When in 1973, I made up my mind that living under the weather conditions of Denmark was not for me, I dreamt of living in Southern Spain by the Mediterranean, visualizing serene hilly landscapes dotted with white houses, long dry summers, short mild winters and a lifestyle of easy rhythms.

When I eventually moved to Southern Spain that same year, I discovered that the reality was much better but somewhat different from my dreams. I quickly understood that there were many, many things that I had to learn from this wonderful country. Southern Spain became my permanent home, three of my four children were born here and my family have over the many years, enjoyed and appreciated the warmth and hospitality of the Spanish people, allowing us to feel like Spaniards.

Obviously gone is my vision of "serene landscapes dotted with white houses" and over the past 20 years I have been guilty of contributing to that with the development of Miraflores. However, most of the resorts built over that period made an effort of moderate use of the land being built on, allowing wide spaces for landscaped gardens and leisure areas. Central and local governments imposed these rules for new construction, followed by sufficient installation of infrastructure, such as roads, water, sewerage and electricity.

Master plans were approved for all the land areas within different municipalities, allowingareas such as Miraflores, a maximum occupancy of 25% of the land areas and buildings of a maximum of three floors. This would allow 75% of the land areas to be free from any construction.
Except for Parque Miraflores, which obtained a specific building license due to its singular design, we made absolutely sure that the homes and communities we built at Miraflores, always kept the building volume below the above mentioned permitted level. We developed communities of homes in buildings of one, two and three stories with large areas of landscaped gardens, water cascades and streams as well as 18 swimming pools. Our companies directed nearly 40% of our development investment into garden areas at Miraflores enabling it to live up to its name - a Mediterranean garden with its own lifestyle and microclimate. Today this evidence is recognised by anyone visiting Miraflores - calling it "the jewel of the Costa del Sol".

But some of the present activity of developments of properties seems to me rather excessive. The current master plans now allow in some residential areas up to 55% occupancy of the land areas being built on with up to five and six storey buildings. By allowing higher building volume an increase in the prices of development land has occurred and one wonderswhen will the corresponding adequate general services and infrastructure that these new homes will require be put in place? As a developer, it is my sincere hope that the politicians and developers will ensure that some of these homes presently being built for expatriates moving to Spain, will not result in a "nightmare" for our new neighbours.

Our group of companies have a proven track record spanning twenty years, and our management and staff have worked hard to earn the slogan:

"Miraflores, where excellence is tradition."

Ole D. Sigurdsson
President Miraflores Group of Companies

	BACK TO PAGE ONE		PAGE THREE