Schwanenwerder from above: Island

This is it: the most exclusive island in Germany and Berlin. Of course, the properties here are also among the most expensive adresses in Berlin. Only 38 properties, and each one is of a higher caliber than the next. For many, Schwanenwerder is not a place to live, but a world of its own. Here is a quote from our last Schwanenwerder exposé:

“Privacy has become the rarest currency. This villa offers it in abundance.”

Schwanenwerder has exactly that. Located directly on the Wannsee, only one access road, shielded, lots of security. Pure nature, surrounded by a capital city with over 3.9 million inhabitants. Standing here, you completely forget that the hustle and bustle of Berlin is 20 minutes away. Ultra exclusive, ultra quiet.

History? My recommendation: Schwanenwerder, PDF Berlin.de (Download)

Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Grunewald

On the way to Berlin Mitte, you automatically pass through the best locations. Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Grunewald – all three have stood for prosperity, nature, old villas, embassies and long-established families for decades.

Did you know? The best areas are always in the southwest, because southerly winds from Europe often arrived there. In the past, this brought fresh air to the southwest and the exhaust air moved to the northeast. – But back to Schwanenwerder!

In the immediate vicinity, you will find residential areas, forests, parks and extremely quiet streets. Schwanenwerder itself is home to families, entrepreneurs and investors who want to live in complete seclusion despite living in the capital. No through traffic, no tourists, just absolute privacy.

Graft Villa: The most expensive villa in Germany

I have often stood here on the jetty and admired this villa, the most futuristic and expensive villa in Germany. There were many rumors – including that one of the former owners was Brad Pitt. Is that true? Who knows. But it shows the level we are at here. The villa was designed by Graft. It was last “listed”(off market) for 79 million euros.

• Price: ~ 79 million euros

In fact, it is not the only villa in this segment. Other properties on the island would also easily reach asking prices of 55-60 million euros. And right next to this ultra-modern villa is the Schwanenhof – the oldest villa on the whole of Schwanenwerder. It could hardly be more historic.

Even the major media regularly report on this island:

• Schwanenwerder – Picture
• Schwanenwerder – Tagesspiegel

Schwanenhof: The first villa on Schwanenwerder

The Schwanenhof impresses with its historic gate – who still has something like that today? Behind it is a small, I would say Mediterranean wonder. Lots of charm, lots of history, all completely hidden behind trees. No views from outside, zero through traffic. A real original on the island.

• Price: ~ 9 million euros

Schwanenwerder Map

Schwanenwerder in Berlin:

Schwaenwerder from close up:

Schwanenwerder history

To this day, the island feels like a piece of secluded Berlin, quiet, green and with architecture that is rarely found in this form. To understand the house, you have to go a little further: How did Schwanenwerder come about in the first place, who built the first villas here and why in this location of all places?

Source: Schwanenwerder, PDF Berlin.de (Download)

How the island became an island in the first place

At the end of the 19th century, Schwanenwerder was just an inconspicuous spot in Wannsee. Not a paradise, not a villa suburb – rather an idea. Friedrich Wilhelm Wessel, a Berlin building contractor, had this idea. He bought the site, had it filled in, shaped and defined a concept: large plots of land, plenty of space, peace and quiet, no noisy uses. Schwanenwerder was to become a place of retreat, an alternative to the growing city.

• Island was artificially formed
• Parceling out by Wessel
• Concept: peace & privacy

The first houses: who built them and why

The first villas on Schwanenwerder were not built by chance. Wessel obliged buyers to build high-quality houses within a short space of time. He did not want a mixed-use area, but a cohesive, stylish ensemble. To achieve this, the owners brought in some of the best architects of their time. Paesler & Natho designed early country houses with turrets, bay windows and French forms. Bernhard Sehring – one of Berlin’s most sought-after architects – designed striking villas with great attention to detail. He was later joined by Bruno Paul and Richard Blumberg, both known for their elegant, tranquil architecture. The gardens were planned by garden artists such as Rudolf Jürgens and Ludwig Lesser. Each villa was to be a small work of art.

• First villas by Paesler & Natho
• Sehring & Bruno Paul shape style
• Garden art by Lesser & Jürgens

The Schwanenhof: a country house with a French touch

The Schwanenhof was built around 1900, precisely during this period. The house followed the French late baroque style: two small tower domes, curved lines, a large terrace with a view of the lake. It was a representative but not overloaded country house. The first plans show a house that was very open – large windows, lots of light, a garden that was more of a park than a plot of land.

