Ticino Welcome °82, September - December 2024, PRECIOUS RARITIES
PRECIOUS RARITIES
TICINO STILL HIDES ARCHITECTURAL PEARLS RICH IN HISTORY, WONDERFUL PROPERTIES IMMERSED IN GREENERY. A HERITAGE, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, AS TOLD BY THE CO-OWNERS OF WETAG CONSULTING, PHILIPP PETER AND IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID.
In the past, the lakeside villa, surrounded by a vast park, was a must for wealthy families. Ticino, with its lakes and Mediterranean climate, was thus the ideal place to relax and spend long vacation periods. These properties were true living jewels, every detail—from the color of the flowers to the choice of plants—was constantly cared for and nothing was left to chance.
PHILIPP PETER: "Today, properties of this kind are a rarity; we live in a hectic era, we no longer have time to dedicate to maintenance. This is because wealthy families travel a lot and prefer to purchase large, practical, modern properties with luxury finishes and maximum comfort. To understand, think of smart homes with advanced technologies, capable of anticipating the desires of those who live in them."
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "This does not mean that greenery has lost its charm. I think of luxury penthouses with terraces and plants, custom gardens with swimming pools, waterfalls, and sought-after trees, but when it comes to a park, meaning thousands of square meters of green... the situation changes, typically not fitting into search criteria, especially for the new generations. It must also be said that these historic properties are rarely found on the market, we have some, but usually, those who buy a historic villa by the lake cherish it dearly, passing it down from generation to generation."
PHILIPP PETER: "The situation is similar throughout Ticino. In the Lugano area, we had historic villas with parks and we have sold practically all of them. I think it's necessary to remember that many of these parks allowed owners to carry out further constructions and so it has been. We could talk about real estate speculation, but sometimes decisions are related to inheritance issues: not everyone is willing to spend hundreds of thousands of francs on the annual maintenance of a garden. Even historic buildings are not less demanding, requiring special and expensive care, think of all the villas demolished in recent decades... fortunately, some of these houses are now protected, remaining the last memory of an architectural heritage recognized too late."
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "Returning to Lake Maggiore, we find some unique properties, but not directly on the lake. The only lakeside property we have is in Gerra-Gambarogno, a historic villa from 1880, with a park of almost 9000 square meters and a private beach. Otherwise, the shore that runs from Ascona to Brissago, on Lake Maggiore, is a narrow strip and the villas are built steeply on the lake, with limited green areas. The situation changes when we arrive in Italy, where we find numerous historic villas with parks of century-old camellias, but they do not hold real interest for our clientele, who choose Switzerland for specific reasons, such as safety, economic stability, schools, and the healthcare system."
PHILIPP PETER: "Even in the Lugano area, these properties are rare, we currently have a villa in Caslano with a park completely to be renovated, a unique item, but aimed at a very wealthy niche market. Another exclusive item is Villalta, in Croglio, a villa that belonged to Helmut Horten. A property with an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a guest residence with 12 suites, and a dining room capable of hosting up to forty people. All surrounded by a wonderful natural park, with ancient plants. Also interesting is the estate in Vacallo, nestled in greenery, a colonial house among the vineyards, a mix between Provençal and Tuscan style."
IRADJ ALEXANDER DAVID: "What truly frightens are the management costs, but not only. Purchasing a historic villa and transforming it into a modern dwelling, with all comforts, indeed requires a great commitment also in terms of time and waiting. Most clients today prefer a ready-made house, requiring only personalization and not years of work."
PHILIPP PETER: "It must be said, however, that these objects are indescribable, treasures of our territory, and we sincerely hope that they find people capable of restoring their splendor."
WETAG CONSULTING IMMOBILIARE SA
Luxury Real Estate for sale in Ticino, Switzerland
Riva Antonio Caccia 3
CH-6900 Lugano
Via Antonio Ciseri 13A
CH-6600 Locarno
Via Monte Verità 1
CH-6612 Ascona
www.wetag.ch
www.journal.wetag.ch
[email protected]
+41(0)91 601 04 40
