NuvoBarcelona, a boutique investment firm specialzing in real estate
Arad Edrey-Lavie, CEO & Founder at NuvoBarcelona
What does the company specialize in?
NuvoBarcelona is a boutique investment firm specializing in real estate. It was founded in Barcelona in August 2014.
What do you like most about your job?
The fact that my work is my passion. I turned my hobby into my way of life, and when your business is also your hobby it ceases to be hard work.
And what do you like least?
The fact that the sector is very traditional and slow to innovate. I worked for many years in the technology and telecommunications sector, which is fast-moving and never stops innovating.
Trabajé muchos años en el sector de la tecnología y las telecomunicaciones, que sí es muy cambiante y no cesa de innovar.
What do you think your company is particularly good at?
We are a boutique firm that offers a personal, customized service. Our renovations and new builds provide quality of life, technological improvements, and ecological innovations. We are keen to preserve the cultural heritage of Barcelona; inspired by “Art Nouveau”, NuvoBarcelona seeks to rehabilitate and renovate buildings in Barcelona and create innovative homes with a soul, converting the buildings into veritable jewels.
We offer advice on the entire purchase/investment cycle, find the best financing, and even manage rentals if the customer so wishes, which is why our customers are loyal and always come back to us.
What is your main challenge?
How to scale without to fail. To continue enjoying what I do and keep growing.
Where is your business located? Do you know why this location was chosen?
We are based in TuróDiagonal, a coworking space located on Plaza Francesc Macià. It was chosen for its central location at the center of Avinguda Diagonal, one of the most important business areas of Barcelona, and for its 360º panoramic views of Barcelona.
What do you like most about the neighborhood where you work?
Everything is easily accessible on foot, and there are all kinds of services: restaurants, banks, notaries and beautiful parks, like the Turó Park.
How important is Barcelona for your company?
Not only are our projects based here, they also aim to preserve the city’s cultural heritage.
With which city would you compare Barcelona?
With San Francisco, Miami or Tel Aviv. Although Barcelona is unique and cannot really be compared to any other city in the world.
What city model should Barcelona adopt?
Lisbon, Oporto, Tel Aviv, and Miami. They are good example of cities near the sea that are tourist centers that have learnt how to invest in talent and startups.
What best practices from other cities would you like Barcelona to adopt?
We should manage social housing better, reduce pollution (with Zone 1 tickets, like in London), and expand the underground network (like in Paris).
What do you ask of the Barcelona of the future?
I would like people to value and appreciate Barcelona more and look after the city better. There also needs to be more attention paid to education, work and culture.
