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The Drax Hall Estate, Jamaica

Towards the end of 2006, ReardonSmith’s master plan for the first phase development of The Drax Hall Estate was approved. This encompasses some 800 acres of virgin land along the Northern coast of Jamaica, a site that is to include two hotels, a marina, a championship golf course, a sports and equestrian centre and a substantial quantity of apartments, townhouses and villas.

A principal objective has been to leave as untouched as possible both landscape and vegetation. As a result, the hotels have been woven into the landscape and topography so that the line between interior and exterior is obscured; as a general rule, no new building will break the existing tree canopy. The only major intervention will be the introduction of a ‘canal’, bringing a new seaway into the site and making a connection with the new marina basin. This feature will bring with it two major advantages. The first will be that it will act as a ‘flushing’ device for the marina; in addition, it will increase the number of waterfront villa plots with their enhanced commercial value.

Currently, major studies are underway to ensure that ecology, conservation and sustainability are carefully addressed at this early stage before design development is fully underway.

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