new spaces 10 EN

If you’ve heard of Sotogrande it is most likely because of its famous Valderrama Golf Club, home to the Ryder Cup in 1997, or the Santa María Polo Club. But few know that its international jet set appeal was originally down to its natural Andalusian beauty. Composed of 20 kilometres of national park stretching from the Mediterranean, east of Gibraltar, up into the foothills of Sierra Almenara, Sotogrande was developed by the Filipino couple Joseph Rafael McMicking e Ynchausti and Mercedes Zobel de Ayala y Roxas, who in 1962 came up with the idea of creating a luxury residential development on this idyllic part of the Mediterranean coast. Now it is home to perhaps the most expensive real estate in Spain. But to many Gibraltarians, Sotogrande is a weekend retreat, a place to get away from the densely populated Rock of Gibraltar. This house is also mainly used on weekends and is one of the oldest in Sotogrande, a Mediterranean gem hidden behind ornate iron gates and thick foliage on one of the prime avenues in the development. Havens of relaxation The pavilion (left) stands in the middle of a carpet of velvety green. It invites guests to linger — and so does the ultramodern kitchen. Built around a small inner courtyard rather like a traditional fi nca, the house stands in front of a sweeping lawn — more like a carpet than actual grass — dotted with palms and indigenous twisted cork trees that cast abstract shadows across the expanse of green. When asked what attracted him to the house, the owner, whose business is shipping, said that it was undoubtedly the garden. In the Andalusian climate, shade is a commodity. Houses are designed to stay cool in the summer, when temperatures average in the mid-30’s. This house is no exception, with its shuttered windows, thick walls and barro cocido (terracotta) tiles. The grounds are dotted with cool shady spots for eating and relaxing. In fact, the whole house is designed with the idea of downtime in mind; it almost demands relaxation. Step across the threshold and you leave everything behind and enter a sanctuary: huge cool rooms with sofas and chairs inviting you to take it easy. “Even though we’re here just for the weekends and holidays, we do a surprising amount of entertaining. People come

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