A duplex on Place Massena, Nice; a Vendôme Riviera idea.

Never mind if there aren't enough new properties; there are older homes to be had, and particulary attractive are the renovated ones. Renovation is in full swing on the Riviera, especially in big towns like Cannes (in the Suquet district, for example), Antibes and not least Nice. Rip out the insides and start again : that's the motto. What buyers are looking for above all is location and a name. "We are selling addresses", says Dan Zermati, marketing manager at Vendôme Riviera for a set of apartments on Place Massena in Nice. "Ninety per cent of our customers come from outside France and they are buying the name Place Masséna. "A famous address that symbolises the South of France, with the terracotta red of the walls and the almond green of the Shutters that are the evocative colours of the French Riviera. These heritage buildings, a little run down over their long lives, are given a full face-lift and regain the looks worthy of their location and price : "Our development is intended for up-market customers looking for an apartment on the Côte d'Azur, more as a pied-à-terre than a second home. Depending on view, floor and type of apartment, the average price per square metre is between 16.000 FF and 25.000 FF, " explains Dan Zermati. At that price you can get 35m² with a fully equipped kitchen, chosen from the developer's range. Ceiling height exceeds 4 meters and can be used to create a mezzanine floor within the apartment, making it a virtually into a mini-duplex. Bathroom and bedroom an the higher level, exposed beams, oak floor, concealed lighting of old and new. .The landing has a white marble floor with black insets and red walls matching the outside. The spacious stairway will be fitted with a convenient glazed lift. "Given the progress of sales", says Dan Zermati, "we realise, from what our customers say, that Nice is currently one of the least expensive cities in Europe. "This renovation was originally intended mainly for Italian customers but has enjoyed an unexpected success with buyers from other countries too. First among these are the Irish and British, with a few French expatriates but still many Italians. In the year since the apartments came on the market, Vendôme Riviera has already sold 50% of them (20 out of roughly 40).