BIG designs centerpiece for a new resort in The Bahamas.
BIG + HKS + MDA have unveiled the design for the newHoneycomb building and its adjacent public plaza in The Bahamas – a 175,000 ft² (ca. 16,000 m²) residential building with a private pool on each balcony overlooking the marina.
Albany is a modern paradise-like beach and golf resort community, located on the south coast of New Providence Island. The Honeycomb will be the tallest structure in Albany, making it a landmark in the resort, and a beacon from the ocean.
The façade has a hexagonal pattern that uniquely frames the natural beauty of the Island. The balconies are deep enough to not only provide outdoor spaces, but also summer kitchens and a pool sunken into the balcony of each unit. These pools have a transparent edge towards the plaza, eliminating the visual barrier between the pool and the environment. Bathers can be fully immersed in the view of the marina and the ocean beyond.
On the ground level, the façade pattern melts into the pavement of the plaza, creating a subtle topography on the square. Along the edge, various hexagons transform into green mounds with plants, palm trees, and integrated seating. The center of the square is formed by a shallow pond, which is fed by fountains scattered around the plaza, and a network of small creeks between the hexagonal pavers.
The residences in the building offer a variety of floor plans that will suit the diverse lifestyles of its tenants. The residential lobby and high-end retail will activate the public plaza. A golf cart parking and storage units are oriented towards the parking lot on the north, in close proximity to Albany’s championship golf course.
The Honeycomb will be the centerpiece of Albany’s masterplan for a live, work, play environment unlike any other in The Bahamas.
Albany, located in The Bahamas, is a luxury resort community jointly owned by Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. Opened in 2010, Albany is nestled along approximately 600 oceanfront acres on the southwestern end of New Providence and conveniently located seven minutes and five miles from Nassau’s international airport. Albany features an array of residential offerings and amenities for all members of the family, including a well-appointed boutique hotel, a 71-slip mega-yacht marina, an Ernie Els-designed golf course, a fitness center and spa, an adult pool and bar, a family water park, a kids’ clubhouse and casual and fine dining restaurants. Albany’s deep-water marina is being designed and built to aesthetically rival the great resort ports of the world.
Tavistock Group is an international private investment organization founded by Joe Lewis. With investments in more than 200 companies across 15 countries, Tavistock Group’s investment portfolio includes: life sciences, sports teams and sporting events, manufacturing and distribution, oil, gas and energy, financial services, restaurants, commercial properties, private luxury residential properties, resort properties and master-planned real estate developments.
New Valley, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vector Group, Ltd., is a Delaware limited liability company focused on real estate investments primarily in the United States and the Caribbean. New Valley is an opportunistic investor in a variety of asset types, including commercial, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use properties. The company takes an active role in the repositioning and management of properties in which it holds an interest. In addition to its real estate investments, New Valley also holds a 50% stake in Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which operates the largest residential real estate brokerage in the New York metropolitan area and one of the fastest growing brokerages in South Florida.
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group is a leading international partnership of architects, designers, builders and thinkers operating within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research and development, with offices in Copenhagen and New York. In all our actions we try to move the focus from the little details to the BIG picture.
Bjarke Ingels: «Our design is driven by an effort to maximize the enjoyment of the abundant natural qualities of Albany in The Bahamas: the landscape, the sea and the sun. A honeycomb façade functionally supports the pools making them sink into the terrace floor and provides spectacular sight lines while maintaining privacy for each residence. Drawing inspiration from its coastal setting, the hexagonal design evokes the natural geometries you find in certain coral formations or honeycombs».
Source : BIG