Developer James Lagan believes the superior architecture and interiors, as well as the unique location only metres from George Town, will distinguish Oceana from other residences on the island.
“The fact that we’re not on Seven Mile Beach really sets us apart,” says James, director of Bronte Development Ltd. “Oceana is different in that we’re focused more on the design, rather than just relying on the beach as the main attraction.”
Oceana will be home to only 14 apartments, each with unencumbered views of the water. James, a former lawyer at Maples and Calder, chose the site for its proximity to town and its stunning surrounds. “I love the site,” James explains, “I used to look at it from my window at Maples and Calder.”
Following on from the success of Bronte’s previous development, The SeaView Residences, the company again turned to architect Eduardo Bernal and designer Lydia Geerlings to work their magic on Oceana. James believes that although there are similarities between the developments, Oceana will take the idea of waterfront living to an unprecedented level in Cayman.
Construction on Oceana began in late October and will take approximately 14 months to complete. The 2500-sq ft residences feature three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms. The apartments on the top floor will have cathedral ceilings, while on the ground floor a number of the apartments will feature outdoor patios which step right into the infinity edge pool.
“We decided at an early planning stage to make Oceana a very special building by designing only 14 apartments, even though the local regulations allow for 29,” Eduardo explains.
“By doing so we gave more sea frontage to each unit – every living, dining and master bedroom has an ocean view. And the end units have spectacular master bathrooms facing the ocean. We introduced tempered glass railings for the balconies off the living/dining with large sliding glass doors to achieve stunning panoramic views. There is a total transparency to the sea from the kitchen, which is set behind the living areas. As you enter the apartments you’ll first see the blue turquoise colours of the Caribbean Sea and then Oceana with all its high-quality details.”
Lydia, interior designer at Designworks Ltd, took her cue from the seaside setting when it came to creating the stunning interiors. “Because of the name and because of its location, the inspiration really came from the ocean,” Lydia says.
“There’s a real beachy, casual, clean feel. Using a palette that was location-specific was important to us as we wanted to enhance the natural light and play on the oceanfront location. This translated to limed oak cabinetry in the kitchens and the bathrooms, off-white walls, pale limestone floors, and silvery grey marble wall tiles.”
The design was aimed at functionality and taking advantage of the surrounding scenery. To this end, the bedrooms and bathrooms will feature wraparound glass windows offering unlimited views. Lydia says the superior finishes and attention to detail will cement Oceana’s position as the ultimate waterfront residence.
“Luxury was a real theme for Oceana, we wanted the apartments to have all the bells and whistles. The finishes and fittings are of the highest quality, for example the exclusive German tapware by Dornbracht and appliances by Miele and Liebherr, but the apartments are still within a reasonable price range,” Lydia explains.
“We avoided the darker grays and sombre tones that you often see with a minimalistic aesthetic and purposely moved away from the dark, heavy timbers that are so prominent in Caribbean developments. Everything was geared towards light, space, peace and a sense of openness.”
Lydia says the contemporary design does not compromise the comfort of the residences.
“There’s a fine line between contemporary and austere so we were careful to retain the aesthetic while including a lot of warmth. As with SeaView, we wanted Oceana to be very livable.”
If current sales are any indication, the combination of livability and design is proving popular. Lydia believes potential buyers are attracted to the unique aesthetic and the first-class quality of both the interiors and exteriors, aspects that have become trademarks of Bronte’s’ developments.
“It’s rare to see quality like this in developments and it is a first in Cayman,” Lydia says. “James was keen to set Oceana apart from other projects here. It was a pleasure dealing with someone who fully recognizes the importance of doing this with not just the design but also the calibre of the finishes, fittings and fixtures. We made a real effort to stay one step ahead of the game, always improving, always changing.”
With this flawless combination of design and location, Oceana promises to raise the bar for luxury living in Cayman.
Oceana set for success
The response to Oceana has been nothing short of impressive, despite the project only breaking ground last month.
Michael Joseph, of Re/Max Cayman Islands, and James Butterworth, of Coldwell Banker, are the exclusive listing agents on Oceana and both have seen overwhelming interest in the development.
Michael attributes this to the flawless design and exceptional quality.
“The developers of Oceana have listened to their clientele and have designed a contemporary building that takes luxury to a new level in Cayman,” Michael says. “Attention to detail is crucial and, put simply, Oceana has a real ‘wow’ factor.”
James believes the location, on the waterfront in the heart of George Town, has also played an integral role in distinguishing Oceana from other developments on island.
“It is such a fantastic location. It’s on the water, it’s close to town and the business district. And the sunsets are spectacular,” James says. “Because there will only be 14 apartments, it’s very intimate and very private.”
From a real estate perspective, James says Oceana is a step up from The SeaView Residences, a project that was “a phenomenal success”. He says Bronte Development Ltd are bringing a fresh perspective to Cayman’s real estate market, which is not only beneficial for realtors and buyers, but for the market as a whole.
“What sets Oceana apart is the design, the location, the value for money, and the privacy,” James says.
“The development team is giving us something completely new.”
Michael expects Oceana to eclipse SeaView, despite the less than ideal market conditions.
“Given the quality of Oceana, demand will outstrip supply,” Michael says.
“Even in a good economy, I would be very pleased with the high level of activity. The development team has established a following for their boutique high-end projects and this has resulted in more than half the apartments being purchased prior to the launch of the development.”
