Month: February 2018

As winter doldrums set in and tropical vacations are on our minds, ultra-luxury resort operator One&Only is tantalizing high-net-worth people with 55 resort-branded residences perched on the cliffs above the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico.

 

Priced from $4 million to $12 million, each villa has been designed by Tucson-based architect Rick Joy.

 

Sales have begun at Mandarina, which is less than an hour from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, along a one-mile stretch of beach. The development eventually will include a 108-room hotel, a second hotel, an additional group of resort-branded residences by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, a beachfront polo field and an equestrian center along with the 55 One & Only residences.

 

Planned amenities in addition to the Mandarina Polo and Equestrian Club include the Jetty harbor, a spa, two beach clubs with pools, terraces, dining areas, massage spaces, a farm and restaurant and a trail system for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

 

Others include the Plateau, a dining and swimming area overlooking the Jetty, and the Point, a mountainside indoor-outdoor restaurant and swimming pool.

 

The One&Only residences, each with ocean views, have 7,500 to 13,500 square feet with four to eight bedrooms.

 

Each has indoor-outdoor living with interior rooms connected with walls of glass to terrace, pool and garden areas. Each villa comes with a private infinity-edge pool overlooking the jungle, coastline and ocean.

 

*Originally posted on The Washington Post

When Mexican real estate developer and president of RSC, Ricardo Santa Cruz, and the RLH Properties team found the Mandarina coastline property in 2008, they couldn’t believe the treasure they had stumbled upon. The uninterrupted 636-acre parcel of immaculate Nayarit coastline, jungle, and estuary was within driving distance of Puerto Vallarta but completely removed from the busyness of modern society.

 

Thus began a 2.5-year saga of acquiring the veritable jigsaw puzzle of farmer-owned land. RLH Properties negotiated sales with each of the 58 families, promising to create a vision that would benefit the local community while bringing in sustainable tourism to an area overshadowed by established resorts to the south.

“We are not speculators,” Santa Cruz says. “We’re there to stay and create a world-class resort destination. [These families] would receive and participate in the benefits from the development.”

 

RLH Properties devised a “branded residence” and hotel hybrid layout. The caveat was that this escape, which would be of the highest quality, had to incorporate the natural environment into the development. The team signed operational agreements with One&Only (marking the brand’s first foray into private residences) and Rosewood to provide trademark experiences.

 

In total, the One&Only side of the grounds will have 55 private homesites ranging from $4 million to $12 million; there will also be 108 suites. The property will have a year’s head start on Rosewood, opening in mid-2019. Rick Joy Architects (of Amangiri fame) took the landscape into account and used the natural features of the land as the foundation for each property. As a result, no two homes are exactly the same.

 

Although the sum equals a medium-sized resort, each suite and homesite is spread out with an average density of one building per 2.4 acres. Residences are nestled among old-growth trees or set atop steep hillsides. Owners can choose between land with a shaded canopy, expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, or both.

 

It’s an intoxicating experience that begins detoxifying the soul mere minutes after arrival.

 

The vision is slowly coming to life through individual locales that blend seamlessly into whichever of the three microclimates they happen to be situated in. Six of the first 18 sites have been sold, including Lot 14—the highest buildable hilltop on the property. The site offers dramatic 360-degree views of all three microclimates plus the Sierra Vallejo Mountains towering behind the resort.

 

Mandarina will also include all the top-tier amenities that One&Only is known for. Unique to this property, a 22,000-square-foot spa and wellness center will harmonize between four large Higuera Blanca trees, which anchor an enclave fittingly located near the center of that side of the development. It will have an authentic temazcal (ancient Mayan healing) practice plus several treatment rooms built around the trees. It’s just one example of the strict preservation philosophy that’s built into Mandarina’s DNA.

 

“We definitely wanted to create as little impact as possible,” Santa Cruz says. “In Mandarina, we made the decision that the natural vegetation already there was so precious and irreplaceable, you’re actually buying time. That becomes the property’s biggest asset.”

 

They’re also doing their part to protect the ancient heritage of the site. A full-time archaeological team is digging through centuries of dirt on the grounds to preserve artifacts of the Cora and Huichol tribes, which still call this part of Nayarit home. Rocks with 500-year-old markings are fenced off around the property during construction and will be incorporated into the final layout.

 

The team is looking to the future, too. Mandarina’s labor force is predominantly local, and the accompanying investment is helping neighboring communities stake their claim against Punta de Mita, Sayulita, and Puerto Vallarta to the south. RLH Properties gave the tiny neighboring community of El Montéon a classic beach club with basic amenities and a water tower securing potable drinking water—two things the 2,500-person town never had before. Tourists are beginning to discover El Montéon, and a real estate boom is underway.

 

As much as Mandarina is going to redefine the standard for luxury in Mexico, it’s going to do so in an understated way that matches its future residents and guests.

 

Perhaps this is best understood when viewing the expanse from the water. Beyond some of the gathering spaces hugging those sharp Pacific cliffs, the residences and suites will blend into the jungle by design, remaining virtually unnoticeable.

 

For the discerning individual, the residential community will offer the ultimate luxury—the rare chance to disengage completely from modern chaos and reconnect with nature.

 

*Originally posted on Robb Report

With this development’s enviable position on a nearly mile-long stretch of the Riviera Nayarit region’s coastline, demand will be high for these newly completed villas, which are accompanied by a One&Only hotel. While all 55 of the contemporary homes are similar in style, architect Rick Joy customized each residence to highlight the unique surroundings. The five-bedroom Villa 6 embraces indoor-outdoor living with a 5,533-sq-ft interior fusing seamlessly with a terrace, pool and garden. Tucked into lush tropical flora, with an infinity pool commanding views over the jungle and coastline, the villa provides exceptional privacy and a real feeling of seclusion. By taking up residence here, you’ll have access to the hotel’s wealth of amenities, from its fine-dining restaurants to its luxury wellness facilities.

