Over 80% of resort in Brazil sold in under a year by all-female team

The all-female team behind the Pipa Beleza development in Natal have enjoyed great success, having sold more than 80% of the resort in less than 12 months.

The ladies responsible for the prestigious project are a Norwegian development team made up of Vibecke Olsen, Marianne Beck and Emma Bjørke, who have contracted local Brazilian project manager, Adriana Alves, along with sales agents, uv10 - headed up by Samantha Gore. The result is a Zen-inspired spa resort, complete with yoga/Pilates studio and juice bar, where the properties are reportedly flying off the shelves.

"We believe that Pipa Beleza has really benefitted from having an all-female perspective. Certainly aesthetics and functionality are given a greater emphasis," said development director, Marianne Beck.

"Each individual house and apartment is thoroughly worked through in detail - everything from the size of the doorways, framing and maximising views from windows and terraces, to the kitchen 'work triangle' between sink, cooker and fridge and ample cupboard and food preparation space. All the wooden furniture is custom-made for each room and handcrafted by local craftsmen. There is no mass "job-lot, cost-cutting" shipping-in of furniture."

Ms. Beck went on to explain that, from the beginning, the team's aim was to create a unique boutique resort where the homes are spacious with windows on all sides and where there are private areas outside, as well as "superb views". She explained that the kitchens extend indoor-outdoors with an on-terrace barbecue area "ideal for al-fresco entertaining". She added that the resort's garden apartments have an outdoor Bali-inspired shower covered in tropical plants.

"Pipa Beleza, as you would expect, has a distinctly feminine touch. The gardens are interspersed with tropical fruits and flowers, guests can indulge in the spa with Balinese baths, practice yoga and Pilates in our comfortable studio and enjoy treatments in the beauty salon. Then, as the sun sets, sip cocktails and champagne around the pool or on the rooftop juice bar with smooth bossa nova music flowing from the integrated sound system," said Ms. Beck.

"We did get some strange looks from the Brazilian construction team in the beginning as they were not accustomed to girls in miniskirts on their building sites. But Brazilians are fair and open people and we quickly earned respect from our enthusiasm and above all our professionalism."

Now part-way through construction, uv10 is offering garden apartments, one remaining penthouse and two semi-detached villas, all of which combine Norwegian design with Brazilian rustic charm in a coastal setting. Set high up on the russet-coloured Chapadao - the cliff which forms the backdrop to Pipa's beaches, Pipa Beleza is dedicated to outdoor living and offers views over the Atlantic Forest and beaches below.

The developers have also incorporated 24-hour security, a mini-market, modern restaurant and a full property rental service. Pipa Beleza's on-site management and administration office will enable owners to have the potential to make high returns in an area which is already said to have a thriving tourist market.

Off-site, the centre of Pipa village is just over 1km away, the Praia do Amor (Love Beach) is also nearby. Other activities close at hand include kite-surfing, swimming with the dolphins which live in the bay and beach buggy touring on the dunes.

Natal's International Airport is around 80km from Pipa, while the city's major new international airport, set to be the eighth largest in the world, is already under construction.

For more information, visit www.uv10.com

Information courtesy of Purple Cake Factory SL and uv10

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