Project: Naisoso Island, Fiji

Project Description:

Set on 4.6 hectares of tropical landscaped gardens with 300 metres of ocean frontage, the Resort comprises 178 apartments in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom unit configurations centred around the main arrivals pavilion building, which houses the reception, retail and casual bar , the function room, gymnasium and business centre  areas. The brief required that all units needed to have beach views. This was achieved by locating separate buildings in an inverted “T” form, with a minimum of 40m separation between buildings to achieve these necessary view corridors.

Water plays a dominant role in the site layout, with reflecting ponds originating from the central facilities building drawing the eye on arrival to the beach some 100 m away. Complementing these ponds are contemporary pools in three separate areas, incorporating a swim up pool bar facility. A signature restaurant along with an all day dining cafe are located adjacent to the pools and along the beach edge to create an idyllic island setting and atmosphere. Other recreation facilities on site include tennis courts, a feature day spa pavilion with water features and Zen Asian style relaxation gardens and recovery rooms.

The resort has some  distinctive Fijian high pitch fluted roof forms to give it an appropriate architectural feel and expression to suit its island and national status, which creates a point of difference from other nearby resorts developed in a style not reflective or appropriate to its island context. There is a strong design vocabulary reinforcing the use of local timber and stone cladding techniques, and the main arrival lobby has a spacious lobby feel with distinctive island decorations and fitments and ceiling treatment to set the mood early on first arrival.

The building height is limited to a 3 storey configuration with penthouse pop top roof decks on level 4 providing  another dimension of entertainment ( spa pools and covered bbq areas etc)  and creating more variety and form to the facade treatment. The design needed to be flexible enough to allow construction in 2 stages, without affecting the functioning of the completed stage 1 buildings.