Culu Culu

Villas for sale in Culu Culu. Indigo Real Estate is pleased to announce that the Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort, Argentina’s first luxury resort and residential community built to accommodate the international taste for high style in recreation and comfort, has attracted great interest and substantial sales in its first months of public offering. Argentina, an area with abundant natural beauty and world class sophistication in its capital, Buenos Aires, has become attractive to the international investor who values recent political and fiscal stability.

Description : The response to an exclusive resort lifestyle community which allows residents access to international standard polo, fine wine cellars, chic restaurants and world class spa with the proximity to a kilometer of pristine lake and exotic bird sanctuary, has proved irresistible to the international investor,” says Nick Anthony, Managing Director of Indigo Real Estate and a development partner of the Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort.

Culu Culu is spread over a natural expanse of over 1235 acres with four home designs created by three outstanding architectural firms each with a different but complementary vision of a lifestyle that celebrates the natural features of the surrounding landscape. Each of the 226 home sites cover 1.5 acres of privacy set around the eight polo fields in the project which provide the distinctive character to this unique world class community. Each home site has a fully landscaped area of 64,560 sq. ft. with 200 feet of polo frontage and 328 feet of depth. Residents have access to business concierge services and each home has a wine cellar with 1000 bottles of Argentine wine.

Culu Culu is located at Los Lobos, just twenty minutes south of Buenos Aires International Airport. Forming a golden triangle, neighbours include Santa Maria Del Lobos, where actor Tommy Lee Jones owns a house, and The Royal Pahang, a Malaysian owned estate. Nearby lies the world-renowned La Espadana polo estate, winners of the Argentine Open from 1986-1990, and just down the road is the incomparable Adolfo Cambiaso’s La Dolfina, boasting over 700 horses.

International financier and polo enthusiast Al Alletzhauser, primary developer of Culu Culu believes that traditional polo venues such as Palm Beach, Florida, have become crowded and do not offer the space and beauty of the Argentine location.

“Culu Culu is not all about polo,” said Al Letzhauser, “but it certainly is about the lifestyle that accompanies it. We’re all very excited about making this a truly one-stop destination resort for the entire family, and we have just the property on which to do it.”

Active families will enjoy fishing, kayaking the lake, tennis, safe and easy outrides on horseback, 4x4ing, parachuting in the compact but safe Lobos airport with a grass airstrip, polo, jumping, dressage and hunting. For moods of tranquility, residents can enjoy massages, body treatments, nature walks, bird-watching, world class restaurants, wine and cigar bars and botanical gardens.

Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort represents an exciting new era for Argentinean resort property and is the world’s first specialized multi-field polo and equestrian estate incorporating a luxury villa resort, spa, restaurants, clubhouse and recreational facilities bordering a natural bird sanctuary.

The 443 hectare, eight polo-field gated luxury estate - including over 60 ha of lakes and sanctuary - is destined to be iconic in world polo and is Argentina’s first luxury real estate project to be internationally marketed. Set on the Argentine Pampas, Culu Culu is framed by small towns, luxurious estates, ranches and over 100 private polo fields in a 50km radius.

The developers sought a differentiator in environment and were fortunate to secure a property that had been family-owned for over a hundred years. Also on the property, a massive fresh water lake teeming with birdlife is well known for the thousands of migratory flamingos that share the waters with iridescent kingfishers. A 100m open area borders the lake with walking trails and conservation media.

Within the integrated polo, equestrian and resort property is world class architecture, quality design, materials, landscaping and interiors. Architecturally, the Culu Culu villas will be the most exciting new properties in Argentina. The Argentine artisans are recognized world wide and Culu Culu will be one of the countries showcases.

The estate enjoys solid backing, professional master planning and is strategic in its quick completion strategy that has underpinned an initial solid response to pre-launch marketing.

THE LOCATION

Culu Culu is located at Lobos just twenty minutes south from Buenos Aires (BA) International Airport with the capital city just over an hour away from the resort. Forming a golden triangle, neighbours include Santa Maria Del Lobos where actor Tommy Lee Jones owns a house and The Royal Pahang, a Malaysian owned estate. Nearby is the world renowned La Espadana polo estate - winners of the Argentine Open from 1986-90. Also in the Golden Triangle is one of Argentina’s best player’s estates, Adolfo Cambiasos’ property La Dolfina, with over 700 horses.

THE CONCEPT

Horses are a way of life in Argentina and also part of a home’s DNA. The focal concept at Culu Culu is to integrate the outdoor landscape and lifestyle into the house design. Low-maintenance designer gardens, salt water swimming pools, alfresco dining and gourmet entertainment salas with polo viewing decks are main staples of this lifestyle estate. Botanic common areas fuse the polo fields discreetly into the landscaped private polo villas.

Water elements such as horse troughs, lotus ponds, sculptural water elements and contemporary waterfalls provide movement and sound. Villa entry foyers offer storage for all horse riding and polo equipment. Culu Culu homes also feature art as a focal point and collectors will be encouraged to source locally in BA.

Culu Culu is expected to have over 200 000 bottles of wine making it the largest private collection of Argentine wine in the world. All villas will have a customized wine cellar for up to 3000 bottles of wine with adjoining cigar room.

The resort’s highly skilled sommeliers offering wine tasting and appreciation courses are sure to be popular. In symphony with the resort hotel operator all villas will enjoy concierge service, a rental pool and benefits at the clubhouse and spa.

