Property
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FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE: The legend of Karl Lagerfeld in Marbella
NOVEMBER 2022
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EXTRAORDINARY: How do they do that? Spain’s most outlandish, original places to live
Tech BOOM! HUNDREDS of new luxury homes will be needed on the Costa del Sol after Google announced it was making big moves into Malaga. Global developers are jostling for position to satisfy the expected demand as the city becomes the new ‘Silicon Valley of Europe.’ US property giant Berkshire Hathaway is aiming to build an initial 400 luxury villas to meet demand, after Google announced a cybersecurity ‘centre of excellence’ in the city. Its Spanish chief believes many of the buyers will be Americans relocating for the new jobs, having been seduced by the lifestyle and climate. “The interest Americans are showing in Malaga is especially significant as the city
Google’s plans to make Malaga new ‘Silicon Valley’ will see rising demand for luxury homes on the costa By Walter Finch
quickly positions itself as the Silicon Valley of Europe,” explained Bruno Rabassa at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Spain, which has opened an office in the city. “In a short time the city will have to accommodate many displaced workers from large companies.” His new office in the city centre intends to offer 400 new luxury properties to serve the burgeoning tech sector after Google’s announcement.
"The technological and cultural attractions, the climate, and above all the lifestyle have turned Malaga into a strategic key point for the real estate sector," he told SER radio. His company has already opened an office in Marbella, with plans to develop over 1,400 luxury properties along the Costa del Sol. Google released new details on its ‘centre of excellence’ at its annual cybersecurity summit in Madrid, a fortnight ago. The Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) is being developed inside the shell of a historic building by the port of
Malaga. It aims to open its doors to budding cybersecurity professionals in the second half of 2023. And rather than just focus on southern Europe, as originally believed, the Malaga centre is now aimed at becoming a global hub. It will be ‘at the heart of the digital revolution’, revealed Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer at Google. “This is going to change the rules of the game: In 2023, Malaga will become our new Google Security Engineering Cen-
ter, a global centre for cybersecurity and malware research,” he said. Google released a slick video showcasing the new development, featuring some of the most iconic locations including the Pompidou Museum, the port and the cathedral as part of its promotion for the new project. Such a development is expected to create an agglomeration effect, drawing a wider range of tech enterprises to Spain’s south coast, creating the ‘Silicon Valley’ effect.