landscapes, traditional figuratives and nudes, and surreal/abstract forms and renderings. After years of research, documentation and editing, the current owner is publishing a catalog in honor of the extraordinary body of work left behind by these talented individuals.

The same level of respect has been given to the structure as to the paintings. In 2001 a new roof was installed to protect the building and its contents followed by numerous upgrades including the addition of a driveway at the east side. A new concrete perimeter foundation was completed in 2005 along with other seismic upgrades.

At the interior, the spacious central entry hallway still functions as a gallery. Off the central hallway, the double parlor, illuminated by a square bay window, features a well-preserved carved marble fireplace surround, original six-panel doors and softwood flooring. Tall Victorian-era ceilings and substantial turned woodwork, suit the scale of the living spaces. Two gracious bedrooms connected by a walkthrough closet, common in that era, remain intact at the opposite side of the entry hall. In the back, the kitchen and dining spaces are now enhanced by a newly-created opening to the adjoining sunroom, providing a lovely vista of the expansive and lush backyard. The top floor living space, previously a painting studio, now provides gracious guest quarters with wonderful southern vistas.

Having housed this emerging collection of work for more than half a century, the property will be offered for sale by Zephyr Real Estate in mid-June. Though the personal belongings will be edited to accommodate visitors, excerpts from the Campbell & Brown collection of paintings will remain on display as a tribute to the wonderful heritage that makes this residence an important part of the Dolores Heights community.

For further information the sale of this remarkable property, please contact the listing agents, Harry Clark at harry@getreal-sf.com or Danny Fernandez at danny@getreal-sf.com, or visit their website, www.GetReal-SF.com.

About Zephyr Real Estate

Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco’s largest independent real estate firm with $1.1 billion in gross annual sales in 2008 and a current roster of more than 250 full-time agents. Zephyr has seven offices strategically located in San Francisco and serves a large customer base throughout the City. For information, visit www.zephyrsf.com.

From The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Paula Berthelot of Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate

Perched high in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico is unparalleled in its richness of history, arts and culture. Signature adobe architecture and old world charm combine with culinary sophistication and a creative flair to make the city one of the country's most fascinating destinations.

History & Activities

One of the best-preserved cities in the United States, Santa Fe is an ancient city with a distinctive architecture borne out of its remote location and use of local materials. Dozens of historic sites transport visitors back in time, from ancient Native American ruins and Spanish Colonial churches to mining towns and remnants of the nation's Wild West frontier days. Historic walking tours showcase the spirit of Santa Fe, both old and new, most notably the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the country. The revitalized Santa Fe Railyard now serves as a lively downtown commercial and residential hub, containing shops, galleries, restaurants, farmer's market as well as an outdoor park and performance space.

Art & Culture

Santa Fe has long been a center for arts and culture. It now ranks as the country's third largest art market with over 250 galleries and dealers. Perhaps most famous as the home of artist Georgia O'Keefe, Santa Fe boasts more than a dozen major museums showcasing an array of art, culture, history and traditions. Art galleries and boutiques line Canyon Road while Native American vendors representing 19 Pueblos and three tribes can be found everyday under the portal at the Palace of Governors, selling jewelry and handmade goods. The annual Indian, Spanish and Folk Art markets provide opportunities not found anywhere else in the county.

Outdoor Adventures

Surrounded by more than 1.5 million acres of national forest and the 12,500-foot Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe offers year-round outdoor adventure. The breathtaking scenery is an ideal backdrop for hiking, biking, skiing or rafting. With an average of 300 days of sunshine and blue sky, the time is always right to stroll through lush landscapes, explore nature trails at the National Audubon Society center or attend a wine festival in the country’s earliest wine-producing region.

Submitted by Paula in Santa Fe at: March 12, 2009 I moved to Santa Fe about 11 years ago after many visits. Although I will always be a Texan in my heart, I have adopted this wonderful place and have enjoyed every moment I have lived here. If you plan to visit anytime in the near future, you can contact me at Prudential Santa Fe Real Estate, 505/988-3700, and I will give you the latest and greatest restaurants etc,

By Donna Sapolin
From her magazine article: Decorati Designer Feature: Robert Passal, Style Infusion

Welcome to a designer feature by Decorati, the online resource for high-end interior design. In this post, we are featuring New York-based interior designer Robert Passal, who has transformed this 2,200-square-foot apartment on Manhattan’s tony upper eastside. See below for some tips that you can use for staging your next home.

His mission: to diffuse the banality of new construction by administering a healthy dose of visual intrigue to heartily lived-in, white-box rooms devoid of interior architecture.

Designed for a couple with two infants, his furnishings plan shuns the sort of precious, hands-off quality that some elegant schemes engender and, instead, welcomes the thrills and spills of everyday life with wear-resistant surfaces and a few colors that politely refuse to show the (sometimes grubby) touch of human hands. Passal’s design concept focused on the creation of dimension and interest through geometry and texture.

LIVING ROOM:

“I use art lamps all over, even in unexpected places, like [in] a powder room over a toilet.”

