Spain Property Guide Spring 2021

The commitment to the detail is certainly there, as well
as the willingness to invest in know-how and quality, as the
La Quinta group searched for noted specialists in the field
and found it in DTJ, an American firm that is a world leader
in creating resort master plans, with particular expertise
in developing lakes of this kind. “It is a company with a
worldwide pedigree, so in bringing this level of international
substance to Marbella we’ve created truly professional
foundations for the project that also incorporates a far
greater dedication to sustainable development than is
currently required by regulations.” This commitment to
‘green development’ is pretty advanced by Marbella
standards and is regarded as one of Real de La Quinta’s
greatest assets.
BREEAM-CERTIFIED PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
BREEAM, which stands for the ‘Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment Method’ – the
leading international benchmark for the assessment
and regulation of sustainability in construction – provides
certification levels that are increasingly sought after around
the world. Many, however, fail to meet the requirements that
range through five qualitative levels from strict to extremely
demanding. To qualify for Level 5, for example, a building
has to effectively be energy and resource neutral, which
means being capable of meeting its own water needs
without external supply and providing full electricity-free
lighting throughout the structure – including stairwells and
underground areas.
“In a drier area like this it is a tall order, but we’re extremely
proud that Real de La Quinta’s design has achieved
BREAAM certification at level 3, making it the first resort of
its kind in Europe to do so,” says Borja. “The process will be
monitored and finally adjudicated once everything is up and
running, and it is fair to say that we have gone far beyond
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