PrivateResidenceClubs

Whole Ownership at the Palazzo Tornabuoni

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, By Design

Peter Kempf of Kempf International, recently announced that the Palazzo Tornabuoni, Florence's first Private Residence Club, once a 15th century Medici Palace, has for the first time opened 18 whole ownership residences, now available for sale. Kempf's private brokerage firm, Peter Kempf International Ltd., is exclusively handling the transactions.

"Originally, the Palazzo Tornabuoni Private Residence Club became quite a successful fractional after it opened in 2007. The residences were fractionalized into 1/8 shares in 36 apartments. Back then, the population who bought was approximately 70% American, 30% European. It is now 50% US and 50% rest of the world, and we expect the "world" portion to continue to increase. We have members from 5 countries.. At present, two whole ownership residences have been sold and there are offers on two more. Given the state of the world economy, we are very pleased, but given the unique nature of the offering, we are also not surprised."

The wholly owned residences range in price from 1.6 to 5.1M Euro ($2,350,000 to $7,884,500 dollars), and are between one and two bedrooms, with from one to three baths. They are between 700 sf to nearly 3000sf in size. The wholly owned residences are part of the Palazzo Tornabuoni, an edifice that defines the architectural and historical significance of Florence,Italy, as it was built for the Medici family in the l5th century, original 16th-century frescoes by Ciampelli,and an exquisite fireplace adorned with micro-mosaics by the miniaturist Rafaelli (c.1800). Each property is set among the Palazzo Tornabuoni's various courtyards and terraced gardens, and certain residences feature roof-top views of Florence and the Duomo.

It took five years to restore the Palazzo into residences. But with the collaboration of Michele Bonan, the award-winning Tuscan-born interior designer, Its contemporary design captures Bonan's signature style in creating "an environment in which the owner feels they belong...and are not just visiting." This was a complex undertaking, as the Palazzo defines by its very architectural style, a kind of Renaissance formalism, and is also is a museum of sorts of Renaissance art and artisanry -- there are original 16th-century frescoes by Ciampelli,and an exquisite fireplace adorned with micro-mosaics by the miniaturist Rafaelli (c.1800). Outside, a central courtyard still exists that was originally created by Renaissance architect Michelozzo (1400). But yet the residences do have a kind of contemporary comfort, even though surrounded by the finest 15th century Florence had to offer.

Gallery: Palazzo Tornabuoni

Tags: Florence, Florentine Art, FlorentineArt, Four Seasons Firenze, Italy, Medici, Medici palaces in Florence, Pope Leo IX, PrivateResidenceClubs, wholly owned residences

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The Architecture of Sanctuary: Calistoga Ranch

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, By Design

To anyone who lives in Napa Valley, or in San Francisco or even on the Western edge of the United States, Calistoga Ranch is significant resort. Located in a secluded canyon in upper Napa Valley, The property is part of Auberge, one of the world's premiere resort companies. It has won multiple awards, most recently from Travel & Leisure and from Andrew Harper both in 2009. Calistoga Ranch is also a Luxist Awards nominee for Best Green Spa.

Being a guest there for a day or two, allows you to see how different the resort design is, and how the well the design fits with the needs of the guests or of the owners who own part of the fractional residences on the property. Located on 157 acres just outside the town of Calistoga in Napa Valley, California, Calistoga Ranch is one of the few seasoned hotels and Private Residence Clubs in California wine country, encompassing 47 guest lodges and 27 owners lodges.

The property's contemporary architecture is inspired by its natural surroundings, and was created to fit the landscape, with a focus on an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. In keeping with the rich wine producing heritage of Napa Valley, Calistoga Ranch has an on-site vineyard and mountain wine cave, where owners and guests can share in the process of winemaking and viticulture. They can also store their own wine in the wine cave store facilities where the temperature always is cool, and dry.

Tags: Alain de Bouton, AlainDeBouton, Architect, Auberge resorts, AubergeResorts, Calistoga Ranch, camground legacy style, CamgroundLegacyStyle, Napa Valley, Private Residence Clubs, PrivateResidenceClubs, SB Architects, SbArchitects, Scott Lee, ScottLee, The Architecture Of Happiness, TheArchitectureOfHappiness, town of calistoga

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The Residences at Vallarta Gardens: Mexico's Newest Private Club

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments, By Design

If lives are fueled by searches for sanctuary, contentment, and adventure, then arguably, few activities reveal as much about those dynamics as do our travels -- and the destinations and domiciles we choose. Such choices say much about lifestyle-investing preferences and it is perhaps this desire to invest – not in high yielding stocks, but in high yielding personal and family attunement time, that the private residence club concept has remained popular, even in this capricious economy. The most successful ones provide exceptional amenities (private chefs, town car services, yacht usage, dedicated concierges, maid service, pre-arrival and daily grocery shopping, etc.) as well as a deeded part ownership in the residence itself. The most successful ones also have a balanced design template where the destination combines sanctuary and adventure, and where the architectural and interior designs reflect the uniqueness of the area.

One of the newest Residence Clubs that does all this is Vallarta Gardens, near Puerto Vallarta. The Private Residence Club is part of the mixed-use resort idea, that combines fractional, and full ownership villas. There are two designs for their Club Villas: first, the Sea Breeze with 5,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, four bedrooms, four and one-half baths, large outdoor and rooftop terraces, a private plunge pool, media room, living area with a fully-equipped kitchen. The second is the Coral residence, with 3,500 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, three and one-half baths, rooftop and ground level terraces, open living and dining area with a fully-equipped kitchen. Fractional prices, as of this writing, start for 1/13th (3 weeks guaranteed plus unlimited usage, space available) from $100,000 for the Coral and $150,000 for the Sea Star. Whole ownership villas start from $1,550,000.