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reverberates – that pulsating ideal spot, yet none of the furniture is imperative. Westling’s approach is to ensure that residents’ requirements are always the decisive facvibe of the urban melting pot that is Madrid. But slowly the draw of the city begins tor. Unostentatious luxury dominates the interior. Perfect for occuto wane and the eyes cannot feast enough pants who cherish life and do not shy away from those intense encounon the wondrous sights of the Iberian counters that leave their mark. This home is not conceived as a showroom. tryside. The vegetation of the nearby Parque Rather, it is a stage that is owned and used from day to day by various Nacional beguiles the senses with its protagonists, by residents and guests alike, taking their place, for exmyriad of green, whilst the Sierra de Guaample, around the impressive dining room table for 16 people. Or on darrama frame the scene with their imone of the sofas or armchairs in the living room, where one’s field of pressive might. There’s an immediate vision gorges on the expansive grounds through the giant panoramic window. The ceiling in this lounge zone soars across both levels of the sense here that all the energy drained by everyday city life begins living space, whilst the seemingly boundless windows dissipate the dito flow back, revitalising the soul. Here, on the edge of the Spanish mensions. This is especially true when the glass panes disappear down capital, where the spirit of the metropolis still dwells, albeit gently subsumed by the verdant abundance of into the ground in a matter of seconds. The nature, one feels a magical sense of balindoors and outdoors become one, as light ance. Still attuned with the energising and air and space merge inexorably togethforce of urban living, a path to privacy and er. And time seems to stand still for a brief seclusion opens up that directs us back to moment. Until food is prepared in the large our inner contentment. kitchen, and family and guests decide to enjoy the delicious tapas on one of the terracThis may well have been what prompted Benjamín Calleja Westling to choose es under the Iberian firmament. Just alongthese 2,522 square metres of land in the side is the pool, which had served just a few undulating hills on the periphery of Mahours earlier as the scene for a refreshing drid to set up home for himself and his and welcome dip after a meeting with busifamily. In this exclusive location, the inness partners. ternationally acclaimed architect has owever great his embrace of opencreated a villa that combines luxury and ness and transparency though, Benelegance in a unique way, right in the jamín Westling also had the yearning for privacy and retreat in mind when planheart of nature. The clarity of form exuded by this extravagant residence sets it ning this home. A bedroom suite of some 70 apart from its surroundings, whilst the square metres, complete with an exclusive bathroom, gives owners ample scope for an conceptual vision behind it links it inextricably with these same environs. As interlude to life in the rest of the house when the white cuboid softly shimmers in the needed. The upper level also hosts another evening light and it seems to almost float three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, an above the ground, the indoors and the office and a further living room. The basement is devotes to recreation and hobbies. outdoors merge into a seamless whole. There is a gym and spa area for physical fitAn architectural masterpiece that subscribes wholeheartedly to modernism in ness and recuperation, a home cinema for “I’ve always had an affinity with creativity and design. In fact it was Lego that first triggered my passion for buildits design vocabulary and aesthetic. “It’s the best in entertainment, and a library for ing as a child,” says Benjamín Calleja Westling. The native a work of art that can be inhabited,” says intellectual pursuits. Visitors staying with Spaniard has two Master’s degrees in Architecture. Benjamín Westling, looking down with the family value the seclusion of the guest pride at the reflection of the building’s silhouette in the elongated pool. apartment here, with its private terrace. “I wanted to unite space and time, light and water, to form a passionate Extensive home automation also plays a leading role in the commix.” His visionary idea emerges in the form of an artful structure that forts on offer inside the villa. The very latest air conditioning system conveys both solidity and lightness of being on the outside, and makes ensures a pleasant interior climate at all times, whilst heating is supplied from an efficient heat pump, with solar panels making the an instantaneous impression on the inside with its transparency and most of the abundant solar energy available. “Of course, the house spacious dimensions. “I wanted to create the perfect home for my famis conceived in such a way that the technology can be updated on an ily. A marvellous place for my children to blissfully grow up in.” With ongoing basis. A new resident will have to refurbish this and that, 800 square metres at their disposal, the family unit – consisting of the two children Erica (12) and Mark (10) and wife Patricia, “my soulmate”, will want to revamp and upgrade certain building elements, switch can enjoy life to the absolute full here. furnishings around and place their own individual stamp on the he expanse of interiors allows for a varied mix of spaces space.” For Benjamín Calleja Westling and his family, it is time to bid designated for personal retreat, for the cosy togetherness of famfarewell to this wonderful haven. New building projects in the Unitily life and for sociable gatherings with friends. And the famied Arab Emirates, China, Brazil, South Africa and the USA require ly has many friends from all around the world. “Our house is never his presence on site. “Sadly, this means that there just isn’t enough empty,” says Westling. The villa in the hills near Madrid is a place detime for my family and I to live here. I’m resigned to being a citizen signed for living. Finished in the highest quality materials and filled of the world,” the successful architect professes, smiling with his with custom-made designer furniture. Everything is positioned in its youthful charm. JZ pon arrival it
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SPAIN, MADRID SANCHINARRO PRICE EUR 3.6 MILL. INTERIOR APPROX. 800 m2 LAND APPROX. 2,522 m2 NO. OF ROOMS 6 E&V ID W-021KW1 CONTACT OBRAS NUAL 2003 S.L. (S), LICENCE PARTNER OF ENGEL & VÖLKERS RESIDENTIAL GMBH TEL. +34 91 084 06 15 E-MAIL MADRIDURBANIZACIONESNORTE@ENGELVOELKERS.COM
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