5 bedroom villa 570 m² Benahavis, Spain

A huge wooden door opens wide to welcome you into the sanctuary that is this Villa, past the statues of ‘Fu Dogs’, hand-carved from volcanic rock.The hallway draws you in as if you never want to leave. An ornate wooden door leads to the first of two master bedrooms, ingenious in its use of wood and natural stone.The bathroom is open-plan, the shower cosy in its glass enclosure with an ornate washbasin opposite. The bed looks out through terrace doors that give access to the outdoor oasis.A side door leads to the dressing room, elegant with illuminated glass doors and furnished with bespoke furniture.Another door leads to the spa area, where you can begin your rejuvenation. Enjoy a full massage, recline in the 8-person sauna or soak in the unique 1500-year-old bathtub that stands proudly under a skylight, beams of light pouring down to highlight the carved granite bathtub.Leading out through carved wooden doors is the open plan living room and kitchen, both with access to the gardens and infinity pool.The living room floor is a sublime fusion of parquet wood and a section of opaque glass that gives the impression of water underfoot. A bio-ethanol fireplace acts sublimely as a room divider.The kitchen is a masterpiece and showcases the skilful use of natural wood with stainless steel. Resplendent with a bespoke island at centre stage, it offers seating around a circular end and invites any chef to show off their skills.The second master bedroom is just around the corner from the living room. With high ceilings and soft LED lighting, this room has a youthful feel: the 1950s style creates a homely effect. An open-plan bathroom to one side includes a glass-enclosed shower and a golden washbasin.Upstairs there is a fully equipped gym with views of the mountains and gardens.The lower floor holds more surprises. A laundry room with double sink offers plenty of cupboard and shelf space; the simple concrete walls are juxtaposed with the understated parquet flooring. A chill-out chair languishes in a corner, offering a place to relax.From the hallway you enter two bedrooms, both invisibly illuminated by LED lights and with natural concrete blending with touches of wood and open-style bathrooms. Plush furnishings contrast with the stone and wood, inviting you to lie back and relax.There is a cinema room with a bar and toilet, all acoustically designed so that sound reverberates off the walls and the experience is totally immersive.Hidden behind a wooden wall is a panic room, fully equipped to accommodate 12 people, self-sufficient, including a kitchen, dining room and bathroom. Security cameras can be accessed from this fortified shelter and, in the event of a power failure, this area remains fully connected.Outside, in the gardens, its true self is revealed through its flora and fauna, inextricably linked by its senses. A hybrid lawn, which only needs to be mowed twice a year, gently caresses underfoot, a Japanese stone garden offers a sense of strength, an aviary of olive trees adds a sense of freedom, and a fruit garden yields tomatoes, bananas, avocados and pomegranates.In the centre, an ancient Balinese temple sits within a fish pond, linked by a wooden bridge, offering respite from the heat of the day. The infinity pool stretches out, with its sun loungers submerged at one end and Buddha at the other, spiritually perceptive and ever-present. Next to the pool is a fully equipped guest house with kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and chill out area.On the other side of the house is a final nod to the theme of life, rebirth and spirituality that flows throughout the property: the Algarrobo, a 1,000 year old tree affectionately referred to as ‘grandfather’. It is monumental and majestic, and its branches are reborn every 80 years. With the emblem of the Villa all over the house, this property will leave you speechless. Immersed in a bubble of serenity and peace from the moment you enter, the silence is profound throughout the villa, as well as a sense of being one with the universe.With first class facilities including water tanks, 42 solar panels, a military style security system, aerothermal and a water purification system, this property is a haven that offers an unspoken purification of the mind along with an innate sense of peace.Simply put, you walk in and you may walk out unintentionally, but this Villa will inevitably become part of your soul.