Creatures feel better in some buildings than in others. Imagine a buried box with an entrance from above, an airy hut in a tree, or a little house on the ground, and most spiders would choose the first, most birds the second and most humans the third of these homes. And then you may ask: And which kind of building is it where people generally feel best? Are there any rules?

I came to this question since as a realtor I see hundreds of homes every year, and it is obvious to me that some have definitely a better feel to them than others. Every home has a specific feel to it, and at some point I began to classify them secretly with a scale from 1 to 10 calling it the “Feeling Factor”. Talking about with others I noticed that their “Feeling Factor” was surprisingly similar to mine, so the question was inevitable: Are there any rules to this? The more you think the more interesting it gets.

Let’s take painting first. Most people would agree that some paintings are far more appealing and simply superior to others, bur if we would want to put up rules on how to do a master-painting, the idea would be considered as unorthodox, to say the least. Individuals feel individual, they say, and art is art. Don’t try to scale.

But, after all, the Feeling Factor might be the single most important feature for the use of a home in the long run. So even if it is very off-focus, it may well pay to put it on stage and to give it a serious thought.

Contemporary architects build homes focused on design rather than well-being (yes, I hear the storm of protest). Splendid isolation, lot of privacy and focus on view are high in demand. When built, interior designers will try to make it appealing, and proud owners imagine how they’ll show their masterpieces to their impressed fellows. Shortly after, they start to feel isolated, lonely and anxious. Constructions of the past were often restricted by scarcity of the variety of building materials and of heating means, so probably there is no big learning effect from them. One thing that is remarkable is that they built quite close together, in times and through ages. People seemed to like to live in herds, how about today? Since “feeling” cannot be measured, it escapes our science. One of the few manuals which puts full focus on Feeling Facor is Feng Shui, an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. It follows Chinese Taoism which is based on the five elements, on Chi the flow of energy and on the principle of Ying and Yang.

Feng Shui became en vogue in our societies about a decade ago, and I paid some time and some attention to it. A bunch of principles which is complicated and utterly strange (“put a shallow bowl with pieces of carbon in the lower left corner on the room’s floor”…) makes you feel uneasy and sceptical. But astonishingly enough, every time I followed the proposal of Feng Shui to change a disturbing situation, or to enhance the well-being within a home, it worked. Feng Shui starts out with the planning of a home, giving advice on how to do the layout and so on, but it equally deals with solving the problems of existing property, may it be the property itself or a disturbing surrounding.

Of course Feng Shui is not the ultimate set of rules for creating a feeling-good factor within a property. It comes from far away and long ago. But it is surprisingly useful for who understands that there is a specific feeling to each property that this feeling can be localized and can be modified with appropriate measures. A good starting point I suppose.

Therefore: More concentration on feeling good, please. When constructing, when choosing, when decorating a home, yes respect aesthetics, sculptural quality, functionality, view, privacy, ecc, but listen to your heart. Who may hear it hears the language of the Feeling Factor.

Posted By: Ueli F. Schnorf

Wetag Consulting just listed a great modern architectural style villa overlooking Lago Maggiore. The villa, built in 1990, is situated in an elevated position high above Lago Maggiore in one of the most sought-after residential area of Locarno/Minusio. The sun light flooded spectacular living room features an awesome panoramic view on Lago Maggiore and the delta of Tenero and Locarno. The architects of Moro & Moro are a small architecture firm based in Locarno and operated by brothers Paolo and Franco Moro. Please contact us if you are looking for modern architecture available in Ticino as well as worldwide.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Well, it is no secret that for decades Switzerland has been well known for its awesome ski resorts, picturesque scenery and its status as a financial hub, although this changed (or might change) a bit due to financial turbulence’s and the pressure on the famous confidentially in banking.

The 89 year old Walter Scheel, who has written German history after the Second World War is recovering in his penthouse-apartment in Ascona on beautiful Lake Maggiore. Scheel has been Vice Chancellor and Secretary of State (1969-1974) before he was named Federal President in 1974.

Over the past months, Mr. Scheel was fighting a serious disease, but Mr. Scheel has won the battle and is now recovering on beautiful Lake Maggiore in Ticino, Switzerland. Very much supported by his wife, the couple moved into their apartment in Ascona where he found the privacy, ease and comfort to recover from the past month of its disease. Ticino is well known for its very mild, almost Mediterranean like climate around the three lakes Lago Maggiore, Lago di Lugano and Lago di Como. Many people choose Ticino as their place for retirement while enjoying the sunshine state of Switzerland with its palm trees and beautiful vegetation. Additional, Ticino with Lugano as its biggest city and also Switzerland’s third biggest banking centre is common for more and more younger people and families. Another very interesting reason why to move to Ticino might be its close proximity to Milano, what is only a short 45minute drive away and the level of lifestyle and security people can enjoy.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