Entrants to the living room are struck by a strong sense of interior architecture forged by the grid work frame of a Holly Hunt armchair, the x-shaped bottoms of two leather stools, the circular form of a brushed steel B & B Italia side table, and the rectangular shapes of a glass-topped copper Martha Sturdy coffee table and custom-designed cantilevered media cabinet.

DINING ROOM:

The geometric motifs extend to the dining room where a pair of Oly leather chairs and a custom banquette sidle up to an oak table supported by two trios of x-shaped legs. Passal painted the baseboards a deep chocolate tone and carried the color across the bottoms of the Belgian linen drapes, into the cotton velvet upholstery on the banquette and onto its stained base.

“Whenever I am short on surfaces in a room, I use the dining table for art – here, I placed a cast bronze sculpture under the fixture.”


Editor’s Note:
The full version of this article can be found in Decorati’s Access Magazine. Donna Sapolin has written a number of articles for this magazine, and they are definitely worth checking out. This looks like a great luxury property. Luxury Real Estate recently partnered with Decorati to share content between the two sites. You can find my “Hot Spots for Yachts” article from the spring 2008 issue of LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine published on Decorati here. Very exciting!

By Iain Stewart

As recently reported by Nadine Hawa in her CNBC article “International Brands Eye Dubai Real Estate,” all eyes are on Dubai at this moment. In her article, Hawa notes that world-famous real-estate developer Donald Trump is particularly interested in “The Palm Jumeirah.” While many other international luxury brands are also seeking to build new luxury developments in Dubai, current new constructions, such as Verde Residences and Offices, are going totally green and present the most innovative eco-friendly technologies and amenities.

The Power of Green
Spanish for the color green, Verde symbolizes the very essence of life and all things living in perfect harmony with the elements. An expression that conjures up a sense of wellness and optimism for the future of our planet, Verde reinforces the eternal belief that making peace with nature is prerequisite to making peace in the world and finding peace within VERDE.

Verde – The Project
The next big thing in contemporary lifestyle, Verde elevates environmental consciousness to a whole new level. Towering over the clear blue skies of the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre that is Dubai Maritime City, Verde Residences and Offices are designed to achieve Gold Standard rating (LEED). It combines the best of luxury and green engineering to offer you a new investment opportunity in the most exciting freehold waterfront community in the heart of Dubai.

Like the prow of a ship, the elegantly curved glass tower that is Verde Residences points directly towards the harbor, enhancing its relationship to the ocean and marina, and its prominence within Dubai Maritime City. Masterfully designed to open up panoramic views to the ocean, Verde’s orientation and shape allows it to shield itself from the strongest solar gain yet harness the wind, and features an integrated wind turbine at its top, where wind speeds are the greatest.



Verde Residences
The 40-story residence tower includes luxurious 2- & 3-bedroom residential units and 4-bedroom deluxe harbor-side townhomes. With a swimming pool, kids’ pool, gymnasium and world-class retail and leisure facilities, Verde Residences offer a plethora of amenities that bring day and night alive.

Verde Offices
At the heart of Dubai Maritime City, the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre, Verde Offices set a new international standard for a high-performance building. Shaped to harness the power of natural forces, Verde Offices utilize advanced technologies and climate appropriate building systems to offer tenant profitability through increased productivity. With podium offices and the unique sky garden, Verde Offices offer various exercise and leisure spaces that are embellished with trees, plants and generous water features; an oasis that promises a respite within the confines of the high-end business experience.

The Location
Dubai Maritime City, the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre, is a 227-hectare, fully-equipped, iconic and multi-dimensional maritime centre providing a world-class infrastructure and environment for the global maritime industry and related sectors. Dubai Maritime City is driven by the needs of both local and international marine and maritime communities for a dedicated hub.

Located at the heart of Dubai, next to Port Rashid, Dubai Maritime City capitalizes on the strengths of Dubai as a regional and international hub for trade and commerce, redefining the global maritime industry. It will provide a strategic location for the maritime industry sectors across the full spectrum of maritime business, maritime management, maritime services, maritime retail and recreation, maritime education and research, ship and yacht repair and maintenance.

Green Technology
Buildings can have a profound effect on the environment, and the way we live our everyday lives. And Green Building brings to life the philosophy that architecture must strike a balance with its environment. It is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources – energy, water and materials, while reducing the building’s impact on the environment through better site planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance. Verde, like a classic Green Building, takes advantage of renewable resources, through solar hot water, photovoltaic cells, a grey water system, and an efficient glass facade with integral shading devices, to name a few of the techniques to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding environment, natural and constructed. The triumph of Green Building practices and sustainable systems in Verde can reduce electricity usage and carbon emissions to such an extent that it is as good as planting over 300,000 trees or taking 340 cars off the road.


Editor’s Note:
Iain Stewart is the Luxury Specialist at Whole World of Property. He is a highly respected figure in the international property industry, specializing mostly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Berlin, Caribbean, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and India. He can be contacted at +44 (0)207 788 7994 or +44 07910 891 917. This is great – a blog entry on Dubai just after we heard from an expert on another city rising in international importance, Marrakech, Morocco. It’s great to see so many Luxury Real Estate members enjoying success in their global markets