Be inspired to live the dream
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luxury Tropical living
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Issue No11 Digital Edition
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Hidden Escapes ISLAND LIFE
RESORTS
VILLAS
HOMES
ARCHITECTURE
design
CULTURE
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Each issue of Cocotraie covers four Central regions of Tropical Living The Caribbean - South/Central America - Africa- Asia Beautifully produced and visually enticing Cocotraie magazine is a luxury focused international quarterly Tropical Living, Interior Design, Property and Travel publication. Each issue features beautifully designed modern and classic Tropical Homes, luxury Resorts, Spas, Villas, Interior Designers and leading Architects as well as Tropical Holiday destinations, and Real Estate from Around the World.
Cover: North island ‘Haute-Couture Robinson Crusoe’ Full Feature: Pages 44 - 57 Whilst every care has been taken in the creation of this issue, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or for changes since going to press or for any loss direct or consequential arising in connection with information describing establishments in this publication. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers.
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Parati Private residence - Rio, Brazil Exterior Of A Pair Of Guest Bure Suites, Dolphin Island, FIJI
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Letter from the Editor
I have always felt that tropical living is so much more than simply the choices made in the design of a home or property its also about location location and... location. We have talked much about embracing open plan architecture, sophisticated colour combinations, and uninterrupted indoor/ outdoor living spaces which allow natural light and the breeze to flow seamlessly throughout areas for relaxing and eating. And yes whilst these elements remain the signature design feature of tropical living, it is also in the location you choice to apply these design attributes that helps create that expression of tropical living. So in this issue we have selected a few of our favourite luxurious hidden escapes which, not only exemplify the very best is tropical design, but have been set in some the world’s most idyllic, well hidden and remote locations showcasing tranquillity, exclusivity and sensuality. Enjoy.
Sebastian Isaacs Editor-in-Chief find out more about what we’re up to by following us on facebook.com/cocotraie magazine
Laucala peninsula villa. Fiji
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COCOTRAIE o
ISSUE No11 2015
Founder & Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Isaacs sebastian.isaacs@cocotraie.com
----Associate Editor - Photographer Christine Songeons christine.songeons@cocotraie.com
----Press & Marketing Mahalia Richards mahalia@cocotraie.com
----Residential Property Charlie Richards info-media@cocotraie.com
----Advertising & Sponsorship Gabriel Isaacs info-media@cocotraie.com
----Publisher Cocotraie is published quarterly by The Cocotraie Group Ltd uk & usa
----Artwork & Design Cocotraie Publications
----Contributors Patricia Richards - Theodore Isaacs Trenton Burchall - Medupe Barry Scriven - Michael John Pat Shillingford - Charlie Richards Jon Davies www.cocotraie.com issn 2047 2145
Visit our Website to order any back copies you may have missed at
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email: info-media@cocotraie.com Tel enquiries: +44 0845 116 2758
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cocotraie Contents
Previously in Cocotraie | 12 A brief look back at Issue 10. Song Saa | 16 Cambodia’s first luxury private island resort spanning two small gem-like private islands Baan Hinyai Villa | 30 a stylishly contemporary and exclusive
five bed-roomed luxury vacation home.
North Island | 44 Barefoot Luxury, the essence of privacy & exclusivity. INIALA | 58 a masterpiece of style fusing the creative minds of some of the world’s leading designers
.
Dolphin Island | 72 a haven of relaxation & comfort whilst celebrating pacific style. LAUCALA ISLAND | 86 a forward thinking luxurious property full of environmental and cultural sensitivity.
a glimpse inside this issue
Issue 10
Previously in
cocotraie
The uber cool bathroom at The Observatory in South Africa
SGNW House’s clean architectural lines and warm zen like ambiance
St Barth’s Caribbean Beach front Villa Sand Club residence
Out door In, our look at properties with an open invitation to nature
Bail, home to the very cool Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay resort
o INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE No10 £6 US $9.95
COMO’s trademark aesthetic mix of Asian-meets-European décor
Be inspired to live the dream
cocotraie LUxURy TROpICAL LIVINg
& INTERIOR DESIgN
Missed our Tenth Issue? Order Back Issues now from our website www.cocotraie.com or simply download the complete digital edition of your choice.
