South Bank’s new “suspended private villa” experience.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Images Courtesy Windward

Life in the Turks & Caicos Islands is meant to be savored with each of your senses. Overarching is the vast expanse of ocean blue, with as many different expressions as the face of a beloved friend. Beams of golden sunshine are occasionally dimmed by the curtain of a cottony cloud. Then there are the sounds: a seagull calling as it slices through the sky at sunrise; the steady shushing of a cooling breeze at sunset; the quiet lap of water on shore, sometimes crescendoing into a steady beat. Smell and taste meld, as the air has a distinct salty tang and flavor enhanced by the heady scent of tropical flora. Walking barefoot on soft sand or carefully picking your way over rugged rock contrasts in texture with the polished smoothness of a seashell.

This is a slice of life at Arc, the newest and most distinctive neighborhood of the South Bank residential and resort marina community.

South Bank overview

The South Bank development and marina is located on the southeastern shore of Providenciales on Long Bay.

South Bank is a 31-acre development on the southeastern shore of Providenciales in Long Bay. The project began in 2017 with a focus on creating a water-based lifestyle in an area of serene natural beauty. The expansive property is bordered by sandy beachfront, limestone ironshore, and verdant indigenous vegetation — with an inland lagoon at its center and an integrated marina at its flank. Thoughtfully designed buildings blend seamlessly into the scene and offer a range of options for residents. 

South Bank had comprised three different neighborhoods of various residence types. The Ocean Estates neighborhood encompasses 19 three- to seven-bedroom beachfront and oceanfront villas, each with a private pool, some with a transparent edge that seems to float above the sea. To date, 15 villas are under construction, with 16 sold and 2 reserved.

The Lagoon neighborhood includes three- to five-bedroom beachfront villas surrounding a sandy swimming lagoon, with some having their own boat docks. Of these, all 18 villas are sold, under construction, and expected to be completed in early 2023.

The Launch offers one- to three-bedroom townhomes, aptly named Boathouses for their private rear terraces with a boat dock suspended over the water. To date, only five are still for sale (out of 38) and all are under construction for completion in the first quarter of 2024.

It comes as no surprise that South Bank sales ranked as the most successful real estate performance in TCI history, with well over $150 million sold in 2021 and 2022 (thus far), alone. Joe Zahm, president/broker of Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s International Realty comments, “With over 65 properties sold between $1,000,000 and $11,500,000 since 2020, South Bank — a robust and secure 31 acre resort and residential marina community with all the amenities — has been historically successful in terms of sales performance. Buyers simply love the concept, designs, and the variety of waterfront experiences, from the Boathouses, each with a private slip, to the Lagoon Beach Villas with their protected waters, and  including the signature Ocean Estates. Representing South Bank has been a peak career experience for me and my team.” The combination of a unique location, well-conceived plan, desirable contemporary architecture, and the outstanding reputation of the development firm Windward, cemented its allure.

Debuting Arc

With the voracious interest in these properties, the developers wanted to ensure that the final offering at South Bank was truly special, surprising, and appealing to the booming TCI luxury real estate market. Left untouched was a prime two-acre “point” on the western Long Bay shoreline. Its vantage embraces sunrise and sunset, along with sweeping views of the Caicos Bank, South Bank inlet, marina, lagoon, and protected Juba Sound wetlands teeming with life.

After much thought, discussion, and careful consideration, Windward is now debuting Arc, its ultimate and perhaps most iconic neighborhood. Commissioned exclusively for Arc is world-renowned architecture firm Lissoni & Partners, with offices in Milan/Italy and New York/USA. They created an unprecedented “suspended” private villa experience for each of the 17 residences at Arc that merges elevated viewpoints with an outdoor lifestyle.

Piero Lissoni and his team designed each Arc residence to have a self-contained enclosure and connection with the outdoors while remaining part of a community. Thus, the five-level building blends privacy with an enormous amount of livable interior and exterior space, in the form of terraces, gardens, and private pools as well as outdoor kitchen and dining spaces. Each residence will enjoy unmatched views, the stunning beach, and the resort amenities South Bank offers.  

Arc is the newest and most distinctive South Bank neighborhood.

At Arc, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom residences are arranged in a terraced pyramid shape on four levels, with the crowning 13,000-square-foot penthouse spanning the entire fifth level with 360º views. The signature residences will enjoy a dedicated lobby, underground parking, elevator accesses, an exclusive fitness center, and the finest residential finishes and amenities. A long, curved pool parallels the oceanfront, lined with latticed sunning “pods” and water beds, shaded by palms. Paved walkways wind through the grounds, leading to private lounging areas with umbrellas or firepits. A pool bar and beachfront restaurant frames the sunset and serves to enhance a day of relaxation.

Blending in with the primary natural tones of other South Bank properties, residences at Arc will make use of timbered walls, latticed roofing, and wooden screens to provide privacy and sun filters. Indoor spaces will also feature elements in earth tones to exude a feeling of comfortable elegance, well suited to the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Homeowners and their guests can partake of South Bank resort amenities including watersports, tennis and pickle ball courts, spa, and two restaurants and bars, along with multiple beach access areas. Also available are in-villa dining and spa treatments, with private chefs and masseurs. The entire South Bank property is gated and security monitored.

Due to its position on a prime two-acre “point” on the Long Bay shoreline, Arc residences will enjoy sunrise and sunset views.

The South Bank Marina delivers service and facilities for the South Bank lifestyle, including floating docks with 60 slips ranging from 30 to 120 feet. South Bank homeowners can enjoy a Boat Concierge program that allows them to simply call in to order their boat to the launch spot fully maintained, fueled, and provisioned . . . then drop it back off after their day trip. 

Why South Bank?

I recently spoke with one of South Bank’s directors, Ingo Reckhorn, about the project’s overwhelming success and bright future. He explained that the allure is the combination of relaxed sophistication and wild beauty, attracting buyers with a mutual love for water — boating, watersports, swimming, beachcombing. To date, about half of South Bank buyers are from the US and half from Canada. Many plan to share their residence over multi-generations of their family. Included are seasoned island residents attracted by the long-term potential and appeal of a waterfront lifestyle.

Ironically, sales out-performed expectations in an era of pandemic, material shortages, and global construction-related challenges. Fortunately, Ingo added, “The solid partnerships formed by Windward over past projects such as Blue Cay Estate give us a strong base from which to deal with these challenges. We maintain constant communication with our partners, suppliers and contractors. That has softened the effects of these challenges tremendously.” Windward also reacted to the long and unpredictable lead-times of certain items such as windows and appliances by ordering these necessities much earlier than typically required to avoid bottlenecks in finishing the units for move ins.

Prices for Arc residences start in the low $3 million, providing a new option in the currently underserviced beachfront property market in TCI. Joe Zahm adds, “The magnificent Piero Lissoni designed Arc will elevate South Bank and Long Bay, and is destined to be a timeless landmark in Turks & Caicos.”

South Bank will be expertly managed by Grace Bay Resorts, one of the leading hospitality providers in the Caribbean. They will bring unparalleled expertise into the operation of South Bank’s resort facilities and amenities, as well as the rental program for all South Bank residences.

For more information, visit livesouthbank.com.