I’ve just come back from a stretch in Europe looking at land projects, and I want to put down what I saw while it’s fresh. What made this trip useful is that the three projects are at completely different stages on a similar journey. It’s interesting to see how people’s Plan B’s have become their Plan A’s!
Three Projects, One Week, and Lots of Lessons Learned
Oasis, Portugal
Site visit with Sky and Susan, who are building the foundations of a healing center with a small residential community alongside it. We are working through the architecture, the design, the sequence, the numbers as they prepare to build the next phase of their dream. Each project is unique but the journey is one and the same. I love coming in at inception.
Le Radici, Tuscany
I’ve been looking at properties in Tuscany with my friend Marco for years and he’s finally found the one. This isn’t a client project, it’s his. A small hospitality operation built around wellness and living on and with the land. This is super early stage and lot of work to do from permaculture to remodeling! What a pleasure to see to dreams being realized.
La Reserva, Umbria
A dream set up in the hillsides of Umbria was my last stop. Hospitality, wellness, and estate sized lots with lakes, ruins, and an empty canvas to paint. It belongs to a colleague and I went as much to learn as to visit. It’s in the pre-development process as well, although a bit farther along.
What a magical property and the potential yet to be expressed is mind blowing!
Some lessons learned…
Every one of these started small. Some rooms or cabins and a common area where people can cook, eat, and be together. Maybe an existing house to host and start to stoke the fire of the vision. This allows time to be on the land, get to know the land, and be informed by it to see what wants to emerge.
And the order matters. With a clear Vision first, you know where you’re going. That vision then informs the Strategy and a model built around it. That can then inform everything from the property needs, from the Architecture, to the Design and Development as the Team is formed.
I meet too many people after they’ve done it backwards. The approach I like is led by a clear vision, a sound strategy, and is executed by an impeccable team selected for the project. More on all of this in the next newsletter.
To Your Thriving Life,
Edward Zaydelman
Live the Possibility
@edwardzaydelman / Pinterest / YouTube
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My mission is helping visionaries like you bring sustainable land projects to life. After 18+ years developing properties and communities here, I’ve learned that success comes from balancing bold vision with practical execution. I support clients in creating projects that honor both their dreams and the land itself. Every decision should consider impact on the local community, environment, and future generations. This means taking time to listen to the land, build trust with neighbors, and develop clear strategies that work for all stakeholders.
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