Marking its first apartment-style condominium event is the award-winning builder’s Villa D’Este, a 120-unit upmarket stacked condominium project in the master-planned Carma community of Tuscany.

Knightsbridge’s Joe Starkman says careful digging into what the market lacked prompted the Italian-style condo complex – a collection of larger-than-average abodes with easy access to and views of the mountains, appointed with high-end details and handsome exteriors.

“We researched the market and found out no one was building condos for the upper end in the northwest – we found that was a niche in the marketplace,” says Starkman.

Leaving behind lifelong homes in the suburbs, or acreages west of Calgary, the primarily Baby Boomer buyers drawn to this type of investment wish to still live among appointments of a higher calibre – which includes spaces large enough for overstuffed sofas, full dining suites and king-sized beds, says Starkman.

So it stands to reason standard fare at Villa D’Este includes oversized rooms, from grand living areas opening onto spacious decks (averaging 10 feet by 16 feet), to master bedrooms and ensuite loos sized to bathe owners in luxury. In-house laundry rooms, granite ensuite and kitchen countertops, cosy fireplaces, and underground heated parking stalls further “suiten” the deal for purchasers.

“We’ve also got stainless steel appliances, the best low-E window glazing, nine-foot ceilings, solid core doors, and maple cabinetry,” says Starkman.

He adds that a tour through the Roma show suite gives would-be buyers an accurate feel for what’s included, as the only upgrade in the 1,575-square-foot, two-bedroom and two-bath digs is the elegant hardwood flooring underfoot.

But buyers still have the option to personalize units, says Starkman, citing one future resident who knocked out walls in the second building to combine two units – creating an expansive suite nearing 3,000 square feet and carrying a price tag of roughly $800,000.

Though building codes require only a single elevator, two were added to every building to deliver residents and guests to upper-level suites in comfort and style. Meanwhile, guest suites and meeting rooms peppered throughout the buildings allow residents with out-of-town visitors to retain their autonomy, and semi-retirees to hold office with important clients without leaving home.

Villa D’Este’s first phase is already 70 per cent sold, while Phase 2 has seen a quarter of its suites snapped up to date. First residents are slated to move in by July, while two new show suites are on schedule to open in the debut building by mid-April.

Six choices of suites range from $265,000 to $405,000, excluding GST, while sizes span from 1,389 to 1,647 square feet, some with double-storey floor plans to make the most of views. “These are true two-storeys, not just lofts,” says Starkman.

Tuscany Club fees are included in monthly condo fees, as are utilities, insurance, reserve fund contributions and cleaning and maintenance, so residents can live – and leave – without worries of upkeep. An added perk, for the first year Knightsbridge is also footing the bill for Tuscany Club memberships of Villa D’Este residents.

One of the fastest-growing communities in Calgary, amenities located in Tuscany and within steps of Villa D’Este front doors include the Tuscany Shopping Centre’s boutiques and services, and pathways meandering throughout the picturesque neighbourhood.

And what would a Tuscan-inspired community be without characteristic architecture and a hilly locale? Residents of the terracotta-roofed project, on the south side of Tuscany Blvd., will enjoy some of the best sights of downtown, Bow River valley and mountains.

“It’s a beautiful site in a prime location right at the entry to Tuscany, overlooking Twelve Mile Coulee and the ravine,” says Starkman, adding staggered building heights and colours typical of Italian villas add to the beauty of the project.  CL

For more details about Villa D’Este visit the show suite on Tuscany Blvd. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., or Fridays and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. Virtual tours and more information are also available online at http://www.knightsbridgehomes.com