An estate nestled on a coastal hilltop on Mallorca would be the perfect second home getaway for Goldfinger, the nefarious Bond villain.
Q&A: Hot properties, but no fire sale
Last Updated: June 3, 2011
I heard home prices are plummeting in Spain. That's true. In many areas prices are down 50 per cent since the peak years in 2008. The big tourist areas have been the worst hit.
But people love Spain. It's still the most popular second home market in Europe. But developers went crazy building projects and now there is a huge oversupply. By some estimates, there are 1 million empty homes in Spain, mostly in coastal areas.
Where are the deals? Mostly in large-scale developments along the Costa del Sol and Murcia. There are thousands of golf course-adjacent apartments and villas for sale. Many were purchased in the boom years and the owners are desperate to sell.
So is it a good time to buy Depends on what you want. If you're looking for your place in the sun, beautiful homes are available. But most experts believe prices will continue to drop for at least another year.
More than 60 pounds (27kg) of 24-carat gold covers fixtures and decorations, giving the property extra bling appeal. The gold was reportedly valued at US$1 million (Dh3.6m) when the property was built in 2009 - early in the ongoing surge in gold prices.
Located near Nova Santa Ponsa, the house was created by the German industrial designer Luigi Colani, self described as "the unabashed agent provocateur of the design world". It is all rounded shapes, with broad Mediterranean verandas and circular buildings, reflecting Mr Colani's fundamentally curved perspective.
"Why should I join the straying mass who want to make everything angular?" Mr Colani asks on his website. "I am going to pursue Galileo Galilei's philosophy: my world is also round."
Special amenities for the well-rounded Villa Colani include a glass outdoor elevator, a safe room, wine cellar and paintings by "well-known international artists". Every wall is round, including in the kitchen, which features rounded appliances.
The 1,000 square-metre house includes five bedrooms with en suite jacuzzi baths, staff quarters, a 150 sq-metre living and dining area for entertaining and a big garage, according to the listing with Kensington Finest Properties International. Doors are embedded with Swarovski crystal.
But the standout feature is undoubtedly the gold that adorns many features in the house, including orbs lining the railing around the outdoor terrace. The gold is "beautifully reflected by the indoor and outdoor sunlight, resulting in an entirely unique and undeniably opulent interior", the listing says.
Not surprisingly, the house also includes "the latest security technology," according to the listing.
The owner is reportedly the German prince and talk-show host Karl-Heinz Richard Furst von Sayn-Wittgenstein.
Top 5: Most popular regions for property in Spain
1 Costa del Sol
2 Valencia
3 Islas Canarias
4 Illes Balear
5 Andalucia
Source: Rightmove searches
No price is listed, no doubt because it is one of those properties that falls into the category of "if you have to ask you can't afford it". But it was listed on eBay last year at $28m.
The Quote: "All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue." Plato
