Discover a curated series of interviews that brings together the voices shaping Marbella’s luxury landscape. From industry pioneers to influential local figures, each episode offers an insider’s perspective on the evolution, character, and future of our city — told with authenticity, depth, and a genuine understanding of its unique way of life. A collection designed to inspire, inform and reveal the stories behind the people who define excellence on the Costa del Sol.
Explore Marbella through the lens of those who know it best. Pure Talks, led by Javier Nieto, CEO and founder of Pure Living Properties, this exclusive interview series offers a unique insight into the people, projects, and ideas shaping the city’s luxury landscape.
Pure Talks invites you to discover Marbella through the eyes of those who know it best. Directed by Javier Nieto, CEO and founder of Pure Living Properties, this exclusive interview series offers a unique perspective on the people, projects, and ideas shaping the city’s luxury real estate landscape.
Through Pure Talks, pioneering figures from real estate, architecture, hospitality, and lifestyle share their stories, decisions, and visions, revealing the key elements that define contemporary Marbella.
Guided by Javier’s deep knowledge and personal connection to the city, Pure Talks goes beyond market insight to capture the essence of Marbella — its culture, its elegance, and its enduring position as one of the Mediterranean’s most influential luxury destinations.
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Javier Nieto revisits the story, the ideas, and the humanity of one of Spain’s great design masters in an intimate and personal interview.
Pedro Peña’s journey began over fifty years ago, when he left his hometown of Jaén, drawn by the Mediterranean light and the promise of a golden Marbella that was just beginning to bloom. Today, his name is synonymous with excellence, style, and sensitivity in the world of interior design.
From his iconic showroom in Marbella — a reference for anyone seeking to understand the true meaning of luxury — Pedro has brought his vision and unique style to homes across the globe. But behind this esteemed professional lies a generous and approachable man, gifted with exceptional creative intuition.
In this close and personal conversation with Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties, we discover the life, thoughts, and human side of one of Spain’s greatest design figures.
Renowned architect Ismael Mérida shares his beginnings in the world of architecture and the evolution of the sector in a relaxed and personal interview with Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties.
An architect by unexpected calling and a restless soul, Ismael Mérida has, over nearly three decades, designed some of the most renowned villas in the high-end residential scene of the Golden Triangle. From his studio in Marbella, he has understood, perhaps better than anyone, the needs of an increasingly global and demanding client—without losing sight of his roots, Mediterranean culture, and the value of authenticity.
We sat down for an open conversation—as we have so many times before—about the past, present and future of Marbella, architecture, construction and, above all, the passion that drives everything he does. A conversation full of emotion, politically incorrect and unfiltered, about what it really means to create homes—not just design spaces.
Friends for more than three decades, Carlos Rodríguez, CEO of Sierra Blanca Estates, and Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties, met at the new Pure Living Properties office in Marbella to talk about the present and future of the high-end real estate market — one of the key industries driving the Costa del Sol.
Both men grew up in the same city, sharing childhood games in Puente Romano back when Marbella was still a quiet Mediterranean town, unaware that years later they would both become leading figures in shaping its transformation — one as a developer and the other as a real estate consultant.
Founded in 1986 by Pedro Rodríguez, Sierra Blanca Estates is now one of Spain’s most prestigious property developers. The company has been a pioneer in the creation of branded residences with projects such as EPIC Marbella by FENDI Casa, Karl Lagerfeld Villas and the upcoming Design Hills – Dolce&Gabbana. These visionary developments have helped expand the concept globally, positioning Marbella as a world-class residential destination.
Speaking with Javier Nieto (CEO of Pure Living Properties) is to experience Marbella from the inside out. Born in the city, he grew up among the lush gardens of Puente Romano and the corridors of the Marbella Club, observing—almost without realising it—the evolution of a place that would become one of the great epicentres of Mediterranean luxury. Today, that intimate understanding of the city—its streets, its rhythm, its people, and its way of life—is one of the main defining values of Pure Living Properties, the agency he founded in 2008, right in the middle of the financial crisis, when most others were leaving.
