Sustainable Chic

Situated on the Mediterranean coast, The Sky Marbella is making a name for itself as one of the most sought-after resorts in the region. As told to Serena Templeton.

A once seemingly juxtaposed notion, the modern-day pairing of sustainability and luxury is now one of the leading concepts in premium real estate. Accelerated by a change of lifestyle and a profound shift in values the luxury real estate industry, like many others, has adapted its offering for an ever-fastidious consumer.

In the Costa del Sol region of Spain - the European leader in the number of LEED certified projects - developments like The Sky Marbella are catering not just to luxury lifestyles, but are authentic and genuine in their strive to provide significant health and productivity benefits for occupants through sustainable design initiatives and their choice of materials.

Located in the extremely coveted golden triangle of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís, The Sky Marbella is a collection of premium apartments and villas, a month into development. The architect for the apartments, locally-renowned Teodoro Cabrilla Architects, has carefully considered the sites natural surroundings and employed a number of sustainably-focused techniques and materials to create a perfect symbiosis between luxury and sustainability.

Commenting on the initial approach to The Sky Marbella project, founder of Teodoro Cabrilla Architects, Teodoro Cabrilla said, “One of our basic principles is the use of local and some recycled materials, and the optimisation of natural resources, without renouncing new construction technologies and innovative materials that help create the comfort of a luxury home.

“In this particular project, we have integrated the passive house with aerothermal energy for hot water supply and electrification panels for the communal areas. White façades made of materials that allow ventilation, the use of water sheets, large double-height glazed doors and windows to make the most of natural are just some of these elements.”

Architectural responsibility for the villas at The Sky Marbella, has been entrusted to highly-esteemed and Marbella-based firm, Manuel Burgos Architects. The two architects are working in tandem to achieve this high level of sustainable luxury across both the apartments and villas, ensuring consistency throughout the project.

Commenting on the project, founder Manuel Burgos said: “Our focus on sustainability manifests itself in the very design of the homes, prioritising maximum comfort of its inhabitants with exceptional energy efficiency.

“Measures have also been taken to maximise the efficiency of resources, seeking to reduce the environmental impact to the minimum possible without sacrificing the quality of life of the residents.

The development itself is framed by the El Madronal mountains to the north, with magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea to the South which has greatly influenced the developments biophilic design approach.

Cabrilla adds, “This project has been greatly influenced by the location and the study of natural light. The light surrounds the U-shaped Mountain range overlooking the sea and creates this subtle curved effect on the different levels of the apartments, which are integrated into the surrounding nature.

"One of our main challenges has been not to encroach too much on the site and respect the group vegetation between the succession of built volumes ".

There are a range of features at The Sky Marbella which help make it truly eco-friendly and sustainable. Rainwater recovery for irrigation and maintenance, aerothermal energy for air conditioning, photovoltaic solar panels that provide clean energy, and green roofs and landscaped courtyards to help with thermal comfort to name a few. Offering the perfect balance between costal luxury and cultural authenticity.

theskymarbella.com