As a new year dawns – hopefully one in which sustainable development and environmental considerations are at the forefront of governments’, housebuilders’ and the public’s mind – we thought it is high time we rounded up the latest happenings at the 40-plus eco-developments featured on whatgreenhome.com.
award winners
Eco-developments profiled on whatgreenhome.com were feted at the annual Homes Overseas Magazine Awards 2007. Pezula, South Africa, won the coveted Developer of the Year, as well as a gold medals for Best House – South Africa; and Best Luxury Development. Alma Verde Village & Spa, Portugal, was highly commended – essentially runner up to Pezula. The resort on the western Algarve also won a silver medal for Best Sustainable Development. Three Sisters Mountain Village, Canada, won a silver medal in the category too; Pezula won the bronze. Other eco-homes featured on whatgreenhome.com that won awards include: The Village Coconut Island, and Pierre & Vacances.
it’s cold outside
The developers of St Martin Chalets, Austria, report that there’s been an early winter this year, the ski season is in full swing and the gluhwein pots are steaming! On the environmental side (that’s why we are here – ed!), the tanks for the plant oil are eagerly awaiting their first fill and the show chalet is up with its larch roof and triple glazed windows in place.
spa treatment
The developers of Marisia Spa, Romania, tell us that they have the final planning permissions in place for the lodges containing the apartments for sale. They are waiting on the final approval for the two buildings that will contain the restaurant, café, shops, treatment salons and B&B accommodation. They expect to have the final permission for these buildings in spring 2008 and be able to start work onsite then. Developer Anda Giorgiu, says: “It is excellent news that the county council has agreed to our commercial development plans in principle.”
the eagle has landed
The Landings, St Lucia’s first residential private yacht harbour, was officially opened on the 8 December 2007 by the Prime Minister of St Lucia, the Honourable Stephenson King. The opening marks the completion of phase one of the resort’s waterfront properties, the only freehold beachfront homes in St Lucia. The first owners have now been handed the keys to their properties. The Landings has now released phase two properties for sale, which include one, two and three bedroom apartments with prices ranging from US$550,000 (£304,000) to US$1,690,000 (£817,000).
record breaker
Pezula Private Estate in Knysna, South Africa, an exclusive private residential estate, has launched The Country Estate at Pezula, comprising 28 north-facing plots averaging 5,000m2 each in size. The first three phases of Pezula Private Estate, launched in 2003, are completely sold out. Award-winning Pezula is the culmination of Pezula Group Chairman Keith Stewart’s dream to create a luxury eco-friendly, low-density residential estate resort in one of the most exquisite locations in the world. Bordered by the rugged cliffs of the Southern Cape coast, the Sinclair Nature Reserve and the Eastern Head of Knysna, it has panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, the Knysna Lagoon and the Outeniqua Mountains.
jungle fever
As a limited offer, developer Someplace Else is offering a £1,000 discount on all land plots in the Belize Reserve until 31 December 2007, and a Christmas hamper with every purchase. With the current offer of 50 per cent financing at 0 per cent interest, the deposit for a plot is only £8,475.
going to market
EcoHomes ‘excellent’ development Market Quarter, Chippenham, by award-winning homebuilder Linden Homes Western, is gearing up for the second and third phase of the project. In the New Year the installation of innovative eco-features include Living Walls, grown in France and supplied by one of only a handful of companies in the world, which are due on site in January. Featuring similar benefits to green roofs, the walls minimise dust, insulate and reduce the ambient temperatures by at least 2C on hot summer days, making the homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Each panel is almost 10 metres high and has five different types of native European sedum plants, providing a niche for wildlife and an attractive environment for the residents to enjoy. In spring 2008, the site’s wind turbines are scheduled for delivery, with several discrete units to be installed to power the communal lights throughout the development.
