For 30 years, we have had a singular ambition: to make BARNES not simply a property company, but a true signature of international luxury; a brand founded on French Art de Vivre, the beauty of place, the quality of human connection, and attention to detail.
From the very start, our aim has been to combine elegance and high standards, taste and transmission, insight and rigor. Thibault, my husband, led by his builder's spirit and strategic vision, was able to transform this initial intuition into an exceptional business, which today is established in 22 countries and nearly 100 destinations. Together, we have nurtured the simple but powerful idea that luxury is above all a way of living in our world.
This philosophy is what continues to inspire us — to offer our customers far more than remarkable properties. To offer them a comprehensive, harmonious and authentic experience, shaped by our values of excellence, trust, responsibility and elegance. With our teams, our partners, and our clients, we have been moving forward for three decades, driven by the conviction that a certain lifestyle never goes out of fashion; it is cultivated, transmitted and invented, day after day, passionately.
Thank you to all those who have been with us on this wonderful adventure since day one, and to those who are joining us today. The essential is ahead of us, because everything always begins with an encounter, an emotion, a place.
Heidi Barnes
BARNES Founder
Thirty years ago, BARNES was born of a conviction: that there was a profound need to give luxury property a soul, to anchor it within a comprehensive vision, to base it on a relationship of trust, durability and ethics, and to uphold the ideal of beauty. Since then, the world has become more complex. Yet despite being increasingly volatile, fragmented and mobile, it remains driven by a search for meaning that we have made our raison d'être.
Today, our customers — whether entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artists or families — are looking for much more than a place to live. They aspire to a certain Art de Vivre, a symbiosis between what they own and the values they believe in. The success of the BARNES Pre-Loved Luxury Show, held last November in Paris, is proof of this: circularity is now a core requirement in the luxury sector, including property. Resell, repair, renovate and reuse are the watchwords.
From this perspective, luxury real estate offers not only a precious and reliable investment in terms of space, but also a unique landmark amid the passing of time. Human-centric capital cities, such as Madrid, Milan, Rome and Athens, are in high demand, growing in appeal thanks to a savvy blend of authenticity, modernity and tax optimization.
In this 37th issue, we pay tribute to those who share our vision of enlightened, profound and daring luxury. That is why we are delighted to welcome Martine, Prosper and Alexandre Assouline, whose publishing house has been championing the world's beauty and the transmission of knowledge for more than 30 years.
Thibault de Saint Vincent
BARNES President