The triumphant sale of Yves Saint Laurent’s private art collection, took place in Paris this week, defies the global financial malaise to prove once again that high-quality properties will find willing buyers in any economic climate. More than 1200 collectors and Christie’s clients bid a record US$264 million at Monday evening’s opening sale at the Grand Palais auction site. On prominent display at this historic event are fine homes from the Christie’s Great Estates affiliate network. Hundreds of copies of the magazine are being distributed over the course of the three-day sale; video presentations of important estates worldwide are playing in a private lounge; and Joachim Wrang-Widén, European Director for Christie’s Great Estates, was on hand to personally answer any inquiries and to promote the real estate network to this important client base. Experience for yourself the breathtaking elegance of this once-in-a-lifetime auction through a series of photo montages of the sales, the viewings (where thousands stood in line for hours), and the site preparations which are all posted on the Christie’s Web site.

Source: Christies, Image: Courtesy of Christies

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Ticino in southern Switzerland is not only famous for its Mediterranean climate and lifestyle around the three lakes, but also for its architecture scene. Michele Arnaboldi, Roberto Briccola, Raffaele Cavadini, the Guidotti siblings or the Tognola brothers, just to name a few, belong to a group of fresh, young and talented architects who continue the success story written by their famous predecessors like Mario Botta, Aurelio Galfetti, Luigi Snozzi and Livio Vacchini. Another talented architect is Attilio Panzeri who is living and working in Lugano. He has been president of the Ticino section of the “Architects society (SIA)” for many years and found a perfect piece of land in Lugano, where he built his own residence which reflects his sense for space and indoor-outdoor living in the typical style of the famous Ticino architecture school. Now, you can become owner of a very spectacular example of its work. Wetag Consulting listed one of its latest work - a modern luxury villa in Lugano with great view of Lake Lugano. The villa stretches over two main floors boasting almost 565sq.m (6100sq.ft) of living plus guest house what could be used as an office as well. Please contact us if you wish to receive further information on that rare trophy property.

Source: Ideales Heim 02/2008

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

Paris Hilton found her BFF (best friend forever) and now you can become George Clooney’s BNF (best neighbour forever).

We have a beautiful apartment/penthouse listed in one of Laglio’s most desirable villas; and is right within the neighborhood of ‘Mr. Ocean’s Eleven’.

Laglio is a very charming little village on the western shores of Lago di Como, Italy and is in close proximity to the city of Como. Villa Castiglioni is a beautiful art nouveau villa divided into three luxurious apartments. The attic/penthouse features awesome lake view and spacious living on almost 210sq.m (2300sq.ft). Take a flight to Milano and after a short 45 minute drive you’ll already be in Lake Como. Plunge into the Mediterranean lifestyle of Lake Como and enjoy the dolce vita of Italy. Lago di Como is defined by great food, stunning nature and an inviting countryside in which to relax.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

More than 800 restaurants have been tested, evaluated, commentated from the well-known Gastro Guide GaultMillau and some of them in the Ticino even got excellent valuations. „Promoter of the year 2009” in the Canton Ticino is Frank Oerthle with 16 GaultMillau scores. Oerthle is cook in the restaurant „Arté“ right beside the Lake Lugano. „Arté“ belongs also to the distinguished five star Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano. „He puts on Mediterranean cooking, modifies inventively and sophisticated“ so the laudation of the Gastro Guide.

Lugano - is both the social and financial centre of Ticino, and is Switzerland’s 3rd banking city (after Zurich and Geneva). Lugano’s most sought-after neighborhoods are on the slopes of Mount Bre and Mt. San Salvatore, with its south-facing residential areas of Castagnola, Ruvigliana/Aldesago and Montagnola/Collina dlOro. They all offer peaceful but spectacular panoramic views over the city and the bay between the mountains. Two small local Airports at Lugano and Locarno enhances accessibility for those with private jets. Wetag Consulting has in its listings apartments for everybody’s liking and desire.

Source: „Tessiner Zeitung“, 07.11.08

Posted By: Claudia Starck

A very nice tradition at Wetag is our big get together at the end of the year where we all meet for a great dinner and some fun beside of the daily business. For the dinner we always try to find the best places where you can eat if it comes to quality. This year we went to Bellinzona, the “Canton’s” capital and also UNESCO world heritage site where we booked our table at the “Castel Grande” deluxe restaurant which is located in the same named castle and one of Bellinzona’s three castles overlooking the city. The restaurant is a very chic mixture of the old traditional building structure combined with modern elements made of concrete, marble and glass. Clean lines and black, white and grey colours forming the background of this stylish restaurant. Comfy seating makes even the longest dinner more than comfortable.

