Land ownership is, perhaps, the most ancient expression of wealth. Throughout history it has provoked conflict and inspired grandeur, from civic monuments and sacred spaces to egotistical towers and pleasure palaces. Today the relationship between land – or property – and wealth is more complex and more commercial than ever before. Since the economic crisis of 2008, real estate has attracted many of the world’s super-rich who have sought a safe haven, and a means of diversifying assets, and a very visual symbol of power and sophistication.
土地所有權或許是歷史最爲久遠的展示財富的方式。從古到今,它不斷誘發衝突,也不斷激發從公民紀念碑、聖地到標榜自我的城堡與奢華宮殿等宏偉建築的設計靈感。如今土地(抑或說房產)與財富之間的關係比以往任何時候都更爲複雜,商業色彩也更爲濃厚。2008年全球經濟危機以來,房地產市場吸引了全球衆多富豪的目光,他們尋求安全的財富庇護港、資產多樣化的方式,也尋求展示自己實力與教養的視覺符號。