ISLAND LIFE
Our 2014 Design &Excellence - Eight of the best luxury resort in Bali
RESORTS
VILLAS
HOMES
ARCHITECTURE
DESIgN
CULTURE
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Location Cambodia Property Song Saa Private Resort Owners Rory & Melita Hunter Interior Designer Melita Hunter Opened December 2011 Photographs Courtesy of Song Saa Private Resort 16 cocotraie.com Š
Song Saa A
seductive dream made reality, Song Saa is the truly remarkable creation of Australian couple Rory and Melita Hunter, who’s desire to create a truly sustainable eco-sanctuary of uncompromising
luxury, is fused with both wonderful design restraint, allowing the architecture and materials to create a sense of synergy with the sea, the rainforests as well as the local culture, harmoniously within its surroundings. As Cambodia’s first luxury private island resort Song Saa Private Island, spanning two small gem-like private islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong (connected by a footbridge over a marine reserve), is an eden in the otherwise untouched Koh Rong Archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand.
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Song Saa’s two-bedroom Royal expansive villa is perched over the water in one of the most discreet and exquisite locations on the island.
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Built with sustainable materials combined with deep respect for the natural environment, each of the 27 luxurious thatched roofed Over-Water, Ocean-View and Jungle Villas, taking their design queue from Cambodia’s traditional fishing villages, come with 1 or 2 bedrooms, comfortable living room, sun decks and private pools. Both Jungle Villas, perched among the surrounding canopy, have a crescent-shaped layout, generous kitchen and living area, look out over the open ocean with the choice of sunrise or sunset views.
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Situated in a self-made marine reserve measuring one million square metres Song Saa, surrounded by tropical reefs, amazing sunset views and white private sandy beaches, is the perfect balance between a picture perfect topical hideaway and luxury without compromise on environmental integrity.
Over the Water Villa 180 degree views for the perfect sunset. Ideal for those seeking space and privacy without foregoing intimacy.
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Natural materials create a sense of synergy with the sea, the rainforests and the local culture. Driftwood and recycled timber from old and discarded Cambodian fishing boats have been incorporated into villa furniture and construction.
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Melita Hunter, the creative mind behind the resort’s architecture, master planning and interior design, drew on her experience as an interior designer and artist specialising in organic sculpture to create an oasis that seamlessly blends interior spaces with the panoramic natural beauty of the islands. Both Melia and Rory’s strong sustainable ethos ensures that inside each expansive thatched roof villa, rustic timber beams from disused fishing boats, driftwood collected from local beaches and coves, artfully made by local artisans into furniture, adorn the open plan living spaces. Earthy stone, polished marble walls and floors made from timber salvaged from old factories, warehouses and demolition yards around Cambodia and Thailand together with Moroccan lanterns and carved tribal statues complete the eco-chic look and feel.
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Each villa offers ocean views with their own private sea-view plunge pool. Inside these the expansive thatched roof villas Four-poster beds dressed with Ploh Linen, Moroccan lanterns and carved statues add flair to the eco-chic space
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The infinity-edge pool offers beautiful views, cleverly straddling the east and west sides of the island. 26 cocotraie.com Š
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The achievements owners Melita and Rory have made here are truly remarkable. With no infrastructure to start with they had to break new ground, bringing power, water, sewage and recycling systems to the island. Now building on harmony, sustainability and world-class luxury, the core principles that underpin the design philosophy of Song Saa, this creative pair are looking ahead for new opportunities to bring their vision of worldclass sustainable luxury to other parts of Cambodia and Southeast Asia. Having found that wonderful balance between tailored hospitality and cultural awareness, Song Saa resort is indeed a luxury focused laid-back paradise, where Style & Sustainability have effort-
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lessly melded into one.
Fmi www.songsaa.com email: reservations@songsaa.com tel: +855 236 860 360
Melita, has drawn on her experience as an interior designer and artist who specialised in organic sculpture to fuse natural materials into incredible interior spaces and surfaces
Location Koh Samui, Thailand Property Baan Hinyai Asking price - USD4 million Photographs Courtesy of Zekkei development
Baan Hinyai Villa an exclusive, contemporary tropical private residence
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estled beachside in tropical Baan Makam, Koh Samui, Thailand, Baan Hinyai Villa is a stylishly contemporary and exclusive five bedroomed luxury vacation home.
