As the tide turns in Grand Cayman, heralding a departure from traditional forms and pioneering a fresh wave of ultra modern designs aimed at revitalising the domestic architecture of ‘the islands that time forgot’, Opus I & II bring 5,934 square feet of glamour to one of Cayman’s most established and prestigious neighbourhoods. The two sleek-chic abodes, designed by Davenport Development’s own Paul Pearson, who hired innovating architect Robert Towell, founder and principal chartered architect of Cayman-based Robert Towell Architect Ltd., and built by savvy developers, Davenport Development Ltd., are scheduled for completion in January 2012, promising to revolutionise island style with a trendsetting new take on seaside living.
Set on the natural, reef protected beach ridge of Old Prospect on Grand Cayman’s breathtaking south coast, the properties answer demand for a sophisticated, sexy South Beach (SoBe) vibe balanced with all the comforts of a family beach home. According to Towell, “Opus 1 & II will ignite, intrigue and delight the senses… The desired effect is to achieve a clean and crisp structure that appears simplistic and natural as possible to suit the surrounding environment.”
Pre-construction floor plans provide options of between three to five bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to a spacious home theatre, double basement-level parking, an elevator, wine cellar and spectacular oceanfront study. Spanning four storeys, the residences boldly throw down the gauntlet on design ingenuity, celebrating geometric purity with their show-stopping black and white rectilinear façades and walls of glass.
From outside, corner and punched window openings, cantilevered overhangs, jutting window eyebrows and an intersecting aluminium and glass canopy protecting the oversized teak front door from the elements, provide a sculptural quality with the interplay of light and shade combining with cable railed balconies to create relief. Says Towell: “The design strategy involves volumes, intersections, penetrations, straight lines with mixed material use to provide a unique professional artistic work of art.” A water wall at the raised ground floor entranceway introduces an elemental motif, a tantalising taste of things to come, while lush tropical landscaping anchors the design in place.
Characterised by clean lines and modern styling, the full drama of the streamlined, open plan interior presents a striking visual coup d’état. Marazzy Italian porcelain floor tiles in charcoal and sheer walls of purest white set a tone of sleek sophistication rounded out by the drama of the La Strada-esque kitchen, with its upscale stainless steel finishings and cosmopolitan cool. Adding subtle definition to the layout, elegant lighting and tray ceiling detail create interior ‘living modules,’ maximising the spatial openness and expansive sea views. A spiral staircase winds up to a mezzanine level overlooking the living room to deliver a separate and intriguing new dimension to the scheme. Complete with integrated appliances and fine quartz-stone countertops, the look is one of refined elegance and unfettered luxury.
Double volume ceilings stretch skyward as living areas are suffused in natural light flooding in through impact-rated wall-to-wall Eurotech windows – triple glazed for insulation and safety. Framing views of extraordinary aquamarine, the brilliance of these vast, ever-changing natural canvases infuses spaces with colour and vitality – a unique design ‘aqua vitae’ – and fortifies the bond between outside and in. As well as 130 feet of pristine beach front, each residence has its own L-shaped pool lined with whimsical Venetian glass mosaic tiles, cleverly designed to accommodate a quick dip or more invigorating laps.
Lit as if by heaven by a skylight in the stair tower, a wraparound tempered glass stairway with stainless steel nautical handrails climbs a dramatic forty feet to upstairs ensuite bedrooms on the second floor and up again to the stunning third storey oceanfront master suite, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and its own sundeck complete with private hot tub. Electronic retractable awnings generate shade and romance, while inside wooden ceilings add warmth and intimacy. Allowing you to bathe in the splendour of the setting, the master bathroom boasts spectacular sea views through floor to ceiling glass walls on two sides. Wile away hours in unadulterated bliss in the stand-alone bathtub or luxuriate in the rainhead jet shower; either way, what is clear is that the Opus residences are designed for those with a taste for the finer things.
Undeniably hip and style-conscious, Opus I & II bring their own innovative brand of smart luxury to the Caribbean architectural scene. Driven as they are by modern minimalist design principles, each building component works in harmony to form a magnum opus unto itself; an intricate puzzle, bold in proportion and bodacious in design to signal a new era in beachfront living.
