'The Buildings' by Daman 65 per cent sold

Dubai-based Asteco is the sales and leasing agent of The Buildings, an exclusive freehold development at Dubai International Financial Centre due for completion by the end of 2008.

Around 65 per cent of the project's residential apartments have already been sold, and corporate clients have also bought half the available office space.

Careful attention to floor plan functionality, high quality finishes and the project's prime location within the DIFC free zone are key selling points, says James Knowles, Asteco's Sales and Leasing Director.

'Asteco consultants have worked extensively with the developer on the finest detail to deliver what is essentially a perfect product from the point of view of the buyer and occupier. The Buildings by Daman offers residents exclusivity with value for money, and cost-saving efficiency for upscale commercial clients.'

Knowles said: 'Attention to detail has led the design process of The Buildings, and that is proving an attractive proposition to buyers when combined with the project's excellent location at the heart of downtown Dubai.'

The Buildings, which is being developed by UAE-based Daman Asset Management, will feature 14 office floors, 230 one, two and three-bedroom apartments over 62 floors, and two floors of dedicated retail space with convenience stores, café and food court. There will also be a five-star hotel managed by a top international chain.

Residents will have access to a luxury health club and spa, and robotic parking facilities will serve office floors.

Terraces run the full length of apartments, which boast climate control in each room, parquet floors in kitchens and bedrooms, recessed down lights, and built-in luxury white goods. General amenities include a mosque and day care, and there are sky lobbies on upper floors. There are eight apartment configurations in all, including duplex designs, and apartments are priced from around AED1,900,000.

Knowles said: 'Apartment floor space has been priced according to use, as in international markets, so balcony space is cheaper than space in the living areas. The office floors have been designed with the same common sense, so there are high ceilings for better sight lines, raised-floor modular cabling for superior IT connectivity, floor-vented ACs for maximum circulation, and column-free floor plans to make the best use of space.'

Knowles said: 'The Buildings' commercial space is ideal for large trading floors, and the 50,000 square feet available on each floor is five times the average floor space of typical offices on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road. The Buildings will also be connected by the DIFC Public Rapid Transport Network and located near the Dubai Metro line.'

Asteco is the sales and leasing agent of The Buildings by Daman. Perkins & Will is lead architect, and Hill International is project manager.

Founded in Dubai in 1985, Asteco is the UAE's largest property services company. Its services include retail, commercial and residential sales and leasing; strategic consultancy; property management and marketing; feasibility studies and valuations; and research and investment.