Sotogrande Costa… regenerating itself
We have all sat at a diner party, or over coffee, when person X will ask person Y where in London they live. It could of course be Paris or Madrid, the same applies. Person Y will name an up-and-coming area, or a hip-yet-well-off area. It is the hip area which most appeals. This can be a certain postcode area and even a particular street within a postcode area.
Sotogrande is no different. Person X may live on the Costa side, and only considers this geographic area to be the REAL Sotogrande. New arrivals today have a choice between La Reserva de Sotogrande (currently still a lot of developing), Sotogrande Alto (developed, yet room for growth) and the Costa side (aging, under redevelopment, and most desirable). Individuals will prefer one or the other depending on personal preference. However, after a while, many, will aspire to be located on the Costa side. The area known as the Kings and Queens remains the most desirable location to reside.
So, if Kings and Queens is still trendy… why did Sotogrande Costa need a redevelopment?
As a sixty-year-old urbanisation, Sotogrande has homes that were built during the sixties, a time when was a place to visit during the summer months. Today many of these homes are dated and no longer fit for purpose either due to antiquated design or materials used. Although they sit on the best plots, they may have no heating or air conditioning, or have shielded windows that make them dark. The architectural style would be strictly Andalusian, whereas modern contemporary design, can now be used as building materials can cope with the heat and light in the summer, and cold in the winter. Use of holiday homes in Sotogrande now covers all months of the year. This has been driven by improved infrastructure (better roads, flight cost and connections, railroad speed, better building materials etc) and technology (fast internet, and transportable computer tools). In the last year we can even argue that Covid-19 has also driven demand due to the attractiveness of living in a low dense area, with open spaces and few neighbouring people.
The photographs attached to this article, all taken in December 2020, and are examples the variety of “new projects” we are currently witnessing in the Kings and Queens area of Sotogrande. These vary from simple refurbishment, to full rebuilds on premium plots which are worth considerably more than the old properties that used to sit on them.
So, you see, Sotogrande behaves in the same way as major capitals of the world. Every urban area will have its own “Kings and Queens” !
Thank you for your interest, contact me if you need anything, Charles Gubbins.
✉ charles.gubbins@noll-sotogrande.com
? +34 607 911 661
??? Noll Sotogrande Real Estate
In association with Chestertons Global