He welcomes us into his new office in the centre of Marbella, a bright and contemporary space that complements the agency’s historic base in Puente Romano and symbolises the consolidation of a project that has never stopped evolving. Accustomed to interviewing key figures from the sector for Pure Life—the annual magazine published by Pure Living Properties—today Javier sits on the other side of the table, speaking with Marta Ramos, journalist at elEconomista, about the evolution of a city he knows and loves deeply.
A former professional footballer and now one of the most influential names in Marbella’s new lifestyle scene, Zazou Belounis heads up Casanis Group, a hospitality ecosystem that has turned the experience — the music, service, staging and cuisine — into a way of understanding the city. With iconic brands in Marbella and an expansion that already has its sights set on major capitals, Zazou Belounis is celebrating a key moment: the recent leap to Madrid with Nota Blu New Brasserie and the international landing in Doha, reinforcing the idea that what works in Marbella can be exported without losing its soul.
In this interview, Zazou Belounis shares with Javier Nieto his vision of Marbella, his love affair with the city and the future of one of the most important groups on the current gastronomic scene. A friendly chat between friends who share their passion for sharing with customers everything that a unique city has to offer and the thousand ways to experience it.
The super-prime villa market in Marbella has evolved into one of the most dynamic and sophisticated residential sectors in Europe. Today, international buyers are not only seeking turnkey properties but are increasingly drawn to the opportunity of developing bespoke homes in some of the most exclusive enclaves of the Golden Triangle.
To gain a deeper understanding of this segment, Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties, sits down with Ana Francia, Director of Matterhorn Estates — a firm renowned for the development of exceptional villas and high-end residential projects in Marbella.
Over the past decade, Ana Francia has been behind some of the most distinctive properties in the area, particularly in prestigious locations such as Sierra Blanca and La Cerquilla. These prime addresses continue to attract discerning international buyers seeking privacy, lifestyle, and long-term investment value.
A recent example of this demand is the successful sale of Villa Majorelle, achieved by Pure Living Properties for €14.5 million. Located in La Cerquilla and developed by Matterhorn Estates, the transaction reflects the sustained appetite for unique, design-led homes within Marbella’s prime market.
In this conversation, Ana Francia shares valuable insights into the evolution of the luxury buyer profile, the level of capital required to enter Marbella’s villa development market, and the real risks involved in such projects. She also highlights the key elements that define success in today’s landscape — from architectural vision and location to execution and market timing.
More than an interview, this edition of Pure Talks offers a refined perspective on what it truly takes to create exceptional properties in one of Europe’s most competitive luxury real estate markets.
Buying a property in Marbella may appear straightforward at first glance: choose a property, agree on a price, and sign. However, behind every transaction lies a complex legal, urban planning, and tax framework that must be carefully navigated — particularly for international buyers unfamiliar with the Spanish system.
In this edition of Pure Talks, Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties, speaks with Miguel Manzanares, founder of Manzanares Abogados, a firm with over three decades of experience specialising in real estate and tax law.
Throughout the conversation, Miguel offers a clear and practical perspective on what makes purchasing property in Marbella different from other markets. He explains why having an independent lawyer is not simply advisable, but essential, and outlines the legal risks that may arise if proper due diligence is not carried out.
Among the key topics discussed are urban planning irregularities, deposit risks, taxation for residents and non-residents, and the strategic decision of whether to purchase in a personal name or through a corporate structure. His insights provide valuable guidance for both first-time buyers and seasoned investors looking to operate safely within the Marbella market.
One of the most important distinctions highlighted in the interview relates to the role of the notary in Spain. Unlike in other jurisdictions, where the notary may play an active role in protecting the buyer, in Spain their function is limited to the final stage of the transaction — overseeing the signing of the public deed, the payment, and the transfer of ownership.
This means that the responsibility for verifying the legal status of the property lies entirely with the buyer’s legal advisor. Without thorough prior analysis, buyers may be exposed to hidden risks that could affect both the security of the transaction and the long-term value of the asset.
More than a legal overview, this conversation offers a deeper understanding of the structure behind property transactions in Marbella — reinforcing the importance of informed decision-making in one of Europe’s most sought-after real estate markets.
