Caribasian Resort & Residences

By Kathy Borsuk~ Artwork by Kevin Melbourne

Many travelers find themselves captivated by the mysterious charms of the East. Its ancient blend of energy, peace and wisdom grows ever more compelling as the Western world becomes increasingly chaotic. As well, the standards of its high-end hospitality industry are unparalleled. With this in mind, the developers of Mandalay Grace Bay recognized a unique opportunity to marry classical Asian flair with the natural beauty of the Caribbean and in doing so, created a brand-new genre for their luxury resort and residences.

Purity and perfection: the Caribasian lifestyle
Caribasian style marks life at Mandalay on Grace Bay, among the newest developments on Providenciales’ famed “Gold Coast,” regularly lauded as one of the finest beaches in the world. At Mandalay, Asian style and design elements are blended with a contemporary Caribbean lifestyle and accented with elegance to create an intriguing choice for investors.

With a prodigious 610 feet of Grace Bay Beach frontage (among the highest of resort developments) and over 17 acres stretching to Grace Bay Road, Mandalay has the raw materials to create an oasis of Caribasian tranquility. Planned for the gated community are 126 condominium suites in four oceanfront and oceanview buildings; 12 private villas; a 52 suite, five-star boutique hotel; a 20,000 square foot, world-class spa and a restaurant, beachfront pool bar and retail courtyard. The facilities will also include a ballroom, state-of-the-art fitness gym and cutting-edge business/
conference center.

Each element is carefully crafted to reflect the ultimate in luxury. For instance, the eight penthouses — ranging in size from nearly 5,000 to almost 9,000 square feet — are the largest currently available in the Turks & Caicos and include private rooftop plunge pools and hot tubs overlooking the ocean. An underground tunnel system ensures that maintenance, housekeeping and room service requests are handled unobtrusively.

Water — be it the rhythmic tumble of waves, comforting splash of a fountain or soothing sight of a reflecting pool — symbolizes tranquility and is a hallmark of the Mandalay site. Framed by a magnificent seascape of ivory and turquoise, an oceanfront infinity pool leads a progression of waterways that stretch between the condominium buildings to the hotel, inviting an unobstructed liquid view from the lobby.

Each condominium building is aptly named with a Zen symbol: Zendo and Karma are based oceanfront, while Mantra and Sutara stand just behind and are angled to maximize ocean views. Each level features several unique floor plans in various sizes and configurations, culminating in the magnificent penthouses on floors six and seven. All have oceanfront terraces, with Great Rooms and ensuite master bedrooms up front, to enjoy the best views. Media rooms are standard, as is a “lock-out suite” capacity for all additional bedrooms, which can be rented as vacation suites when not in use by owners. All units include innovative circulation cores that lead to the elevators.

Another residential option is the Kokoro Villas, a separate community of six duplexes, each with three bedrooms and four baths in over 4,100 square feet. Designed for spaciousness, they feature an expansive patio lining the width of the Great Room and kitchen, opening into a tranquil garden with private plunge pool. The ensuite master bedroom is surrounded by a separate deck with indoor/outdoor showers and private Jacuzzi terrace/yoga platform and massage areas.

The Asian-inspired architecture of Mandalay residences is enhanced with a blend of classical, contemporary and Caribasian decor, combining colors, textures and shapes into an ageless harmony. Flooring includes imported marble and travertine, richly burnished hardwoods and plush broadloom. Kitchen cabinetry is solid hardwood, with Miele and Viking appliances, while master baths include granite vanity tops with Kohler and Toto fixtures.

Also planned for the Mandalay is a state-of-the-art spa, incorporating the latest in holistic therapies and treatments from the East and beyond. The restaurant will serve the finest in exotic Asian and international cuisine. Towering palms guard the entranceway and parking areas, while intricate gardens hide private areas for contemplation and meditation. Conference facilities and a ballroom will complement the 52 unit, five-star hotel and fitness center with two tennis courts that are open for use by both residents and guests.

Wisdom and enlightenment: the Mandalay’s development
Appropriately, the project’s background reflects the Zen attributes of wisdom and patience. The huge Grace Bay site was purchased by Elberton, Georgia based Frank Coggins over 20 years ago. As the largest private landowner on Grace Bay, Coggins held firmly to his vision of the Turks & Caicos as an upscale destination . . . and now believes that the Islands’ time has come. Under his company Jeanette Caribbean Ltd., Coggins also owns the Village at Grace Bay, an 81-acre town center project just south of the Mandalay, also currently under development.

For both projects, Coggins teamed up with Sean Reid, Managing Director of Precision Development Ltd. A third-generation real estate developer, building contractor and entrepreneur, Reid has worked on extensive projects globally and is a self-described “ultra-perfectionist.” This, he says, explains the relative lack of information published about either project until recently. “In my experience, there are more dreamers than doers out there. I am definitely one of the latter. My reputation depends on ensuring that every step we take is right before we make anything public.”

Over the last year, Reid has been busy assembling the Mandalay team, which includes world-renowned Argentinian architect Rafael Amuchastegui (RAD Design) and APEC Architects. RAD is known for Providenciales’ The Palms Resort and Spa and The Veranda; the Amaan Village Resort in Saudi Arabia and the Burj al Arab Hotel Tower in Dubai. Major international building contractor Sir Robert McAlpine will oversee the design/build under a joint venture with Precision. Local firm Benchmark Survey Associates, led by Patrick Hayward, will use their intimate knowledge of the area to provide land survey, engineering, site planning and project management services.

With pre-sales taking flight, Reid estimates that Mandalay construction will commence mid-year 2006. Real estate agent Rob Muller of Pinnacle Properties, working with Lyle Schmidek of Grace Bay Realty, invites potential investors to visit the oceanfront sales center (due to open in April, 2005). Schmidek says that interest has been very high, with positive feedback to the uniqueness of the property, spacious floor plans and great cost-per-square-foot pricing.

For more on Mandalay on Grace Bay, visit www.mandalaygracebay.com or contact Pinnacle Properties at 649 946 8111 or Grace Bay Realty at 649 941 4105 for a private presentation.