AT HOME WITH: STEPHANI ZAMBRANO LEYZAC
Bringing innovation and new advanced technology to the Marbella real estate market.
Breaking the mould and design parameters in the property sector.
A graduate in Civil Engineering with a Master’s Degree in Project Management, this talented mother has over 11 years’ experience in the construction sector, from residential buildings and shopping centres in Canada, to mega-mansions in Marbella which are revolutionising the Costa del Sol property sector with her innovation and design, breaking all property parameters in the area.
Constructor, Developer and Designer; a Woman with Different Hats
Stephani Zambrano is the founder of the construction and development company Lavele Corporation. As a civil engineer, she is dedicated to building villas that break the parameters of design and innovation, due to the implementation of new advanced technologies that make the properties self-sustainable, and thanks to the design and manufacture of iconic pieces of furniture that are custom-made for each villa, which has made her company Lavele stand out on a large scale in the real estate sector.
Her latest project is a great example of this. The mega mansion EL UNICO, located in the prestigious Zagaleta Urbanization, has won the 2024 European awards in the categories of Best Residential Property and Best Architecture Single Residence in Spain.
Stephani designed and built this magnificent villa, the first and only curved design mega-mansion in the south of Spain, with 360 degree sea and mountain views and a 100 metre long water slide. Something that has never been seen before in the south of Spain.
This young woman not only carried out the entire design and construction process of El UNICO, but also meticulously designed and manufactured each of the spaces and pieces of furniture, which were customised with the company’s logo, making it an unprecedented masterpiece of curved and innovative design.
As a civil engineer she brought new advanced technology to the Costa del Sol that to date has not been implemented in any residential property in Spain. These so-called tulip technologies produce six times more energy than a solar panel.
The combination of pioneering construction techniques, bold design and advanced technology sets Stephani apart from the rest of Marbella’s developers.
What do you think is the most difficult thing you have personally faced as a female developer?
Always being the only woman in the field. Add to that moving to so many other countries, dealing with men and different mentalities, cultures and weather. One of the hardest moments was when I moved to Canada with no family or friends to work as a project manager for a company building a 14,000 m2 commercial building. I’d also never seen snow in my life. That was quite a challenge, as the temperature outside was usually around -10 degrees. Craziest time of my life!
What does being a powerful woman/entrepreneur mean to you?
For many women, power means money. For me, it means being free and fearless. What makes a powerful woman is a combination of personal drive and ambition. The willingness to seize all the opportunities and take all the risks that life offers. I’m a go-getter kind of woman.