Well, after the aperitif we started our five courses menue with two kinds of Hors d’oeuvre which were very delicious. Now, culinary excited and prying what’s next, the very friendly waiter served the starter. The well arranged appetizer was a cold plate combination of different tastes like Caprese, sort of fish, vegetable salad variation and a pâté. All this, was followed by the first main course a light tagliatelle with salmon on a light creamy sauce. But, without a doubt, the second main course was the highlight of the dinner. Our palate was titillated and spoiled by a very tasty and tender filet of a deer on a delicious sauce and Brussels sprouts and “spaetzle dumplings”. After that, the desert could only extend the culinary trip without setting a last highlight, but with all the wines and Grappa’s, it’s been a great festival of senses. Being around with all the colleagues from all our offices is always fun since we don’t see each other that often and with lots of stories told, this night became memorable.

Posted By: Peter Rabitz

“Curious? Why?” Teresa continued in almost ironic sound. “Is then a valley not curious when you can not see its ground, isn’t it?” – From the novel “Versöhnung” from Aline Valangin, first wife of Wladimir Rosenbaum, lawyer and later famous antiquarian of Ascona. Indeed the Onsernone is a valley of excesses, steeply, rive without level. The river Isorno is quite not visible and the villages lie 200 – 300 m higher. It is this pure character which attracted and inspired a lot of writers. Aline Valangin, Max Frisch, Alfred Andersch and Golo Mann, they all lived and work in this ethnic valley, some of them even find the last resting place there. The unique and fascinating appeal kept going on till today. The Onsernone attires a lot of tourist in summer and winter. In summer it is the paradise for a vast number of wanderings and in the winter time for skiing. Many of the tourist fall in love with this rough and likewise sincere nature and would like to own one of these typical small Rustico of their own – whether to renovate it by them selves according to own ideas or to acquire it as “ready to move in”.

Source: www.si-su.ch

Posted By: Claudia Starck

A carpet of ice in the Piazza Grande, Locarno's 'city lounge' for adults and youngsters who want to skate against a beautiful Christmas backdrop with a magical atmosphere from 4 December 2008 – 6 January 2009. Next to the ice rink, the domes of the 'Igloo' bars: warm and cozy, they're the ideal place for an aperitif and meetings with friends. At night, along with the music, the spectacular structures of “Locarno on Ice” are immersed in a magical dance of multi-colored lights reflecting on the ice, transparent igloo domes and the mirror ball suspended over the rink. There's also music during the day, including live performances from both solo artists and guest bands. The “Locarno on Ice” program also features of course, attractions specifically for kids as well as the traditional New Year's Eve Party. From the 11th to the 28th of December, alongside the ice rink, a little Christmas market, complete with typical Northern European traditional wooden cabins, with craftsmen and their wares from all across Switzerland and beyond.

Source: www.locarnoonice.ch

Posted By: Claudia Starck

My visits so far in the “Murata” of Bellinzona – the rampart of the Castles where more an adventurous walks through the dimness then anything else… But this has changed now. Betimes to the Unesco-Day and also as an upgrading of this World Cultural Heritage lamps have been installed in the inside of the tunnels. As of now the “Murata” can be visited in all weathers as well as by dusk daily till 6pm in the summer and 5pm in the winter time. Almost just around the corner you can buy a great piece of modern architecture in close proximity to Bellinzona and its attractions. The house is in a quite remote area but still convenient to reach.

Source: Tessiner Zeitung Nr. 44, 31 October 2008

Attached images: Copyright: Bellinzona Turismo

Photographer: Franco Greco

In the 20th century Agra became famous mostly because of its sanatorium. Famous people as Margarete Steffin, beloved of Bertolt Brecht, and Erich Kästner were patients for several weeks. The clinic closed 1969 and began to fallen into ruin on most beautiful position. As an adorer of Erich Kästner I read a lot about this sensitive person, among other things also letters he wrote to his family during his long stays in Agra. So there was no doubt: I must have seen this historical ruin! So one beautiful Saturday morning in the summer my husband and me rode with our Vespa from the Locarnese over the Monte Ceneri to Agra. Getting to Agra is a wonderful trip passing pretty Ticino hillside villages and woods. Agra self is a very small, faraway, sunny village close to the famous Collina d’Oro with the world- famous Hermann Hesse Museum. At the end of the village an old sign of the sanatorium attests its story. A natural pathway leads through a small wood. As romantic the pathway is, as unearthly it is. It gave me a chill. And then, suddenly you can see the first buildings, the first ruins of this once famous sanatorium, which many years ago made story – for me a dignified moment. Almost you can smell the clinic aura; you can hear the hustle and bustle. Or are these the last rumors, after which the historical ruins shall give place to a modern wellness resort? Anyway – this beautiful piece of ground will last in my memory and now I definitely understand why this spot counts to one of the most demanded in the Ticino. Lot of people are dreaming to live in this absolutely prestigious area. WETAG Consulting lets your dream come through. The experts of luxury living in Ticino have listed a stunning 3 level luxury villa on flat grounds, facing south-east and only a short ride into Lugarno’s city centre.

Source: www.si-su.ch

Posted By: Claudia Starck