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| The allure of island living in the age of a pandemic |
Although there seems to be a ray of light at the end of the new crown epidemic, most people still hope to take a breath. If you could escape, into total seclusion, where would you go?
For the lucky — and often wealthy — few, the answer is an island. The island has a slower pace of life, a thriving local community and is surrounded by natural beauty, especially the sparkling sea.
The unattainable dream of living in a resort has become a reality. Developments on the island combine a variety of accommodation options, whether folk-inspired cottages or sleek modern villas, with world-class golf facilities, from seaside to championship courses, and a wide variety of recreational facilities, whether Whether it’s a beach bar or a spa), residents can escape from the hustle and bustle without feeling isolated or bored.
While island life will always feel isolating to many, the abundance of flight options, the rise of remote working, and increased demand for local recreational facilities have changed that. And the pandemic will only accelerate that trend.
Fueled by technology upgrades and the reshaping of living and working spaces, what was once an occasional retreat has in many cases become part or all of their home.
"Two years ago, there were three settled families here," said Chuck Cary, vice president of marketing for the private community of Kohanaiki on the island of Hawaii. "By the end of this year, I guess it will definitely increase to 30 households."
Being able to live longer on the island also adds to the appeal of this lifestyle. It's as if each of the following developments is building more homes, and some are building new golf courses.
Bahamas
Abaco Club at Winding Bay
The approximately 200-hectare Abaco Club sits on a ridge on Great Abaco Island, overlooking a crescent-shaped bay and white-sand beaches. Homes here range from studio cottages to three-bedroom country houses to sprawling bespoke estates.
The homes are priced between $700,000 and $12.5 million, said Matt Deitch, operating principal of Abaco developer Southworth Developments. Pitched metal roofs and colorful wainscoting are inspired by traditional Bahamian architecture, and the homes feature expansive patios and outdoor living spaces.
Since buying their home in 2012, Toronto resident Tim McGuire and his wife Sheila have lived here for about four weeks a year. They first won a tour at a charity auction and fell in love with it immediately.
"Life on the island is easier than anywhere else," he said. He feels there's a real "sense of belonging" here, where you can walk or take a golf cart everywhere. His grown children also come to spend time here, and for most of the year the McGuires can rent out the house to tourists through the club's rental program.
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Abama Resort
On the remote Spanish Canary Islands, the terraced terrain of the Abama resort in the foothills of Mount Teide in Tenerife allows almost all houses here to overlook the sea and other nearby islands. “It would be a shame to have a suite at a seaside resort without an ocean view,” said Francis Puyol, head of real estate at Arum Group, which develops and operates Abama Resort. In addition to having an 18-hole golf course, the resort also has a semi-private beach, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, gym and spa, tennis academy, two Michelin restaurants, and famous architect Melvin Villarol Named Melvin Restaurant, he is the designer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here.
“If you want to experience the feeling of seclusion, this is your best choice,” Puyol said. "You never have to leave the resort."
The modern-style residences in Abama Resort are designed by a number of top Spanish architects including Villarol, Cordeci Construction, Virgilio Gutierrez Herreiros and Eustaccio Martinez Built by designers and companies, prices range from $637,000 to $2.2 million.
Smaller accessory units also provide hotel services, and larger residences often have their own pools, terraces or courtyards. All homes have large balconies, large windows, and overhanging roofs, and combine a minimalist look with local stone, hardwood, and tile. Much of the resort has been designed with sustainability in mind, including the use of solar panels, recycled materials, and its own desalination plant.
Kona, Hawaii
Kohanaki
Along the roughly 180-acre stretch of Hawaii Island's Kona Coast, Kohanaiki is the most expensive community on this list.
Prices start at $3 million for a single-story, three- or four-bedroom "tree house by the sea," while custom homes, often built by local developers, can cost well over $30 million. Chuck Cary, vice president of marketing for the community, said 40 more new homes are currently under construction.
"As soon as you get off the plane, you feel the decompression," says Brent Hallock, co-founder of the Mellow curtain company. “I made a bunch of friends very quickly and effortlessly.” Hallock and his wife, Holly, completed construction last year on their Kohanekee home, where they plan to live for six months a year.
“I think they really put a lot of thought into the design so we don’t have to leave once we’re here,” Hallock said. "We don't go out. We don't go anywhere. Why leave?"
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