Together with her sister villa Baan Hinta, these two grand beachfront private residences have set new standards in architecture and interior creativity on Koh Samui. Each masterpiece sits on a unique site of giant granite boulders, cascading out over a fine sandy beach into the sea. The dominant architectural theme is an iconic roof structure - clad in cedar shingles, these swooping roofs provide dramatic lofty spaces of up to 10 meters over the main living areas, reducing to more intimate scale over the bedrooms. From Baan Hinyai’s parking area,
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Impressive architecture and dramatic natural features create stunning entertainment and relaxation areas at the 5-bedroom Baan Hinyai. Set beachfront on a secluded cove near Lamai on Koh Samui’s south-east coast, guests can enjoy open-plan living, stylish interiors, a rim-flow pool and superb service and facilities at this luxurious staffed villa.
to the expansive villa, the first thing that strikes you is its generous size, stairs lead to two buildings – one housing the villa’s open-plan living and dining area and one bedroom, the other a double-storey structure housing the remaining four bedrooms each with king size beds and awe-inspiring ocean views. The en-suite bathrooms feature free standing bath tubs and separate shower cubicles, plus his and her washbasins. Generous sized wardrobes with complimentary gowns and slippers add to the five star comforts.
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The triple-height living and dining room is bright and breezy, open to the elements and cooled by ceiling fans. Sandstone floors, teakwood window frames, a soaring wooden ceiling, and a boulder protruding from the wall, all blend the villa into its natural surroundings
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In the main living area, two oversized L shaped sofas sit either side of a sleek wooden table with a flat screen TV
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A huge wooden dining table seats up to
20 people, whilst the
nearby pool-side sala is perfect for outdoor
dining and relaxation.
A shell-shaped bamboo chandeliers hang from the ceiling
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The living areas and bedrooms are tastefully furnished incorporating natural elements with clean lines.
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All bedrooms (two on each level) are notably spacious and indulgent, with the twin room being only slightly smaller than the others. All have terrazzo bathtubs integrated into the bedrooms, as well as separate rain shower cubicles.
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The beautiful designed split-level, living and dining area, bright and breezy, open to the elements and cooled by ceiling fans, open onto breath-taking tropical views and a drastic infinity-edge pool. Each space flows seamlessly into another, from indoors to outdoors, with luxurious proportions and expansive views of the beach and ocean. Villa guests have the choice of relaxing in a range of public spaces including a large living room, the open kitchen or huge five-metre slice of hard wood forms dining table, capable of seating up to 20 people. Whilst the nearby pool-side lounge “sala” and landscaped poolside terrace make for the perfect outdoor dining and relaxation experience. The living areas and bedrooms are tastefully furnished incorporating natural elements with clean lines. Neutral tones using wood, Sandstone floors, teakwood window frames, linen and raw silk are punctuated with splashes of orange and green in scatter cushions, occasional lamps and fresh flower arrangements Baan Hinyai is a tropical dream destination that takes the concept of indoor/outdoor living to the next level.
o For larger groups of guests, Baan Hinyai and Baan Hinta can be rented together for the ultimate private holiday, with all the facilities of a top class resort in one of
Samui’s most dramatic and inspiring beachfront locations.
Fmi www.zekkeicollection.com email: reservation@zekkeicollection.com tel: +852 2815.8870
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Neutral tones using wood, Sandstone floors, teakwood window frames, linen and raw silk are punctuated with splashes of orange and
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rth Island ‘Haute-Couture Robinson Crusoe’
Location Victoria Mahé, Seychelles Property North Island Owners Wilderness Safaris Constructed 2003 Architect Silvio Rech & Lesley Carstens Architecture Photographs Courtesy of Photographers Simon Upton/ Mike Myers & Andrew Howard cocotraie.com ©
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North island Barefoot Luxury, the essence of privacy & exclusivity.
