If you have been thinking about purchasing a property abroad for a little while now, why not consider buying a plot of land and building your own instead? After all, constructing your own dream home will not only ensure it fits the exact size, design specifications and purpose you require – whether that be to let it out, set it up as a second holiday home or your permanent residence – but it could also increase your total profit when selling in the future. However, while this may all sound well and good in principle, without the right time, dedication and investment, it could wind up being a whole lot easier said than done. Therefore, before you rush into designing your dream home abroad, it’s important to consider a few things in advance. From your total budget to the legal rules and regulations you’ll need to abide by, join us as we run through the key questions to ask yourself in preparation, highlighting some of the biggest mistakes property investors tend to make when constructing property overseas. Is now the right time to buy? In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the housing market has become more and more difficult to predict. Some experts say it’s a buyer’s market, whereas others say it’s a seller’s, so it can be hard to know who is right. As with any real estate investment though, it’s imperative to do your research in advance. That way, you will give yourself the best chance of not only finding a good construction agency to carry out the work but you will also be able to identify the best countries – or areas of countries – to invest in. Panorama Properties’ Property Market Report 2021, for instance, highlights how frugal Marbella currently is for sellers, with house sales seen to have increased by 68% this year when compared to 2019. At the same time, however, the price of construction has also increased by 8.56% since April 2021, thus highlighting that Marbella may not currently be the best area to build a new property in. Do you have enough of a budget? Building a new property isn’t always as simple a process as it may appear and will often comprise a number of caveats and hurdles to overcome along the way. As such, it’s important not to throw all your eggs into one basket, investing every penny that you owe into creating your dream home. Instead, you need to plan ahead and ensure you have both the time and money available to complete the project.  What’s more, you should also assume that it will cost more and take longer than you think it will as, most of the time, this will be the case. Do you know what type of property you are looking to construct? One of the hardest components to building your own home abroad is knowing exactly what you want to achieve. Just because you love the look and feel of your home in the UK, that won’t necessarily mean that you will have the same materials available to you when building abroad. Likewise, it’s important to consider the context of your build. If, for example, you are building by the coast, discuss with your architect in advance about how much toll the sun and sea are likely to take and which materials are best suited to the location. This advice, in turn, should help shape a lot of your decisions, making it easier for you to understand how much of an outlay to expect come the end of the build and bringing me onto an important point. It’s imperative to only ever work with an architect you can trust. While you may be able to save a fair bit working with a less well-known architectural firm, you could also run into many more expensive issues should anything go wrong later on down the line. Do you trust your contractor? If you have decided to bite the bullet and self-build your own holiday home, take the time to research and investigate the track record of the contractor you are thinking of working with. Look at their reviews, previous work and scrutinise their architectural plans – from the window frames to the quality of screws – with a lot of detail. Your contract agreement is only worth as much as the person with whom you enter into it, so it’s imperative to only ever work with someone you can trust; something that is especially true if you are unable to oversee the work regularly yourself.  Final thoughts… When done right, constructing property abroad can be an extremely astute investment decision, providing you with a home that – as seen in Marbella – could generate thousands over time. However, before you get going with it, it’s imperative to do your homework in advance. That way, you will give yourself the best possible chance of creating a property that is as beautifully designed as it is highly profitable.

Real estate developer Kronos Homes has spent the past two years raising the bar for resort living in the Western Algarve at luxury resort, Palmares Ocean Living & Golf. Now, the company has revealed the resort’s latest addition: a magnificent brand-new villa designed by RCR Arquitectes. The villa is the first of eight impressive homes designed by RCR Arquitectes, who scooped the industry’s most prestigious international accolade in 2017, the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Nestled between the Alvor Estuary and the bay of Lagos, Palmares enjoys a stunning scenic setting. The resort’s low-density construction is undertaken in harmony with the surrounding natural environment, meaning that each villa delivers premium views. Palmares’ villas have been designed to match the resort’s beach and golf lifestyle perfectly. They are within walking distance of all resort facilities, including the 27-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, the spectacular, RCR-designed award-winning Clubhouse that serves as the hub of the resort community and the new fine dining restaurant, Al Sud. At the same time as providing easy access to the Palmares facilities, the villas also deliver a delightfully private lifestyle that flows beautifully from indoors to out and back again, thanks to their thoughtful design. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa occupies a superb 2,200 square metre plot overlooking the golf course and Bay of Lagos and boasts a total construction area of 490 square metres. The villa also affords eight terraces including one for each bedroom, and a private swimming pool set at the centre of the building. The terraces include a mixture of covered and uncovered spaces, working seamlessly with the natural landscape to create a fusion between the home and nature – bringing the outside in effortlessly. Palmares has attracted not only national clients but also an international clientele, with the resort’s ocean view apartments snapped up by Portuguese, British, German, Dutch, Belgian, Swiss and American buyers. In addition to its exceptional golfing facilities, Palmares opened the doors of its brand-new fine dining restaurant, Al Sud, earlier this year. Home to Michelin-starred Executive Chef Louis Anjos, the restaurant complements the resort’s already-impressive leisure facilities and has been fully booked since opening. The new villas at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf are part of a masterplan of 460 homes (103 villas, 357 apartments), which will also see the addition of a second five-star hotel (complementing the existing boutique 20-room five-star hotel) and a pool and wellness facilities.

