TODAY WE INTERVIEW DOLORES GONZALEZ FROM GRUPO LOEN

Grupo LOEN is a reference in luxury real estate and villas in the Sotogrande area and the Costa del Sol, Marbella. When and how did Dolores debut in the real estate world?

I am Cuban. I arrived on the Costa del Sol in 1995, where I met my future husband and life and business partner a few months later.

I came from a completely different world, the academic world; I am a physicist and had worked several years at the Applied Center for the Development of Nuclear Energy in Havana. So, when I arrived on the Costa, I had to reinvent myself and learn about the beautiful and interesting business where my husband had extensive experience – the world of real estate promotion and management, specializing in the luxury residential sector. I completed a master's degree and various preparation courses, formed a good team, and created a set of companies specializing in different real estate activities that continue to work today. They have grown significantly thanks to the work of the entire team, and we have become a reference in residential luxury in our area of influence.

Promoting high-end homes with exceptional qualities and exclusive designs is your strength. How has the sector evolved to meet the new demands of this demanding clientele?

Exactly, that is our strength, both in management and in construction and real estate promotion.

The sector has evolved significantly, both in design and in the features that these projects must have. One of our top priorities is to offer both the client and the project high and exquisite quality, adapting to the needs and tastes that have evolved significantly.

We have moved from typical Mediterranean designs to those with a fusion of avant-garde and traditional elements, combining functionality with aesthetics. Today's architecture focuses on creating sustainable and energy-efficient buildings, maximizing windows to allow natural light and ventilation.

High energy efficiency is essential today. Our clients are increasingly environmentally conscious and seek projects that reflect this. Sustainability is a daily consideration during the construction process and for the home itself.

For Matimex, sustainability is a key value, as is innovation. Both concepts are shaping the new spaces we inhabit. From your perspective, how important is innovation in your promotions, and how do you apply it?

Currently, architecture is constantly evolving and is in a moment of change towards sustainability, technology, and minimalism, using eco-friendly materials to ensure that construction is environmentally friendly and integrated into the surroundings.

In luxury products, you cannot repeat designs, and with each design of a new home, we introduce new aspects: materials, services, technology.

In the construction process itself, which is one of the ones that has taken the longest to adapt to new trends, we study new technologies all the time, new ways of doing things, compare them in terms of execution time and quality with traditional methods, and apply them when the time allows.

Continuing with innovation, among the emerging technologies is artificial intelligence. What impact do you think it will have on your professional field? Do you already use artificial intelligence, or do you intend to apply it to your work?

The truth is that we still use it little, for some advertising text and little else, but there is no doubt that it will prevail in all fields. We must be vigilant and use anything that represents an advance and facilitates work.

In the new scenario we referred to, sustainability is also present. What does this concept mean for Grupo LOEN?

It is very important to manage everyone's resources so that we can meet our current needs without jeopardizing the future.

We try to recycle everything possible. For example, we try to take excess soil from a project to where it can be useful: nurseries or other projects where it is needed. We are environmentally friendly. We study gardens, trying to use many native plants that require less water in their maintenance.

We orient homes and their flights so that sunlight helps condition their temperature both in winter and summer.

We are very careful with waste and discharges, with legislation for environmental protection, and the improvement of our overall management. Our construction company has ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications from BUREAU VERITAS.

Each project is unique, as is the physical environment in which it materializes. Therefore, we understand that choosing one can be challenging. If you had to choose one, which project has truly excited you? Which child do you get more excited about? ...

It is impossible to choose a project; each project is like a child to us. You get excited about one thing with one project and another with another project; each project is unique, represents a new challenge, and creates new illusions for us.

Any significant project you are working on that you can reveal?

We will soon begin the management of a new set of luxury apartments, something relatively new for us as we mainly focus on promoting and building high-end villas."