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orth Island is one of the forty granitic islands of the Seychelles, which are located around the two main islands of Mahé and Praslin. On an island larger
than Monte Carlo, yet with only a handful of guest villas, North Island’s architect’s, Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, and a team of craftsmen from Africa, Zanzibar, Bali and the Seychelles, have created a fusion of cultures and architectural styles to produce a “Robinson Crusoe luxury paradise” unlike any other. Before the designer began designing the property they undertook extensive research that strongly indicated that in today’s overcrowded world, people were increasingly looking for privacy and their own space. It is precisely this concept that became the cornerstone and major influence of the design of the Villas and a point of focus to ensure that guests really enjoyed
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Each villa is exquisitely private, and provides a new ultimate in barefoot luxury; each built area is handcrafted from local materials by
craftsmen and artists, to an inspired, open-air, wood, shell, glass and stone finish.
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The exclusive villas on North Island are perfect for those looking for total seclusion, privacy and an escape from the day-to-day. We love the panoramic views of the luminous white sands and turquoise waters just steps away from your private deck
Meet the Architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, regarded by many as some of the world’s best island designers, are the founders of
Adventure Architecture, a high-end architec-
tural and interior design practice based in
South Africa. They have seventeen years
of experience designing and developing boutique hotels, lodges and private houses, many of which have achieved top international travel and design awards.
Silvio and
Lesley bring their unparalleled experience of incorporating luxury eco-resorts into existing natural frameworks.
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One of eleven guest villas built from local materials reaped from
the rehabilitation process, where luxury and simplicity mingle to form a signature architectural style known as ‘barefoot luxury’.
spending time in their Villa if they so wished. With this in mind, they designed Villas that measure 450 square metres (4 890 square feet) which was felt to be the optimum size to provide the feeling of exclusivity and space. Enough room spreading out to enjoy a unique, private, island-style experience to the fullest. The idea was to make sure the Villas would bring this sense to life, but at the same time be a simple space in which to free the mind and refresh the soul, with the sound of the waves moving endlessly on the beach just a few steps away. Each villa is completely screened from view by careful siting in harmony with the natural vegetation, ensuring total privacy as well as ocean views. Lovingly handcrafted on the island from wood, the villa’s have been built using local stone and glass, with thatched “alang alang” roofs.
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The island was previously
uninhabited and, due to its large diversity of habitats and ample fresh water,
‘Noah’s Ark Concept’.
is ideal for the
An unspoiled tropical haven of peace and tranquillity.
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Luxury means each bedroom comes with double bed, ensuite bathroom with sunken bath, indoor & outdoor shower, a second bedroom with twin bed, en-suite wash-room/w.c and adjoining open-air shower cubicle on the sun deck.
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The open-plan flow of the villas are completely self-contained with a luxuriously proportioned master bedroom, change-room area with a huge en-suite bathroom with large marble bath and a second room that functions as a study or lounge. Not forgetting outside shower for those who can’t get enough of the fresh island air and private pool Air-conditioning, overhead “punkah punkah” fans and fully retracting sliding windows (for 270-degree views) provide a pampering environment for the enjoyment of the balmy ocean breezes. Away from the villas there is also a beautiful health spa and gym, a breathtakingly lovely swimming pool hewn into a granitic outcrop and a “Tropical Heat” Sunset Bar tucked away on Grande Anse on the western side of the island. The concept and establishment of an eco-sensitive lodge on the island was preceded by years of research and coordination with government conservation bodies, with all parties committed to ensuring the protection of the natural environment and biodiversity. Ten years down the line, the conscientious pursuit of such policies is now reaping it’s just rewards. Here is a place that unashamedly aims at providing the very best in privacy, location, accommodation, services, facilities and experience, yet has restored its environment to a place of verdant plenty, a Noah’s Ark afloat in warm tropical waters in colours of blue and aquamarine.
o How to get there A 12-hour 30-minute international flight with one change to Mahé International Airport. From there you take a 20-minute helicopter ride to North Island.
Fmi www.north-island.com email: info@north-island.com tel: +248 293 100
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Designed for guests to enjoy the interior just
as much as the exterior, with space and luxury
being the focus.