 

*Originally posted on Elite Traveler

Known for its luxury resort operations, One&Only is launching its first ever branded real estate and residential offering in the world. One&Only Mandarina is selling private homes in a billion dollar development just outside Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

 

Built alone one and a half kilometers of shoreline in the region, Mandarina is the latest luxury resort and residential community to come in the past few decades. The new homes being offered are sure to draw high profile buyers and continue building the appeal for the region’s luxury travelers.

 

The 55 branded residences, priced between four and twelve million dollars, along with a 108-room One&Only hotel, are an impressive addition to the Riviera Nayarit’s beautiful jungle landscape.

 

Designed by the architect Rick Joy, each villa has been designed to incorporate jungle vegetation and the dramatic cliff side drops to the Pacific Ocean below. The villas will also be a short distance from the world-class Mandarina Polo and Equestrian Club replete with state-of-the-art polo grounds, dressage and jumping arenas, and stables—making this a perfect locale for equestrians and beachgoers alike. The hotel is due to follow soon too with an expected debut of 2019.

 

Each home is built with luxe interiors an open-air design. Four, five and eight-bedroom floor plans range in size from approximately 7,500 to 13,500 square feet, providing a genuine sense of indoor/outdoor living with interior spaces connecting seamlessly to terrace, pool and garden areas. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun crest over the mountains and dip down again into the ocean.

 

*Originally posted on Haute Residence

Want to get swept away and own your own corner of heaven? One&Only, the ultra luxury resort operator, is launching its first ever branded real estate offering in the world: One&Only Mandarina and is now it’s selling private homes in a $1 billion development near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

 

Nestled along a 1.5km stretch of pristine beach, Mandarina is the most significant new resort and residential community to grace the shores of Mexico in decades and will draw the most discerning buyers and travelers from around the world to Riviera Nayarit. Sales have now officially launched, and the first phase of the project includes 55 branded residences, priced between $4 million and $12 million, and a 108-room One & Only hotel.

 

Designed by the architect Rick Joy, each villas has been designed to incorporate jungle vegetation and dramatic cliffside drops to the Pacific. The development will eventually include a second hotel and another group of branded homes, to be operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Inc., as well as a beachfront polo field and equestrian center.

 

*Originally posted on Bella NYC

One of Mexico’s most popular destinations is somehow, ironically, also its least explored. A 200-mile stretch of coastline known as Riviera Nayarit—about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta—is as diverse as they come, comprised of mountain ranges, swimmable seas, volcanic craters and tropical jungles. Travelers from all over the world come to walk the streets of boho beach towns, surf the swell and revel in its archaeological offerings, but few stay long enough to celebrate its storied past or play a part in its future. Mandarina, Mexico’s luxe resort and residential property, was designed to do just that.

 

“Mandarina is home to one of the last remaining tropical, beachfront jungles in Mexico, which makes it the most significant resort and residential development to grace the shores of Mexico in decades,” explained Ricardo Santa Cruz, founding partner of Mandarina and RSC President.

 

The $1 billion property began its initial planning 10 years ago and today, features two hotel properties known as One&Only Mandarina and Rosewood Mandarina, as well as soon-to-be Mexico private homes Rosewood Residences and One&Only Private Homes.

 

The One&Only branded residences are the company’s first and only ownable villas throughout the world—a step in a new direction from their simply extravagant vacation properties. Designed by Rick Joy Architects, each one of the 55 villas at One&Only Private Homes are architecturally unique, meant to capture the most idyllic views possible from every vantage point.

 

Floor plans for the villas range from four, five and eight-bedrooms at 7,500 to 13,500 square feet, costing anywhere between $4 million and $12 million. “Today’s luxury home buyer is focused on location, lifestyle, and privacy,”  said Santa Cruz. “Owning at One&Only Mandarina offers a lifestyle of unforgettable experiences with a remarkable destination to call home.”

 

The surge in buying Mexico private homes stems from the transition to resort stays versus residences, where lodging options for the latter can easily accommodate larger families or impress discerning travelers. At Mandarina, they’re offering guests a chance to actually own and preserve a piece of Riviera Nayarit’s heritage, one that cannot be replicated.

 

Aside from location, what makes the Mandarina development so special are the array of amenities in which it offers, mimicking a kind of luxury lifestyle essence that has yet to be seen on Mexico’s Western shores.

 

Located on Mandarina’s flatlands, the Polo & Equestrian Club is a world-class facility featuring two arenas, tournament-sized polo fields, clubhouse, pro lounge and shop. Guests of all ages are encouraged to gather, learn, practice and compete. Also located within the flatlands is their on-site farm which features local fruits and vegetables, as well as an authentic farm-to-table restaurant.

 

The One&Only Spa offers open-air treatment rooms, in line with their holistic and nature-driven approach to wellness. Take a dip in the plunge pool, practice yoga on the palapa or indulge in a massage underneath a canopy of trees.

 

And every night, as tribute, guests can venture over to The Jetty at sunset to catch a glimpse of fire burning across the sea, symbolizing the center of a long-dormant volcano in which Mandarina sits today.

 

“Properties like Mandarina allow buyers and travelers from around the globe to celebrate life with those that matter and make lifelong memories in a place where natural wonder abounds and all of life’s every need is at your fingertips.”

 

*Originally posted on VUE NJ