• French late baroque
• Large terrace
• Open floor plans

The atmosphere on the island: summer houses and retreats

Around 1910/1920, entrepreneurs, merchants and bankers lived here. Many used their houses as summer residences. Silence over the water in the morning, company on the terraces in the evening, with gardeners, boats and long garden paths in between. The Schwanenhof was part of this: not a palace, but an elegant, quiet house, built for people who wanted to get away from city life.

• Summer houses
• Large gardens
• Elegant architecture

Conversions and changes over the decades

The Schwanenhof has undergone many changes over the years. The tower dome on the north side was destroyed during the Second World War and never rebuilt. The attic was extended in the 1950s and new living spaces were added later. In the 1990s, a modern south-facing extension was built, extending the house and adapting it to today’s living requirements. The garden hall was closed, paths were newly laid out, some historical details were lost, others were maintained.

• Reorganization 1950s
• Extensions 1990s
• Partial redesign

Garden, location and view: What makes Schwanenwerder special

Even though a lot has changed, one thing has always remained the same: the location. The view over the Wannsee, the distance to the neighboring houses, the greenery. The garden has been redesigned several times – sometimes spacious and playful, later clearer and more modern. Today, the Schwanenhof is a mixture of historical substance and contemporary elements. You can recognize the origins, but you can also see the development.

• Lots of green
• View of the Wannsee
• Modern garden design

More about the Schwanenwerder story? Recommendation

History? My recommendation: Schwanenwerder, PDF Berlin.de (Download)

Der Beitrag Schwanenwerder: Berlin’s most exclusive + expensive island! Villas, map, history + tour erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

Mukaab Inside: 800 billion project in Riyadh

The largest downtown area in Saudi Arabia, “New Murabba” has impressive architecture and a lively atmosphere. Originally built in the early 20th century to house government officials and their families, it is now a major hub in Saudi Arabia. There are many examples of Islamic architecture to see, including the iconic King Abdulaziz Historical Center. In addition to stores and restaurants, there are also many cultural events such as music and art installations.

Now there is one more gigantic attraction.

“The Mukaab” is presented: 2030 completion.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has unveiled “The Mukaab,” a 400-meter tall, wide and long indoor super city in downtown Riyadh. With enough space for 20 Empire State Buildings, the project is to be financed by the PIF and become a new global symbol for technology, sustainability, mobility and Saudi innovation.

“The Mukaab” is at the center of the broader New Murabba development project launched by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the prime minister and chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC). The Riyadh Giga project is scheduled to open in 2030.

Here you can find the website of the project: New Murabba.

New Murabba / Riyadh: Downtown

Where is New Murabba located?

Video: New Murabba tour

This preview image reveals the secret of the Mukaab!

Saudi Arabia is building! Superlatives

Read more about Saudi Arabia’s construction projects here.

Maraya – Largest mirrored concert hall

The largest mirrored concert hall in the world.

• Maraya

The Line – 170 kilometer desert city

The 170 kilometer desert city.

• The Line

Der Beitrag Mukaab Inside: 800 billion construction project in Riyadh – map, photos, videos erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

The largest mirrored building in the world

Architecture is one thing. Ideas are something else. This one is… wow. The Maraya Concert Hall.

Second perspective on the Cube

Al-Ula on the map

Where are you located in Saudi Arabia?

Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia

The location of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia.

The area at a glance:

360° panoramic view: Construction site

A small 360° tour at the construction site.

From inside: Concert hall and stage

This is what the concert hall looks like from the inside.

Der Beitrag The largest mirrored building in the world! Architecture masterpiece Maraya Concert Hall (Saudi Arabia) erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.

Location of the Rhine-Main region

Among the most famous cities in the region are Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden and Mainz. But also small towns like Eltville, Ingelheim, Bingen am Rhein and are internationally known, especially through tourism.

More and more investors are taking notice of the region.

Why, actually?

On the one hand, many companies from the financial sector are moving to Paris and Frankfurt am Main since Brexit. Frankfurt can be reached from most cities in half an hour. In addition, the popularity with Asian investors is increasing when they are looking for investment properties in Germany. The increased interest has many factors, tourism is creating awareness, including through new media, as is the increased interest in fine wines. The Rhine-Main area is one of the wine growing regions in Germany.

The Rhine-Main region is located in the south-west of Germany and runs mostly through the states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. As seen here on the map:

Germany as an investor imagines it

For visiting investors, I would like to recommend the following, if circumstances permit: A short drive, along the Rhine. By car or even via train. Very few people take the regional train on a daily basis. But if you, as a real estate investor, take the time to take the regional train, for example from Koblenz to Bingen, you will pass picturesque places that you would otherwise not see.

