The return of Mediterranean styles in Marbella property

Louise Swan, February 2020 | CSR news and articles of interest

The past few years have seen a veritable love affair with all things modern, white and sleek in Marbella architecture and property development, but just lately new trends have started taking things in a different direction.

In the boom years before the financial crisis, the Costa del Sol increasingly moved away from the traditional white-washed geometry of its Hispano-Moorish roots. Moroccan and Mediterranean influences, adapted shapes and layouts, as well as a move towards a more cream and terracotta-based colour palette.

The years following the financial crisis saw a clear divide, as architects and property developers embraced sleek, straight-lined modernity in which white-washed walls, glass, and chrome played an important role. It marked a return to white, but for the rest, the villas and apartments built since 2010 have been very different to anything that came before.

Mediterranean style villa for sale in Marbella

The demand for 21st-century comfort and technology

Even more impactful than the design revolution has been the unmistakable shift towards Costa del Sol homes with high-tech features such as home automation (domotics), energy efficiency, the latest build standards, and modern materials.

Today’s buyers want automated lighting, sound control, home entertainment, shutters, climate control and if possible it should be voice-activated and/or operated from their smartphones. Along with this modernising trend have come sleeker styling, splash pools and Jacuzzis on apartment and penthouse terraces, modern lighting and ever more sophisticated terraces and on-site amenities.

These include gyms and indoor spas in villas and apartment complexes, as well as lifestyle areas with fire pits, modern gas fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and BBQ zones, professional-looking bars and a host of other state-of-the-art features.

Combining modern luxury and Mediterranean style

Now, however, more and more architects are reporting a desire for a change among their clients. Modern comfort, quality, technical amenities, and open-plan living are still very much on the wish list, but now increasingly combined with the inclusion of more traditional design elements and natural materials.

This means a partial shift away from white to also include earthier colours, a return of angled ceilings with modern roof tiles, ever-more energy-efficient construction methods and also a trend towards more drought-resistant gardens. In all, today’s Marbella home is becoming more comfortable, sustainable and natural, with a growing focus among homeowners and property developers alike to comply with energy certifications such as BREEAM and the Passivhaus concept.

In other words, Marbella villas and apartments for sale now are in touch with international trends in design, décor, layout, and construction, and reflect what today’s buyers want from a luxury home in the sun.

Contact the Callum Swan team for more information about properties for sale in Marbella and surroundings.

Mediterranean style villas for sale in Marbella

6 Beds 6 Baths 702 m² Built 2349 m² Plot

This contemporary villa is located on the front line of Aloha Golf, in a gated exclusive and private community, with 24 hours’ security. Located in a lovely and peaceful area, the villa is a short ...

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Callum Swan, Marbella luxury estate agent +34 952 81 06 08