Month: December 2024

Article originally featured in Elite Traveler.

In partnership with RLH Properties, owners can now completely customize their private residences.

It feels like every day brings more news of another leader in luxury hospitality unveiling branded residences in yet another corner of the world – and that’s no exaggeration. A 2023 report by Knight Frank projected a 12% growth in the branded residences market by 2026, and while we haven’t run the numbers ourselves, considering the seemingly endless parade of new developments rising in mega-cities, it’s easy to believe.

Branded residences are appealing for the security and service of a trusted hospitality name, but they often lack true personalization. That’s about to change. One&Only Resorts, in partnership with RLH Properties, now offers owners the chance to design custom homes at its ultra-luxurious Mandarina resort on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

One&Only Mandarina already features an exclusive collection of four- to 10-bedroom private residences, priced between $6m and $18.5m. Just like the pictured completed residences at Mandarina, designed by architect Rick Joy, these properties already allow for a choice of curated or bespoke furnishing options. This new initiative, however, takes customization to the next level, enabling owners to fully design their residences before construction even begins.

There are 10 lots available, situated on Mandarina’s famed mountaintops. Just moments from the resort, these lots offer breathtaking vistas: the Pacific Ocean’s endless blue, the equestrian and golf landscapes of The Flatlands, and the lush Sierra Madre Occidental cliffs. Lot sizes range from 9,514 to 13,670 sq ft, with prices starting at $2.85m.

Future owners will collaborate directly with RLH Properties and One&Only, working alongside top architects and designers to create homes that reflect their tastes while harmonizing with Mandarina’s overall aesthetic. Custom features, such as the addition of private gyms or workspaces, can be incorporated to meet any desire.

“We are thrilled to offer buyers the option to build their dream home at Mandarina,” said Kappner Clark, executive vice president of sales and marketing at RLH Properties. “While we’ve always welcomed customizations for our One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, this marks the first time residents can collaborate with leading design and architecture firms, alongside One&Only and RLH Properties, to create a residence from start to finish. We’re excited to provide this new level of personalization at such an incredible destination.”

Ownership at Mandarina comes with more than just a bespoke home. Residents gain access to the resort’s world-class amenities, including fine dining, beach clubs, spas, water sports, and the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club with its state-of-the-art polo grounds, stables, and riding trails. Next year, the Mandarina Golf Club will debut a Greg Norman-designed 10-hole short course, inspired by some of the world’s most iconic courses.

Article originally featured in Forbes.

Known for their luxury resorts, the brand is allowing buyers at One&Only Mandarina to build their dream home from the ground up.

One&Only is known for their ultra-luxurious resorts in bucket list destinations such as Dubai, Cape Town and Malaysia. Now, the brand is offering its first fully customizable homes that buyers can build from the ground up alongside the talented design team behind the memorable One&Only aesthetic.

Located at One&Only Mandarina—the iconic site developed by RLH Properties—the homes are tucked away on the mountaintops of Riviera Nayarit on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Mandarina currently offers Villas and Estate Villas designed by Rick Joy, the architect behind the famous Amangiri hotel, where residents can choose from three select furnishing packages and add-ons to their home, such as a home gym. Buyers customizing their own homes can draw inspiration from the existing floor plans while working more closely with design teams to craft their dream property.

“At RLH Properties, we are always looking for ways to improve our offering to the market. Through research and conversations with clients, we recognized a desire for homeowners to be more involved in the design process of their homes,” explained Kappner Clark, Executive VP of Marketing and Sales at RLH Properties. “While the custom homes will continue to respect the original design integrity that characterizes One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, this new opportunity allows homeowners to personalize the home according to their family’s needs and wants.”

The homeowners begin by selecting which lot best fits their family’s needs and wants, both in terms of size and ocean views. From there, the teams work hand in hand with the customer to design the home according to their requirements, all while respecting the current look and feel of One&Only Mandarina Private Homes to maintain the design integrity of the community.

Depending on the level of customization, the design process can take anywhere from a few months to a year. Lot pricing starts at $2.85 million, however pricing for the homes will vary depending on the design.

The homes are truly at one with nature, located in a tropical jungle paradise; preservation is extremely important to the One&Only brand. Jonathan Tomlinson, Senior Vice President of Private Homes & Branded Residences at Kerzner International says that there was a focus on intelligent and resource-efficient architecture as well as sustainable practices to blend with the nature and honor the resort’s commitment to local communities.

“Botany experts were consulted throughout the design and construction process to preserve the land as well respect the historic and ecological significance of the natural habitat. As resort guests and homeowners become immersed in the surrounding nature, from the ocean to volcanic mountains, these unspoiled vistas are framed against contemporary architecture designed to embrace the dramatic setting, rather than reshape it,” he explained. “Open structures capture natural light, filtered through the towering trees, while traditional Mexican design elements are reimagined, featuring modern, luxury design. Earthen walls emerge from the ground with low visual impact, inspired by the historic buildings once constructed on the site by the Cora, an indigenous settlement in the Western Central Mexico, who covered their buildings in earthen plaster.”

Each home is designed specifically for its location to offer panoramic views of the unspoiled nature surrounds, from jungle to ocean, while maintaining ultimate privacy. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, custom woodwork, warm metals and red clays are used throughout to pay homage to nature while sticking to One&Only’s traditional design style.