DEPARTURES TRAVEL ON DEPARTURES TRAVEL ON THE GROUND 32 stellar instructors, four clay tennis courts and glass-walled courts for padel, the doubles-only (and significantly less demanding) Mexican sport favoured by more casual players. The real showstopper, though, is The Beach. A little temple to the good life, an easygoing vibe proliferates around its two electric-blue manmade lagoons (one for watersports, from jet skiing to stand-up paddleboarding; one for swimming); there’s also a stellar restaurant and series of several little cocktail alfresco lounges. Those looking to get a little taste of the Sotogrande way of life can check into SO/ Sotogrande (so-hotels. com), which arrived as the town’s best – and only – real luxury resort in 2021. Here, spacious, contemporary rooms, which all boast a pretty terrace or balcony, extend across a vast labyrinth of casita-style houses – a spread which encourages the relaxed (and whisper-quiet) atmosphere that reigns across the property. Next to a 2,800sq m spa, there is a trio of destination restaurants: the casual MODERN PALACE A planned villa of epic proportions, the €22.5m NIWA is a study in balance. The 18th hole at La Reserva, and its Clubhouse beyond Marxa Chiringuito, for drawn-out seafood lunches next to the hotel’s three pools; Cortijo Santa Maria 1962, a destination eatery for Andalusian haute cuisine (and late-night live music on the terrace); and the Society, a charming breakfast (and all-daydining) spot overlooking a golf course and ocean beyond. There are few better ways to lower the blood pressure – and cast away any lingering stress – than to sit here over a coffee with friends and soak in Sotogrande’s refined relaxation. sotogrande.com The sheer scale of the project – a 4,231sq m build area across a plot of more than one hectare – offered a welcome challenge for ARK Architects founder Manuel Ruiz Moriche, whose forthcoming magnum opus is named for its inspiration: the peaceful, contemplative gardens of Japan. Ruiz also drew from Mediterranean and Greco-Roman architectural practices to create what he refers to as a “modern palace with echoes of the past”. The estate – whose hilltop perch enjoys truly jawdropping views of the azure Mediterranean and the mighty Rock of Gibraltar beyond – comprises nine bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, a wine cellar and several reception areas, all of which enjoy plenty of natural light, bringing the beauty of the great outdoors into the villa. “NIWA has been designed so that the impact on the land is minimal,” notes Ruiz. “The house will be completely integrated into the plot, almost as if it was trying to disappear into the landscape. The protagonist is the location and its nature.” A love of nature extends to the planned building materials: the entire house will be sheathed in carefully selected organic stones and woods, eschewing plastics entirely (this includes the paints used throughout the house). “We put a lot of thought into these minor details – because, in the end, when you live in a house you breathe [in] everything,” says Ruiz, who adds that the size of the plot allowed for the rarest of opportunities: to build a sea-view property spread across one level. A “dream come true” for the architect – and a truly rare prospect for potential buyers. sotogrande.com – CW FROM TOP: © LA RESERVA, © ARK ARCHITECTS (2)
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