The Lodge clubhouse includes a restaurant, private dining rooms, bar, Cuban cigar room, underground cellaring for 6,000 bottles of Argentine wine, polo library, sophisticated business centre, movie room and art gallery. An onsite Porsche museum is also planned.

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

South African-based Polo player Al Alletzhauser is joined by Thailand-based Australian Nick Anthony and a team of international and Buenos Aires-based development professionals who share a vision of the future for Culu Culu, Argentine Polo and a new Buenos Aires. Culu Culu is the proud sponsor of the Heguy family champion Polo team Indios Chapa II.

THE ARCHITECTS

The estate’s architectural design team incorporates two renowned BA architectural talents responsible for creating two villa types – Sebastian Batarev of dynamic young practise GM S+B+V, and Diego Guzman of Guzman Design, also the onsite architect and designer of BA’s most luxurious hotel. Award -winning Toronto-based architect Paul Raff of Paul Raff Studio in Toronto, Canada will design Culu Culu Lodge clubhouse and a third villa type. Paul Raff is the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Canadian Allied Arts Award for contribution to the culture of architecture.

“From the start, the development team agreed that the estate would be a modern style projecting a classic design in the future,” explains architect Paul Raff.

Relating the villa to the landscape, home designs are of restrained, confident elegance with a fresh and modern clarity.

“An ‘of the landscape project’, surrounded by nature 360 degrees, the unique designs are flavoured for this beautiful part of the world,” said Raff.

HOME DESIGNS – ONYX, JADE & AQUAMARINE

The Aquamarine – GM S + B + V
The Aquamarine Polo Villas are based on the rare sparkling gem of the same name, designed to link your family home to the fresh blue waters of Lake Culu Culu. Perforated earth toned facades, light-filled open gallery spaces fused with natural stone and contemporary art, and a generous courtyard providing direct relation with the polo field are features of this design. Green technology will provide a maintenance free villa.

The architects and artisans plan to use onyx, marble, limestone, granite and light woods for a feeling of warmth. An outdoor fireplace is incorporated in the asada, an alfresco courtyard for barbecues, sunset bird-watching and star gazing. Orientation and design of house is driven by maximizing views and interactivity with salt water pools. A parilla and summer kitchen with wine fridge allows alfresco meals for large groups dining the Argentinian way.

The Jade Home – Diego Guzman
Named from the ornamental stone that represents longevity in Chinese tradition, the Jade Home is a combination of nature and architecture blending the essential elements of light, wind, water, fire and sky. Natural light is drawn in through translucent walls and screens creating a harmonious interior. Skylights throw shafts of filtered beams into bath and cigar rooms, while water ponds nestle against interior spaces with a calming and cooling effect.

Jade is a two-level villa with the upper floor overlooking Lake Culu Culu and the polo fields. In winter, the Jade Home heats itself with natural insulation, light and a roaring fireplace. A great family home, there is ample open outdoor space for children to play. With a strong sense of landscape, the gardens unfold toward the polo field. Exterior materials of rough hewn stone and geometric patterned wood represent the bridge between nature and architecture.

The Onyx House – Paul Raff
Inspired by the Patagonia Mountains and Argentina’s natural landscape, the Onyx villas are highly textural, light and free flowing. Exteriors will be hewn of stone, glass, steel and natural woods encasing an elegant modern house inspired by Mies Van Der Rohes’ classic modernist style. One of the most important architects of the twentieth century, an example of this design work is Farnsworth House, USA, which evoked an emotive quote by historian Franz Shulze: “Certainly the house is more nearly temple than dwelling, and it rewards aesthetic contemplation before it fulfills domestic necessity.”

Raff’s two-level Onyx design is a masterpiece of multimedia integration, soaring ceilings and modern outdoor family areas. Homes will enjoy feature rich tech-glass offering light play, art installations and video surfaces. Bedroom plunge pools and Jacuzzis are integrated into landscaped outdoor bathrooms to catch the morning sun.

Onyx interiors enjoy a natural palette of elegance and sophistication – function and comfort a high priority. An open plan kitchen extends to a 6m high great room; dining and living areas merge into a leather clad movie room and crows nest study is perched atop. Outdoor entertainment salas will offer a viewing deck with a bird’s eye view of the polo field.

THE PACKAGE

Land plots are generous at Culu Culu. A fully landscaped area of 6000sqm offers approximately 60m of polo frontage and 100 m of depth.

Three villa designs of limited customization include options on kitchens, bedrooms, villa size, cellar design and size, technology, interior design and customized furniture.

Polo villas are available in three, four, and five bedroom designs with complete interior design and furniture package.

Designing the rooms took careful consideration as completed villas are on offer as full Fixtures, Furniture & Electronic (FF&E) packages. Interior elements have been sourced from the best suppliers in Buenos Aires.

“This is one of those rare moments in history when you are able to build a home in a safe and vibrant country and feel you have bought at the bottom of the market,” says developer Al Alletzhauser.

“Your home will be comparable to a work of art but cost you a quarter of the UK and one half of US home-building costs”.

Culu Culu Polo Lifestyle Resort is an exciting fusion of family estate, a professionally designed equestrian centre, bird sanctuary and luxury resort, destined to be a significant icon for the new Argentina - a proud and richly cultured continent that has endured great economic hardships this last decade and now poised for a significant recovery.