Sotogrande, the prestigious enclave of ultra-luxury property and exclusive amenities, including award winning golf courses, situated in the province of Cádiz in Spain, around the Guadiaro River and occupying an area that covers twenty square kilometres stretching all the way from the Mediterranean Sea to the foothills of the Sierra Almenara, has always been striving to enhance its offering since its inception over 60 years ago.
Created by businessman and philanthropist Joseph McMicking in 1962, Sotogrande has evolved into one of Europe’s most coveted estates, combining pristine natural beauty with first-class amenities and an unrivalled lifestyle. Alongside its exquisite luxury properties, it is now one of the main sports destinations in Europe, allowing its residents and guests to practice water sports, tennis, polo and play golf on its four celebrated championship golf courses.
Always operating with a forward thinking mentality, Sotogrande has now revealed the latest addition to its revered private residential and country club – Villa Noon – Spain’s first zero emissions luxury villa. Situated in the exclusive ‘The 15’ community within La Reserva de Sotogrande, Villa Noon is a unique example of real estate innovation, operating entirely off-grid from conventional water and electricity networks.
Heralded as the ‘future of luxury living’ by the villa’s architect Fran Silvestre, he explains that “this revolutionary design meets the stringent criteria of a Passive House, standing out for its ability to operate completely self-sufficiently, independent of conventional utility networks thanks to its exceptional energy efficiency”.
The pioneering villa embodies advanced self-sufficiency technologies, ensuring an unparalleled eco-friendly living experience. It is the world’s first villa integrating a water collection system for domestic use, setting new standards for sustainability and efficiency.
The villa, a collaboration between Sotogrande, leading property developers CorkOak Mansion and Fran Silvestre, is not only a groundbreaking achievement in terms of sustainability, it is also a property which showcases magnificent and thoughtful architectural design. ‘The villa is built into the hillside to minimise its impact on the landscape. Our goal was to create a design that blends more with nature rather than traditional architecture.
The circular shapes not only draw inspiration from the natural environment but also allow us to orient the house towards the most captivating views, making it a pivot that directs each segment optimally’, explains Silvestre. Those captivating views referred to include breathtaking panoramic outlooks of La Reserva, its private beach, the Mediterranean Sea, and the northern coast of Africa.
Villa Noon revolutionises modern living with homes that achieve complete energy and water self-sufficiency. An integrated system captures rainwater for domestic use, while surplus electricity generated on-site powers the production of potable water from atmosphere humidity, significantly reducing the use of network water and costs.
Villa Noon achieves zero water consumption through three renewable sources. The first is atmospheric water generation, whereby a device extracts water from humid ambient air, producing high-quality water which can be used for drinking and cooking, powered by photovoltaic energy. The villa also makes use of rainwater collection, a medium-quality water which can be used for requirements that don’t need water fit for human consumption. Finally, there is greywater reuse, where waste water is collected from the villa and repurposed for irrigation.
The villa also boasts zero electricity consumption through an impressive energy system. Renewable energy supplies all its needs. A geothermal system with solar panels and battery accumulation generates enough energy to satisfy all the consumption of the house in one year.
Villa Noon’s sustainability credentials are clearing inspiring, but it is also a visually striking creation. Its architecture celebrates the synergy between construction and nature. From the highest point of the plot, a water-featured patio invites residents to enjoy serene moments.
An exterior staircase leads to a circular patio housing the rooms, while the lower level accommodates day spaces like the kitchen, dining room, living room, and an indoor spa, all designed to maximize natural connectivity. At street level, functional yet aesthetic garage accesses blend seamlessly into the harmonious design, respecting the natural topography and enhancing the living experience. The villa’s cylindrical shapes gracefully follow the natural terrain, its stone façade has been created to seamlessly blend with the landscape.
It’s not just the villa itself which has been developed with sustainability in mind. The surrounding landscape has had the same careful thought applied. Incorporating native, low-water-demand plants and efficient irrigation systems, the landscape architecture aligns with sustainability principles, featuring rainwater harvesting and green roofs to regulate soil temperature and reduce evaporation.
“Villa Noon represents a new era of sustainable luxury, transforming high-end living with a focus on environmental consciousness,” describes Pedro Gonzales Armas, CEO of CorkOak Mansion.
Marc Topiol, chair of Sotogrande SA, has previously described Sotogrande’s offering as one which gives its residents ‘security, space, clear air, warm weather, fantastic amenities for all the family, a closeness to nature’, but most significantly it provides ‘a platform to share all this with loved ones’.
Now, Sotogrande has demonstrated that all of this can be positively merged with exceptional quality and design and can harmoniously coexist with sustainability. It is a philosophy that lies at the heart of Sotogrande’s vision for the future – where luxury and positive environmental stewardship are intertwined, innovative design merged with environmental responsibility.
Rita Jordao, director of marketing at Sotogrande, said: “Villa Noon marks a significant leap forward for Sotogrande. It embodies our dedication to innovation, sustainability, and luxury. This project not only sets a new benchmark in architectural excellence but also solidifies Sotogrande’s leadership in pioneering sustainable living solutions.”
As Sotogrande SA continues to protect its natural environment and promote sustainability, Villa Noon stands as a testament to what the future of high-end, eco-conscious living can be. A remarkable new property which will act to inspire many others.