Guests staying here really feel
as though they are in their own little tropical
paradise, with the beach just steps away. 57 cocotraie.com Š
Location Natai Beach, Phuket, Thailand Property Iniala resort Opened December 2013 Owner MarkWeingart Contributing Architects Graham Lamb & A-cero Interiors Designers Graham lamb (thailand) A-cero (spain) PH.D (russia) Eggarat wongcharit (thailand) Fernando & humberto campana (brazil) Joseph walsh(ireland) Jaime hayon (spain) Mark brazier-jones (new zealand) Chris jones (USA) Photographs Courtesy of Kurt Heck & Matt Thorpe
INIALA not just a retreat to relax in by the beach its also an astonishing temple of global design
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hat’s happens when luxury and design freedom is allowed full expression?, you get the outlandish Iniala beach house. Back in 2013 British entrepreneur, Mark
Weingard opened to the world Iniala, a 10-suite private residence spread across three distinctive villas, available to rent entirely, or by individual villa or Penthouse Suite, situated on Natai Beach 20 minutes north of Phuket Airport. With its incredible uninterrupted views of the beach and the Andaman Sea, Iniala is comprised of three villas, each with three suites and their own spa, plus one spectacular and expansive penthouse suite. Iniala has been conceived to be a residential masterpiece of design, fusing traditional Thai architecture with organic, contemporary forms created by designers from Spain, Ireland, Britain, Brazil, Russia, the USA and Thailand.
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From these countries eleven brilliant designers have worked to showcase their own unique expression and style of contemporary design in each of the 10 rooms bedrooms and living spaces, the results of which are nothing short of spectacular, decadent but above all luxurious. For the first time guests can stay in a shrine to some of the best creative minds, architects, designers and chefs in the world. As Mark explained, “I had a residence in Phuket for years and always loved the spot it was on so I decided to work with a local company on expanding the site to create Iniala”. Mark was on Phuket during the tsunami, which devastated much of the island in 2004, and was keen to invest and give back to the area. ” Iniala is an idea that started many years ago and has slowly evolved. I wanted to create somewhere that would showcase amazing design but also give guests a bespoke holiday experience”.
Born out of a traditional beach house built in the last century British designer Graham Lamb, using the Thai healing hands as his inspiration, created several contemporary villas, around the original structure with sumptuous carved roofs clad in teak to reflect Thai traditions. In the Collectors Villa Mark gave Ireland’s Joseph Walsh, a master craftsman the biggest bedroom in any of the Villas to showcase his work and full rein to explore his creativity. Here Joseph has sculpted and intricately carved perhaps one of the world’s most imaginative wooden bed.
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Collectors Villa In the biggest bedroom in any of the Villas Ireland’s Joseph Walsh, a master craftsman, has sculpted this most incredible wooden bed. Valued at around £150,000 this is a symphony of ash wood and stone.
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Villa Bianca
is an incredible futuristic, innovative and surreal architec-
tural marvel.
A-Cero’s magnificent bedrooms represent
giant seashells resulting in wonderful sculptural forms that cling to the spectacular curvaceous ceilings.
Meet the Architects Joaquin Torres and Rafael Llamazares constitute the architecture team known as A-cero. The key of A-cero’s work is to keep the idea throughout the whole process, from start to the crucial phase of the project management. In this sense, the is as important as the
“why”
“how.”
The project developer for Iniala entrusted to A-cero the Interior Design of two rooms of one of the villas, concretely the
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Villa Bianca.
Whilst both the villa rooms within The Collectors, Siam or indeed the Penthouse are outstanding design marvels in their own right, for us the most striking of the trio of villas, is Villa Bianca by Spanish architects and designers A-Cero. “A-Cero were originally suggested to me [Mark explains] as designers for my new house in Barcelona, so I went to visit Rafael Llamazares at their stunning offices in Madrid and decided to go ahead with the project. I was so impressed with their style and professionalism; I invited them to design two bedrooms at Iniala as well as the Aziamendi restaurant for our star chef Eneko Atxa. cocotraie.com Š
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Their rooms are pure A-cero, anarchic and organic,
distinctively more horizontal, embracing the spaces
abstract and wonderful, yet they have combined this
around it. The wide windows fill practically all of the
with the warmth of natural woods to create a harmoni-
main façade allowing guest to enjoy overlooking the
ous environment”. Both rooms designed by A-cero sit
outdoor landscape, the beach, through the porch and
on Natai Beach directly face seafront.
