The world of exclusive living.

In the global marketplace for luxury real estate, just what does US$10 million buy? That is the question in this Luxury Defined edition. Does the big city call? Does the dream call for an island escape? Or perhaps paradise whispers?

Traditionally, houses shield themselves from the outside world – acoustically, climatically and in most cases also visually. The Swiss company Vitrocsa – a pioneer in the field of so-called minimal windows – creates the opposite and allows modern buildings to merge as completely as possible with their surroundings.

In its latest analysis, UBS sees a calming on the interest rate market. It writes on its website: “After the rollercoaster ride in March, events on the bond market calmed down in April. Interest rates for Swiss government bonds moved sideways for all important maturities. The same applies to mortgage interest rates.”