The main purpose of any casino is to attract people’s attention. Architects and designers venture to non-standard solutions. They are ready to go the extra mile to create a vibe of the eternal holiday. Their goal is to kindle the desire to enter the temple of entertainment Today, absolutely everyone can plunge into the atmosphere of world casinos without leaving the house. All you need is a BetChan casino login to dive into the full-fledged excitement and endless holiday vibe. But if it’s so convenient to play online, why do people still fly thousands of miles to visit a land-based casino? We believe that the answer is that ground-based casinos attract people with unique and unrepeatable architectural esthetics and fanciness. Typically, architects choose the thematic direction in which the building will be designed. They often draw inspiration from the architecture of other countries, cultures, historical periods to recreate a unique look. Luxurious and eye-catching casinos are profitable not only to the owners but also to the city and all its residents. Glamorous casinos attract tourists. Tourists bring money to various sectors of city life and enrich the economy of the state. Each new gambling venue in the world is more expensive and more luxurious than the previous ones. Casino owners compete in luxury and scale. They try to impress the world with masterpieces of architectural and design art. We’ve prepared 7 stunning examples of architectural ideas fulfilled in land-based casinos designs. 1.Caesar’s Palace Caesar’s Palace is one of the world well-known gambling dens in Las Vegas. It locates in the heart of Sin City. The ancient Roman style decorations explain its name. Monuments, fountains, chariots and even the ship of Cleopatra are open to your eyes. All this is spiced with the vibe of elite antiquity and ardour. This has made this casino a highly revered destination. 2.The Baden-Baden Casino The Baden-Baden Casino in Germany is a classic of gambling houses. It is one of the oldest and admirable casinos in the world. It is a much more sophisticated and classy place. Instead of neon lights, you will see sparkling chandeliers. The design of the casino was influenced by the Palace of Versailles. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Its tables remember many members of the royalties. Back in the day, only gold and silver chips were used on the tables. The elegant halls of the casino are filled with vibrant excitement. 3. The Venetian Macau Casino The Venetian Macao Casino is Venice Charm in lovely Macau. The amusement centre was constructed in 2007. On its territory are channels, along which gondolas with gondoliers float. The casino vestibules are decorated in an iconic Venetian style. The resort covers a territory of over fifty thousand square meters. It is the seventh-largest building on the globe by floor area. 4. Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island Atlantis Resort (Bahamas) is the biggest casino in the Caribbean. It is located on the world’s most beautiful Paradise Island. City-complex is connecting two districts built on a 28 thousand metres lagoon. Rooflights and massive windows bringing outdoor beauty inside. This is a novelty in casino design. It contains everything to enjoy an exciting gambling spirit. Great place for an excellent vacation on the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas. 5.Sun City Casino Sun City Casino (South Africa) is located in a top-level entertainment centre. It is built in an extinct volcano crater. Sun City is named “African Las Vegas”. The constructional style is extraordinary. It combines ruthless African motifs with the opulence of Ottoman royal residences and modernism. Thousands of tourists travel to experience all the greatness of casino premises. Sun City is a beloved destination for the elite of the gambling community and many world celebrities. 6.Casino de Monte Carlo Casino Monte Carlo, located in Monaco, undoubtedly deserves worldwide recognition. Its exterior is inspired by Renaissance architecture. Inside you will find ornate portraits dating back to the founding of the United States. Deluxe marble facade, a plethora of columns and all the possible benefits for the pleasure of guests. Everything there creates an elite atmosphere for laid-back gambling sessions. 7.Marina Bay Sands Casino Marina Bay Sands (Singapore) is a knockdown casino with a futuristic look. It is located on the seashore of Marina Bay.  Three 200 meters high towers with a tropical oasis that soars on top. There is a massive panoramic pool placed on their rooftops. This casino is a true work of art of modern engineering. Even before you enter the casino, you will already be overwhelmed by the stunning views. If you’ve always wondered where to search for magnificent architecture and unique designs, now you know.

