A Jaunty Video for the Time Poor: How much does it cost to build a house in Spain?
Author: Eco Vida Homes is a team of Architects, Technical Architects, Builders, an Engineer, and a Chartered Surveyor. We help people design and build beautiful energy efficient homes designed for Mediterranean living in Marbella and Southern Spain. There are two things that make us stand out: a sharp focus on our clients’ needs and everyContinue reading
Architects Fees Marbella and Costa del Sol
What does an architect charge in Marbella and the Costa del Sol? Conventionally they charge a percentage of the build cost. While there are no mandatory rates almost all architects quote the standard rates of their colegio. The percentages vary according to the scale of the project. The Architects Colleges that supervise the architects inContinue reading
Can You Have Separate Suppliers Independent of the Main Contractor?
We recently had a client suggest that an element of the build was provided by a separate supplier independent of the main contractor. He was quite reasonably trying to save money. He had a price from the separate supplier to do one thing. He knew that if the supplier became a subcontractor, then the mainContinue reading
An Evaluation of the Property Market in Spain 2019 and 2020
Barbara Wood, the foremost buyer’s agent in Spain, has written a detailed and erudite article about the prospects for the property market in Spain in 2020. She has analysed the data in detail, and combined this with her considerable experience, to produce some well-informed insights. Here is the article on her website. And here areContinue reading
The Value of an Independent Building Plot Appraisal by Experienced Architect
We do a plot appraisal without charge. I think in our business this is probably the most important thing we do. It’s essential for our clients, probably more than they think, and it gives us a chance to show case who we are. In the article below I describe why it’s so essential for theContinue reading
Eco Vida Homes has been appointed Project Managers for 3 spectacular villas in Los Flamingos, Benahavis
Our client is a Belgian Property Developer. These are truly spectacular villas with the highest specification. The sizes are 415 sq m, 315 sqm and 649 sq m. We are project managers and the supervising architectural team (direccion facultativa) for the works and should start on site within the calendar year 2019.
Continue readingCan you sell electricity back to the grid in Spain?
I have been doing a little research because the question has come up especially for one of our clients for whom we are designing a Passive House in Sotogrande. Actually the question we are facing is do we need batteries or can we use the grid as a giant battery and this question “Can youContinue reading
Solar Orientation and Mediterranean Villa Design
The Grandfather Approach and Nuca I thought you might be interested to read what Domingo Cardenas, our head architect, recently wrote to one of our clients. It gives you a great insight into how we work and who we are. I have corrected only the odd spelling so, apart from that, these are Domingo’s exactContinue reading
Complete Modernisation of a 196Os villa near Marbella
This is orginally a 1960s villa that we have completely renovated. We opened up the inside to make a large open plan kitchen living room with access directly onto the shaded terrace. The appearance, energy efficiency, and ergonomics have been completely transformed.
Continue readingVilla Aurora El Madroñal Currently Under Construction 2019
This is a real dream home so well designed and in such a wonderful location and well placed to make the most of this perfect climate. It’s called Villa Aurora, the goddess of dawn, because it faces South East. A video and many more details can be seen here. A key feature is the roofContinue reading