Hard hats and high heels

Men are from Mars women are from Venus, we all know that, so it follows suit that residential developers across the gender divide have slightly different priorities. Whilst the men are focusing on profit margins alone, the women are busying themselves with perfecting the ‘work triangle’ in the kitchen – and they could have a point. The all-female team at Natal’s Pipa Beleza has sold-out over 80% of the resort in less than a year.

Norwegian development team Marianne Beck, Vibecke Olsen and Emma Bjørke have contracted local Brazilian Project Manager Adriana Alves and exclusive sales agents uv10.com, headed up by Samantha Gore, to form a female force to be reckoned with. The result is a Zen-inspired Spa resort complete with yoga/Pilates studio and juice bar which is simply flying off the shelves.

Development Director Marianne Beck comments, “We believe that Pipa Beleza has really benefitted from having an all-female perspective. Certainly aesthetics and functionality are given a greater emphasis. Each individual house and apartment is thoroughly worked through in detail - everything from the size of the doorways, framing and maximizing views from windows and terraces to the kitchen ‘work triangle’ between sink, cooker and fridge and ample cupboard and food preparation space. All the wooden furniture is custom-made for each room and handcrafted by local craftsmen. There is no mass “job-lot, cost-cutting” shipping-in of furniture.”

Marianne continues, “From day one we wanted to create a unique boutique resort. These are no ‘battery hen apartments’ - the homes are spacious with windows on all sides, private outdoor areas and superb views. The kitchens extend indoor-outdoors with an on-terrace barbecue area ideal for al-fresco entertaining and our garden apartments have an outdoor Bali-inspired shower covered in tropical plants. Pipa Beleza, as you would expect, has a distinctly feminine touch. The gardens are interspersed with tropical fruits and flowers, guests can indulge in the Spa with Balinese baths, practice yoga and Pilates in our comfortable studio and enjoy treatments in the beauty salon. Then, as the sun sets, sip cocktails and champagne around the pool or on the rooftop juice bar with smooth bossa nova music flowing from the integrated sound system.”

Marianne concludes, “We did get some strange looks from the Brazilian construction team in the beginning as they were not accustomed to girls in miniskirts on their building sites. But Brazilians are fair and open people and we quickly earned respect from our enthusiasm and above all our professionalism.”

Now mid-way through construction, uv10.com is able to offer garden apartments, one remaining penthouse and just two semi-detached villas, all of which which combine Norwegian design with Brazilian rustic charm in an idyllic coastal setting. Set high up on the russet-coloured Chapadao, the cliff that forms a backdrop to Pipa’s world famous beaches, Pipa Beleza is dedicated to outdoor living and offers a wonderful vantage point on the lush Atlantic Forest and sweeping beaches below.

The developers have also thoughtfully added a mini-market, modern trendy restaurant, 24-hour security and a full property rental service. Pipa Beleza’s on-site management and administration office will enable owners to enjoy high returns and a carefree ownership experience in an area which already has a thriving tourist market.

Off-site, the centre of Pipa village is just over one kilometre away or you could simply take to the beach, the quaintly named Praia do Amor (Love Beach), and stretch out lazily on the sunbeds provided. Other activities include kitesurfing, swimming with the dolphins that live in the bay or beach buggy touring on the dunes. Natal’s International Airport is around 80km from Pipa and the city’s major new international airport is already under construction and set to be the eighth largest in the world.

Prices at Pipa Beleza start from only £69,500 gbp* for a large two bedroom ground floor apartment with private garden and from £112,000 gbp* for a three bedroom semi-detached house with option for private rooftop Jacuzzi.

*prices fixed in local currency

For more information, visit uv10.com