A giant mural featuring the Roman god of the sea Neptune will appear at Edward Street Quarter in Brighton when renowned local artist Cosmo Sarson installs his work. At 10 meters high, the artwork will be one of the city’s biggest murals and looks set to become a meeting point for locals, as well as a tourist attraction in its own right. Cosmo revealed his designs in a time lapse video where he discusses the challenges of creating an oil-style painting on an epic scale. Project developers First Base with Brighton and Hove City Council commissioned the classically trained painter to deliver this vibrant addition to Brighton’s thriving street art scene after a competitive selection process. “Brighton started off as a fishing village hundreds of years ago and this area was once a thriving hub for the fishing industry. Part of the brief was to showcase its heritage. As well as marking the entrance to Edward Street Quarter, I hope this classical God of the sea creates an iconic image for Brighton, ” said Cosmo, who lives in Hanover. “It’s been a very exciting process because, while I’m known for large scale murals, I’m also known for my oil paintings. I don’t think creating a mural on this scale in the style of an oil painting has ever been done before! I’m looking forward to seeing how the brush work translates onto a larger canvas.” The time lapse video reveals a smaller version of Neptune, which will soon be printed on ceramic tiles and mounted onto laser-cut steel. The mural will then be installed on an exterior wall at Edward Street Quarter, Brighton’s newest neighbourhood, a mixed-use development under construction on the site of the former AMEX-house site. A total of 37 artists put themselves forward for the job, but Cosmo was set apart by his experience creating large-scale urban artworks and his distinctive style – dubbed ‘classic with a twist’. Cosmo created the hand painted ‘Angel of Brighton’ mural, a three-story fresco, which depicts a winged woman rising from the ashes against a glittering gold background in the North Laine. Neptune will join Cosmo’s latest cackling seagulls mural at Brighton Palace Pier which is also ten metres high and features two seagulls with human bodies in striped blue and white deckchairs, laughing and holding hands. “Brighton is well known for its street art culture and we hope Neptune will be part of the fascinating tours of the city’s best outdoor art. We also predict Neptune will soon become a local landmark and an easy place for people to meet locally – he will definitely stand out in a crowd! We can’t wait for the big unveil later this year. Edward Street Quarter will be home to creative and digital businesses, residents and cafes and shops, so this beautiful piece of art will add to the vibrancy of the development,” added Steve Eccles, Project Director at First Base. Cosmo was internationally celebrated in 2013 for his giant mural of ‘Breakdancing Jesus’ which he painted opposite Banksy’s iconic ‘Mild, Mild West’ in Bristol. As a freelance scenic artist, Cosmo’s artwork can also be spotted in blockbuster films including Dumbo, The Favourite, The Avengers – Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy and Tomb Raider.

Sogevinus has announced the acquisition of the historic Quinta da Boavista from Lima Smith, an 80-hectare property that was part of the first delimitation of the Douro region carried out by the Marquis of Pombal in 1756. Located on the right bank of the Douro River, in the heart of the Cima- Corgo, it was owned by the emblematic Baron of Forrester in the 19th century. A geometric panorama of hand-built schist terraces (up to 8m in height), combined with specific climatic conditions, make Boavista’s terroir unique. Of the property’s 80 hectares, 36 ha are vineyards, with Donzelinho, Tinto Cão and Touriga Nacional varieties planted. The estate also has a large area of Vinhas Velhas, responsible for the production of several award-winning wines, such as Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Oratório and Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo, awarded 94 and 95 Robert Parker points, respectively. This acquisition allows Sogevinus to strengthen its position in the still wine market, following the strategy of focusing on this category, and bringing to its portfolio two new brands – Boa-Vista and Quinta da Boavista – high quality wines and internationally recognized which complement its presence in the premium segment. “With a historic legacy in the Douro and following the strategy of consolidating still wines, we believe that the acquisition of Quinta da Boavista will decisively strengthen our portfolio of DOC wines, particularly in the premium segment. Quinta da Boavista has been very successful in recent years in the development of internationally recognised wines and our expectation is to continue to produce great wines here,” commented Sergio Marly, Sogevinus Group CEO. Sogevinus thus reinforces its position in the Douro with the acquisition of another emblematic farm, joining Quintas de S. Luiz, Arnozelo and Bairro, further cementing its 500-year-old legacy.