The concept of this special place is a private luxury community with sustainable integrity at the core, centered around a Marina Village, spa, an amusingly titled “Nut House” which is for the kids, and a Nature Centre. There is nothing uniform or repetitive about design here, it is rather like the island, a voyage of discovery and reflective of its location. The suites and villas and private villa homes are positioned at a hugely generous distance from each other across 8 neighbourhoods. Each residence is singularly individual in its design story, as per the individuality of the visitors and owners who are taking in the view and feeling the ocean breeze on their terraces. Sweeping views, a given, but each home intelligently tucked away into the hillsides and vegetation, so that privacy and discretion are delivered, but so too is a light touch on the landscape.

The challenge was keeping paradise not losing it, harmonising with nature, and ensuring that as a destination it delivered a multi-generational experience of serenity and adventure. After all, David understood that the island dream needed to also be discreetly fully functional for the most demanding guest.

Our expert planning took into account the water run-off, renewable energy, and climatic change including hurricanes. Nothing is fighting nature, instead, the design respectfully anticipates it and is ready to lean into it. Harvesting rainwater, air-tight buildings, sacrificial overhangs to roofs, energy conservation insulation, and sea surge protection, all part of our inherent and instinctive innovation design ethic.

The earthy colour palette of the buildings which include some with living roofs were thoughtfully imagined to blend in, not pull the eye away from the stunning beauty of nature and the setting. The union of seamless indoor and outdoor living flows through all of the designs. The intelligence of local craftsmanship supported our ethos of community, collaboration, and bespoke storytelling of place. For instance, stone cladding is harvested from the island itself. Our thinking is one of longevity and contribution to the legacy of a destination and local people as evidenced post-hurricane Irma when we had the privilege to support the renovation and re-build of the local school.

Ultimately our client wanted architectural excellence as well as sustainability, environmental and social responsibility across the board. The longevity of our relationship is testimony to our ability to listen and deliver that vision for him consistently and intelligently.