Can ‘green’ construction survive a recession?

Green construction doesn’t come cheap. King Sturge’s ‘European Property Sustainability Matters’ report published in February of this year estimates that creating a zero-carbon home could increase build costs by 25 to 42%. The easy route would be to stick to conventional building techniques, but that’s not an option at Brazil’s Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa.

Destined to be Natal’s most sophisticated private beachfront resort, Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa on the Cabo Sao Roque/Caraúbas coastline comprises 25 acres of landscaped paradise complete with 300 metres of private beach. The Beach Villas, Beach Residences, Beach Cabanas and Sky Spa Residences, all designed by renowned architect David Bastos, fuse indigenous hardwood with marble and granite to create singular homes all fully furnished to a superlative standard. A Sky Spa and fitness centre, Zen pools, massage decks, sophisticated grill and restaurants alongside an abundance of sports from horse-riding to dune buggying create the ultimate in South American holiday destinations. And, Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa is as much a winner with the environmentalists as it is with the property investor.

Samantha Gore, Sales & Marketing Director for specialist Brazil real estate agents uv10.com comments, “Buying decisions can be influenced by green issues and in Brazil it’s a particularly hot topic. The Amazon region covers about 1.6 million square miles of Brazil, nearly 60% of the country, and official reports suggest that about 20% of that land has already been deforested. Amongst an all-encompassing catalogue of green measures, the developers of Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa have been especially keen to ensure that none of the wood used in construction comes from an unauthorised source such as the Amazon. You have to admire their enormously high environmental standards as green initiatives often incur high up-front costs.”

A first step in the right direction was to secure the services of world-class construction company, Método, to oversee the Resort. With Hyatt and Sheraton in its glowing portfolio, Método was also responsible for the Caesar Park Eco Resort near Recife. Famed as the first company to become part of the United States Green Building Council, it pioneered green building concepts in Brazil such that they are now ingrained in its Code of Ethics. At Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa Método will focus on alternative energy, reduced consumption, reduced emissions, recycling, the preservation of green areas and generally improving quality of life for its guests.

Eucalyptus is the wood of choice for Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa and is sourced from designated tree farms in the southern Brazilian states. Officially certified and authenticated by the suppliers, the wood is also treated for humidity and pests so it lasts forever. All rainwater on-site will be captured and reused for irrigation whilst the sewerage system is state-of-the-art removing all waste and garbage to a central deposit centre.

Meanwhile the Resort’s landscape designer, Harvard graduate Sergio Santana, is a leader in Brazil for environmental initiatives. He has recommended the moving of buildings throughout the project in order to guarantee that not one tree has been felled; in fact the first phase at Natal Ocean Club Resort & Spa saw the planting of an additional 300 native trees and plants. Buyers can feel reassured that this is the most beautiful and environmentally friendly development in northern Brazil.

A limited number of one bedroom Sky Spa Residences are available through uv10.com. With 70m² of living space including a sweeping 20m² sun terrace, these homes are equipped with the latest luxuries including flatscreen TVs, iPod docking stations, DVD, designer furniture and marble bathroom fittings. Prices start from £138,000 gbp for these properties, going up to over £1 million for a deluxe four bedroom beachfront villa with private pool and Spa. All properties enjoy panoramic sea views.

For further information, visit uv10.com