their own swimming pool. Whilst the wood pavement is continued to the porch. The furniture of the rooms is
Within Villa Bianca’s two shell shape bungalows, which
born in each of the curved lines that create the rooms.
share the same exterior swimming pool, the designers have successfully created “ying & yang” opposite
The natural local wood is used for the floors and the
interior designs, allowing both elements to play off
walls of the rooms, looking for a natural environment
against each other. In a game of vertical and horizontal
according to the exuberant surroundings. In each of
lines that wrap the space within, the first room’s lines are
these rooms the designers have changed the disposi-
more vertical, whilst in the second the curved lines are
tion of the elements to make them different. cocotraie.com ©
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“I spent years globe-trotting looking for designers whose work I loved, such as The Campana Brothers of Brazil and Joseph Walsh of Ireland. Once I had found the ‘chosen ones’, the real work began. I really do think Iniala is unique because someone different has designed each room and their imaginations have run wild”.
Iniala Owner Mark Weingard
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The first room has light wood horizontal sense floor and dark wood ceiling. The second room is the opposite, with dark wood vertical sense floor and light wood ceiling. The exclusive A-cero design furniture for this hotel is made with high quality polycarbonate in order not to see any joint. To make the introduction of the light easier, white has been used repeatedly throughout the rooms. The curved lines described previously conform each unique furniture piece, obtaining a head bed sculpturally joined with the ceiling. The luxury concept of this hotel includes important art pictures proposed by the owner and displayed around the complex with the chance to buy them. The focus on high-end design is not confined to the villas and suites as Mark, furthers: “Iniala is not just a retreat to relax in by the beach in Phuket - it is also a temple of global design, art and gastronomy. I am delighted that some of the world’s foremost creative leaders are creating Iniala Beach House - the ultimate place to stay in Asia. This is just the start of Iniala around the world as we develop afresh, innovative Residence that will be a joy to stay in and dine in.” Iniala Beach House boasts all the luxury services and amenities as well as a team of professionals who take care of every detail to please its guests.
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The Iniala Beach House is available for private hire from US$80,000 per week. Individual villas and the Iniala Penthouse Suite are also available for hire from US$21,000 per week.
Fmi www.iniala.com email: info@iniala.com tel: +66 (0) 76 451 456
The quintessential Russian ‘Matryoshka’ doll is the muse for ‘Philosophy of Design’s’ playful living area and bedroom. Indonesian artwork and Thai silks complete the furnishings and both rooms have terraces that open out onto the beach and afford a
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Dolphin Island Built using elements of traditional Fijian architecture, this 14-acre South Pacific paradise reflects tropical island luxury living at its very best.
Location Viti Levu, Fiji Property Dolphin Island Opened 2011 Owner Alex van Heeren Interior Designer Virginia Fisher Photographs Courtesy of Dolphin Island
Dolphin Island a haven of relaxation & comfort whilst celebrating pacific style.
J
ust a 20 minutes boat ride off the Fijian mainland, on the tip of Viti Levu, Dolphin Island is a luxury focused secluded and idyllic ‘castaway’ private island retreat,
framed by palm trees, fine sandy beaches, stretches of mangrove, surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise water. This 14-acre South Pacific tropical paradise, owned by Dutch diplomat Alex van Heeren, available to rent with maximum of just eight guests, on an exclusive-use basis boasts just three elegant veranda-wrapped “burse” Fijian for wood and straw hut. A pair of equally picturesque guest bures containing two separate double suites sit either side. This group of buildings blending so effortlessly with the landscape ensures perfect enjoyment of the island’s nurturing and lush natural landscape. There is also a romantic south seas thatched open air ‘sleep-out bure’ tucked away on the eastern end of the island, perfect for day time relaxation, dining or overnight seclusion.
Built using elements of traditional Fijian architecture and design the bures are simple and yet wonderfully luxurious incorporating organic materials and features such as thatched roofing, timber and exposed beams.
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Hilltop Sleep-out Bure Featuring heart timber floors, plaster walls, stone tiles, wooden shutters, high ceilings this thatched open-air bedroom, is both rustic and refined. Lighting is provided by lanterns and candles, a simple bathroom and shower and toilet are located to one side of the sleep-out.
