A view with a room

Sitting in luxury, I look out of the patio door and see possibly the best view in Malta. In a few minutes' time AX Holdings Group Chairman Angelo Xuereb will tell me all there is to know about "Malta's most luxurious residence" - Verdala Mansions.

The 34 residences, which include four penthouses, are situated in Rabat, with views of virtually all Malta, ranging from Mdina to Birzebbuga, with the fields and hills in the forefront, with Sliema, Valletta and the sea beyond visible on a clear day.

While the view remains a major selling point, Verdala Mansions offers much more for those who can afford it - "those who live an extraordinary lifestyle".

The first words Mr Xuereb told me were: "Property is in my blood". The Suncrest Hotel, Capua Palace Hotel and the Victoria Hotel - all projects Mr Xuereb has seen through - all stand out. Mr Xuereb had a main focus on quality when working on these projects. Taking on the Verdala Mansions project as "the prime property in Malta", his focus remained unchanged.

"This is one of the best, if not the best property in Malta," Mr Xuereb told me, while admitting a bias in his own favour. The construction of Verdala Mansions started in summer 2001, and the intentions were for the finished project to complement the location.

Research revealed that there was an unsatisfied market for high-quality 'apartments' offering an extraordinary lifestyle. Mr Xuereb realised that people moving to this sort of residence would demand privacy, security, luxury, comfort and quality. Consequently he offered just that.

Verdala Mansions is split into four blocks. Fully accessible to disabled persons, the lifts - the best in the world market - can carry some 12 people.

All apartments are finished to a very high standard, with individually designed marble motif features for every residence, terrace doors 5.5 metres wide in most apartments, double-glazing throughout, solid oak internal doors, marble and parquet flooring, imitation marble bathroom tiles (with the advantage that they do not get stained), five telephone points and four television points.

There are also 80 electrical points in each residence, as well as air-conditioning pipework and electricity connection in place, while most rooms have wiring prepared for ceiling fans or extra lighting, as well as the opportunity to install electric curtains or roll-down shutters on the balcony doors.

Extra care was taken to ensure that neigbouring apartments do not have identical tiling patterns, while common areas were not forgotten.

All halls will be finished to the highest specifications, while the four pools include one indoor. The 5,000 m2 landscaped garden ensures that the underlying 120-car garage is no eyesore.

Additionally, there are nine parking spaces for visitors, while Verdala Mansions also boasts a three-car porte-cochère - the only residence in Malta that can do so.

Before parking their car in the two-car lock-up garage - included in the purchase price - residents can park their cars in the porte-cochère drop off and pick-up area, sheltered from the rain or sun. There is also the option of buying four-car garages.

Residents can also use the hotel facilities and services once it is fully operational.

Out of the 34 apartments, a third have already been sold, with only one-third of these going to foreigners. "When buying these properties, people are buying a lifestyle," Mr Xuereb said.

Looking around the apartment and out at the view I cleared my throat and asked about prices. "Roughly Lm1,000 per square metre," he replied without a second's thought.

Prices start from Lm120,000. An average-sized three-bedroomed apartment with an indoor area of 240 m2 with a further 33 m2 of terrace area is going for Lm235,000. The biggest penthouse still available has a total indoor and outdoor area of 620 m2. This is going for Lm600,000.

This sort of luxury does come at a price, but if it's within your budget... The first residents should be moving in around December.