Vineyards, castles, real estate in prime locations

The entire route leads along the Rhine. You drive along the river, between the mountains, from town to town. On the mountain tops there is a castle every 5 minutes. It was hard for me to take my eyes off the panorama on the first, and also on the second ride.

Between the small towns, villages appear every two minutes in the mountain slopes, with real estate in the slopes, down to the course of the river Moselle. And again, on the mountain top is a magnificent castle. On the Rhine, exactly the same picture. An absolutely picturesque region. Rugged cliffs, viticulture, welcome to the Rhine-Main area.

On the mountain slopes are houses, apartment buildings and the one or the other more magnificent estate. Equally much represented is the hotel industry, through international tourism.

Strong demand: location, economy and advantages

In this area, it is difficult for investors to get properties in need of renovation. Because, not only Germans and Europeans invest here anymore. Chinese investors are also looking for special objects and properties. In particular, the growing preference for wine in China and Asia in general, provides for the increasing attention of the region, beyond the borders of Europe.

Picturesque countryside, healthy nature, many small towns and large metropolises such as Frankfurt, barely 30 minutes away. In addition, the always strong tourism, the proximity to economically strong regions (NRW, France) and Chinese players. In addition to these advantages, there is also the shipping, which is an attraction for locals, for tourists, but shipping also flushes money into the coffers of the municipalities.

Advantages at a glance

Of course, I can only give you a very small glimpse of the region in this article. But if you were to ask me how I would sum up the region, it would be like this.

Advantages: Real estate in the Rhine-Main region

• Picturesque region, healthy nature
• Small towns and close to Frankfurt am Main
• Proximity to economic areas such as NRW, France
• Thriving international tourism (stable for decades)
• Shipping

Real estate portfolio: little space, efficient construction

If we talk specifically about the closer location on the two rivers Rhine and Main, then the majority of the real estate stock consists of semi-detached houses and smaller apartment buildings. Space is very scarce here, due to the rugged mountains that stretch upwards, especially in the Moselle and Rhine valleys. On the edges, the very long, shoreline cities, are isolated single-family homes.

In fact, the space between the bank and the rocky outcrops is often very tight. Sometimes there are only a few meters between the river and the steep rock face. The rock faces reach 50 to 80 meters high, partly vertical.

This is what makes the region so unique.

Large cities nearby: Culture and economy

Besides the many small towns and villages, right on the riverbanks, there are a few interesting cities in the region, each with its own charm.

Frankfurt am Main

Important and the first to mention is Frankfurt. The banking metropolis has always been one of the strongest regions in Germany and even Europe. To the banks comes one of the largest airports in the world. Frankfurt Airport is an international hub, with hundreds of take-offs and landings every day. Add to that the many cargo planes arriving from all over the world. Frankfurt is also a trade fair city and holds some of the largest trade fairs in Germany, such as the IAA (International Motor Show), XY and XY.

Advantages of Frankfurt am Main:

• Banking city, financial company and industry
• International airport, one of the largest in the world
• International trade fair city with flagship trade fairs in Germany

Buy and sell real estate in Frankfurt. Here we have a deeper insight into the real estate market of Frankfurt. From condominiums in the banking district to villas in more upscale neighborhoods like Frankfurt Altstadt, Westend-Süd or the Gutleutviertel.

• Real Estate Frankfurt
• Real estate for sale Frankfurt
• Living in Frankfurt

Frankfurt Map: City and Location

Wiesbaden

• Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden Map: City and Location

Mainz

• Mainz

Mainz Map: City and Location

Bingen am Rhein: Investing “in the countryside” (Tip for Frankfurt residents)

Capital investment new building Bingen – You are looking for an attractive capital investment near Frankfurt, Mainz & Wiesbaden. Welcome to Bingen on the Rhine! Take advantage of the current interest rate situation and invest now in the Rhine-Main region. In a central location with a fantastic view of the Rhine and the Rheingau, 25 modern and bright condominiums will be built in the usual high quality. From the cosy two-room apartment with approx. 66 m² of living space to the spacious four-room apartment with approx. 152 m² of living space, this exclusive residence offers the right property for every situation in life. The immediate proximity to the river as well as to several parks and local recreation areas combined with excellent transport links make the Rheintal Terraces so unique.

• Bingen on the Rhine

Der Beitrag Buy and sell real estate in the Rhine-Main area: Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Mainz & Co. erschien zuerst auf ℄ Real Estates.