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The dressing rooms are large and generous and these are further complemented by well-appointed bathrooms, twin hand basins, coral and shell mirrors, sculptural free-standing bath and outdoor shower, within a private garden courtyard.
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When Alex van Heeren purchased the property in 1984, he commissioned New Zealand-born interior designer Virginia Fisher to create an interior to complement and enhance this extraordinarily beautiful location. Drawing on the property’s heritage and with a great eye for exactly what a property needs to offer its guests, she has created an interior and ambience of outstanding quality. Built using elements of traditional Fijian architecture and design each of these bures are simple and yet wonderfully luxurious incorporating organic materials and features such as thatched roofing, timber and exposed beams, heart timber floors, plaster walls, stone tiles, wooden shutters, high ceilings and the latest in air conditioned comfort. The main bure, created for dining, relaxing and entertaining, with a seamless flow between outdoors and indoors has a fabulous traditional high palm-thatched and wooden shutters, a nod to Pacific living.
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The Main Bure Pavilion With its fabulous traditional palm-thatched roof and traditional architectural detailing, the main bure holds centre court, enjoying an elevated position above the infinity pool and a series of pool-side areas perfectly designated relaxation.
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Re-planting of the tropical landscape showcases the mature
palm trees boldly, while introducing more
fragrant frangipani, exotic hibiscus and many other exotic plants.
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Huge beds, inviting armchairs and well-proportioned dressing rooms add to the luxe factor, while the skyblue and white palette picks up the sea views, visible through fold-back wall-to-wall glass doors. The dressing rooms are large and generous and these are further complemented by well-appointed bathrooms, twin hand basins, shower, sculptural free-standing bath and outdoor shower, within a private garden courtyard. Added to this the pure cotton bed linen and soft feather pillows are perfectly suited to the climate. Fiji toiletries, fine waffle-cloth cotton bathrobes, towelling slippers and hair dryers are also provided within this perfect home-away-from-home retreat. The designer has created a haven of relaxation and comfort while celebrating Pacific style in her own unique way. Strongly referencing Polynesian pattern and lifestyle, Fisher brings together a fabulous look for Dolphin Island that reflects tropical living at its very best.
o How to get there Following arrival at Nadi International Airport, guests can travel for 2.5-hours by private car, or choose to transfer by sea plane or helicopter to Dolphin Island. The island’s own private boat will then transfer you to your own private island retreat.
Fmi www.dolphinislandfiji.com email: reservations@hukalodge.co.nz tel: + 64 7 378 5791
Location Taveuni. Fiji Property Laucala Island Resort Opened 2013 Owner Dietrich Mateschitz Architects Lynne Hunt London Scape Design Associates Photographs Courtesy of Laucala Island Resort
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LAUCALA ISLAND a forward thinking luxurious property full of environmental and cultural sensitivity
W
hat to do when you have an inexhaustible amount of money?, easy you buy your own island and turn it into one of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in the world.
Enter Dietrich Mateschitz, head of the Red Bull energy drink company and his own Formula 1 racing team who in 2003 acquired this spectacular island. Spanning 12 square kilometres, Laucala is one of three small islands off the northeast coast of Taveuni in Fiji. Hemmed by lagoons and coral reefs in the South Pacific. Design by Lynne Hunt London / Scape Design Associates, the architectural design has created a seamless transition between the spacious villas and the untouched beauty of the island. Based on traditional Fijian building techniques the resort construction utilises local timber, thatch and stone. Laucala’s 25 villas, all glamorous versions of traditional Fijian dwellings, each offer unparalleled exclusivity and privacy in dramatic, and very different, locations around the northern coast of the island.
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Eleven Plantation villas are set amid a coconut grove beside a private beach; four Plateau villas perch atop Nawi Mountain at the heart of the island, ringed by rainforest and offering unbroken views of the sea; seven Seagrass villas line a powder-white beach; the Peninsula villa hugs a cliff and crescent-shaped beach; the Overwater villa is set above an emerald-green lagoon; and the Hilltop Estate sits at one of the island’s highest points, commanding views of the Fijian archipelago. Regardless of their location, villas are designed with soft curves and free-flowing shapes, using natural materials in construction: thatch roofs made from the leaves of sago palms, local doga timber, bala bala fern stems, and a traditional coconut husk weave known as magi magi. Impeccably furnished bedroom and living areas open to private gardens, each with an infinity-edge pool lit by Tikki torches come dusk. All the Villas come with a buggy, so guests are free to explore the resort at their leisure.
