FEATURE F EATURE
Tracey. Yes, there is a long list of wealthy individuals who live in breathtaking tropical island hideaways whilst planning their next life stage. Unfortunately, being fictional characters (and, in Jeff’s case, a marionette) the logistics and mind-numbing minutiae of building said breathtaking island hideaways tend towards the utterly sketchy. Ian Fleming - good at sex, casinos and torture, lousy at the ins and outs of capital gains tax and domicile status on small sovereign islands. Gerry Anderson - Thunderbird 2’s cliff faced garage? Awesome. Details of construction logistics? Non-existent. Luckily for you, Graham Begg and Francis Savy are obsessed with such details. Based in the Seychelles, they are the driving force behind Zil Pasyon, a development company which has married the kind of imagination responsible for James Bond’s exotic backdrops with a military-like precision that makes such fantastical ventures actually possible. Translating as ‘Island of Passion’ in the local Creole dialect, Zil Pasyon will comprise a series of rather breathtaking hill top residences on the private island of Félicité, a perfect granite and palm tree affair, nestling in the main archipelago of the Seychelles between the larger islands of Mahé, La Digue and Praslin.
Over three days, I was shown a brief taste of the work in progress and between the chopper rides, the boat rides, the prop plane rides, the golf cart rides, pretending I was a debonair MI6 assassin and some rather nice seafood, a unique picture of totally luxurious yet environmentally harmonious, living spaces emerged. This is no fantasy island. Someone’s imagination had been working overtime, however. Sixteen three, four and five bedroom properties are being constructed on one end of Félicité, a site that occupies only 20% of the island’s 286 hectares. Designed by award- winning architect, Richard Hywel Evans to resemble the kind of futuristic buildings created by Bond production designer, Ken Adam, the structures, even incomplete, are things of animalistic beauty. Each property will nestle in its own natural basin, hidden from its neighbors and offering no view other than the naturally spectacular - whether that be a perfect ocean sunrise, the other islands twinkling in the distance or a natural jungle waterfall, as the backdrop to the master bathroom.
Bond knew there would be a trap door for the piranha tank somewhere. As the unsuspecting construction crew attended to the relevant sunken hole, he reflected on how easily it could pass for a delicately curved infinity pool.
Once finished, the crab-like structures will be topped with basalt, so that they blend perfectly with the island’s natural granite, the only thing seen from the air will be the two turquoise pools that each one boasts.
One will be able to alleviate the sense of perfect
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5-star isolation at any time, thanks to the perfect 5-star facilities being constructed at the island’s shoreline. Full conciérge and 24 hour in-residence dining will be on tap, as will pampering from the several bars and restaurants. On the matter of pampering, Zil Pasyon’s own spa is being designed by Charlie Harmsworth of the world-famous industry specialists, ESPA. As with the island’s other facilities, the Spa will be ingeniously placed within the island’s natural structures. The Rock wine bar will, for example, use caves to house the international, fine-wine cellar being assembled.
Off land, the exceptional high-end experience continues. Zil has joined with motor yacht supremos, Sunseeker, to offer a unique, shared-ownership program. This will allow up to six parties to share the use of a residence and a dedicated boat, from the Manhatten52 class to a positively ocean-going 30 metre yacht. Transport between the other islands will be courtesy of Zil’s own exclusive helicopter and boat fleets. Buy one of these properties and you will have,
THE -ELEVATOR.COM THE -ELEVATOR.COM
ABOVE: AS WITH THE ISLANDÕ S OTHER FACILITIES, THE SPA WILL BE INGENIOUSLY PLACED WITHIN THE ISLANDÕ S NATURAL STRUCTURES
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