Barcelona’s Palau Moxó Will Be Converted into a Luxury Apartment Building

23 March 2018

It is a unique building. Not for being an architectural jewel of the Baroque period, though it is that too. The property has been in the same family since 1770 when the Moxó family built it. The property was finally sold by the marquises of San Mori at the end of 2017 to Eduardo Rallo (a Mexican investor) for 7.3 million euros. Now it has been discovered that, after conversion by the Trias de Bes architectural studio, luxury apartments will be sold in the property by the Vivendex real estate agency.

The palace was sold in June of last year. An example of Baroque architecture, the building was classified as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (BCIL) for the city in 2000. It quickly began generating controversy within the municipality. The building is located at 4 Plaza Sant Just, in the Gothic Quarter, became the focus of numerous conflicts due to its sale and cultural value.

Both the ERC and PdeCat demanded that the municipal government (BenComú) provide “explanations” for not considering a potential acquisition of the property through its right of first refusal, something which the owners of buildings classified as having historical interest are obliged to do. Now, the PdeCat criticises that the possibility was rejected twice, according to PdeCat, and that luxury apartments are being built on the site.

The government, meanwhile, stated that there is a limit to acquisitions through the right of first refusal since the price that the owners were requesting initially stood at 7.15 million euros. That was in December 2015, but the district of Ciutat Vella (to which the property belongs) declined to acquire the palace, stating that the purchase exceeded the district’s financial capacity and “the state of conservation of the interior was unknown,” sources within the municipal government explained.

The second occasion that the municipality rejected its right of first refusal was in January of 2017 when the price has risen to 7.33 million euros, and the district once again declined to pursue a possible acquisition.

During the last years, the palace had been used as a multipurpose space for dinners and events for aristocrats in Barcelona. The heir, Inés Moxó, currently lives in Seville, where she moved the furniture that until recently decorated the house.

The building will have up to six luxury apartments and three stores on its four floors. The main floor, measuring almost 600 m2 will be preserved intact: the architectural and decorative elements that are under the protection of cultural property will be respected. The third and fourth floors will receive five duplex apartments, all with private terraces and sizes ranging from 130 to 250 m2. The renovation, Trias de Bes estimates, will conclude in mid-2019, although the City Council still has to grant a building license to the company.

Original Story: Idealista – Natalia Bravo

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Translation: Richard Turner

OHL Pre-Sells Half of the Luxury Apartments in Canalejas

28 December 2017 – El Independiente

The pre-sales of luxury apartments in the Madrilenian Canalejas complex, the only one in Spain – and one of just a few in Europe – to be serviced by the hotel chain Four Seasons, is going from strength to strength. Knight Frank and Colliers, the two firms that have been exclusively appointed to manage their sale, have already placed almost half of the homes with their contacts and clients during the private launch, in other words, before the For Sale sign has been officially put up, according to sources speaking to El Independiente.

Even the penthouse, the jewel in the crown of the building promoted by Juan Miguel Villar Mir, together with his construction firm OHL, has an owner: a European millionaire, who is going to pay more than €9 million for a 500 m2  home in one of the most iconic areas of Madrid.

To date, most of the homes on this block of prime Madrilenian real estate in Canalejas – next to the Puerta del Sol – have been sold to wealthy Spanish families even though, initially, they were expected to attract interest from foreign millionaires, specifically, Latin Americans. “Wealthy families from Latin America prefer the traditional and exclusive Salamanca neighbourhood, whilst Spaniards are more interested this concept, which is going to revolutionise the centre of Madrid”, explain sources in the real estate sector.

The 22 most expensive new build homes currently available in Madrid have a minimum surface area of 130 m2 and a minimum asking price of €2.5 million, which means that buyers paying more than €13,000/m2. The combined value of all of the homes amounts to around €90 million.

The apartments are located on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th floors of the Canalejas Complex, have between one and three bedrooms each, have independent access (as well as through the Four Seasons hotel) and will be handed over completely finished and equipped, with the exception of furniture.

The homes form part of a complex that comprises seven historical buildings, which in recent decades housed the former headquarters of Banesto, Central Hispano and Zaragozano.

For the time being, most of the homes have been reserved by Spanish millionaires.

The complex spans a surface area of 50,000 m2 in total and in addition to the twenty homes, is going to house a five-star Four Seasons hotel with 200 rooms, an underground parking lot with 400 spaces, a retail outlet for bank use and a 15,000 m2 shopping arcade.

Original story: El Independiente (by Ana Antón)

Translation: Carmel Drake