Design Challenges The island was covered by approximately one third coconut plantation and two thirds in a variety of habitats including lowland rainforest, coastal communities and mangroves and swamps. This unique biodiversity is home to some of the rarest creatures in the South Pacific. Many birds, reptiles and amphibians inhabit the island which is seen as a haven for many rare species in Fiji. The preservation and retention of this unique biodiversity was a major goal of the client. Therefore Scape’s role was to review and challenge the placement of every single piece of architecture, every road and every pool in order to satisfy the overriding environmental constraints of the brief and to guarantee the long term sustainability of the island. As a result, the buildings were located in such a way as to be sensitive to the local terrain, whilst also aiming to provide extensive view corridors to distant islands or island features. Existing vegetation was used to frame views whilst providing both privacy and intimacy for the guests.
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Laucala peninsula villa
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The planting design for the project was the biggest challenge for Scape as landscape designers. This required an extensive search for native plant species throughout Fiji. Also many species observed on the island were transplanted and reproduced in the island’s own nursery
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Regardless of their location, villas are designed with soft curves and free-flowing shapes, using natural materials in construction. Carefully integrated into the island atmosphere, their open-plan design blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior areas and gives guests a better idea of the atmosphere of this
South Seas island
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Laucala overwater villa bathroom
The fundamental success of the Laucala Island resort can be traced back to the highly detailed approach to the planning of the site at the outset of the project. Working closely with the lead architect, Scape Design Associates meticulously located all the architecture and resort facilities to maximise drama and the overall guest experience, the result being, for example, the dramatic settings of the key F&B facilities and the three special villas. Each of the 25 deluxe villas, divided between two beaches and a prominent hillside ridge, were designed as a cluster of pods. These can be individually twisted to provide stunning views from key windows, beds and
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True luxury is appreciated in the privacy of the resort’s villas widely spread on the northern tip of the island.
Seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living creates an inspiringly relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere.
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sofa locations, even giving the bathrooms prime views of distant islands. In this way specific trees and landscape features could be retained and even integrated sculpturally into the design. The 5000 sqm naturalistic saltwater lagoon, the largest of its type in the whole of Asia, with its walk-in beaches, secret coves and tropical sun decks was laid out across the centre of the resort in order to unite the key public areas – cultural village, gymnasium, guest lounge and main feature pools which had all been elegantly been placed around a picturesque mountain spur to the sea. It was Scape’s challenge to capture the essence and beauty of the island within our work. Drawing on lessons learnt from the local culture and vernacular, the aesthetics and style of the resort were conceived. The resort buildings are unconventional, and were approached with inventive imagination. However, the key to their success is the blurring of the boundaries between architecture, interiors and landscape. For example, the villas have been designed to fully open up to the elements with interior spaces flowing into and uniting with the surrounding landscape. Internal and external bathrooms have been provided as well as internal and external lounges through the provision of an array of sun decks and covered shade structures, all set within lush but naturalistic garden settings. Each villa is then provided with its own unique and luxurious freeform infinity edged pool, complete with pool side fire bowl, in-pool seating and shade pavilions, whilst the exquisite main resort pool is a joy to behold, with weirs and cascades, and a glassed fronted lap pool which stretches out to meet the sea. Not forgetting the mighty salt water lagoon. It is here that the very concept of luxury is redefined through a sense of that of tranquillity, exclusivity and sensuality.
o How to get there Laucala offers all the exclusivity of a private island resort but is within easy reach of international hubs thanks to regular flights to Fiji from Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, New-Zealand and the United States. The resort operates its own airstrip and aircraft, flying guests to and from Nadi International Airport in 50 minutes.
Fmi www.laucala.com email: info@laucala.com tel: +679 8880077
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Laucala main pool
Sneak Peak Issue 12
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