44 | SUSTAINABILITY WORDS | Gordon Miller
BUSINESS
www.opp.org.uk | APRIL 2011
Green grass of home
Let’s be honest, there are very few truly unique elements in the majority of resort developments. If you look hard enough you’ll fi nd similar-looking villas and apartments in resorts all around the world. And the sales and marketing presentation is often not as individualistic as the developer and agent would like to think it is. But one truly unique element in each and every resort has to be its physical location. No two settings are identical. How should you exploit this natural marketing opportunity?
very geographical location is unique. And I’m not talking only about beach, city, or country location. No two pieces of land share the same contours, topography or fauna – even if they’ve been planted and manicured. Nature takes over, however much we try to tame it. So, it stands to reason that one should
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celebrate and maximise the opportunity this unique aspect gives one. But how is that best done? What are
the pitfalls, and who can assist you to make the most of your prize asset? Enter the masterplanner and
landscape architect. Even before you engage an architect, you really should be talking to the
masterplanner (invariably, they work closely and often are one and the same person). Miguel Ruano, of Miguel Ruano Associates, is one such multi-
“The landscape is the one unique thing about a resort that cannot be duplicated, most others elements can”
disciplinarian. Ruano has more than 30 years’
experience of global real estate development and design projects, with a major focus on mixed-use and hospitality.
He is a leading international expert
on eco-urbanism and eco-resorts, sustainable tourism development strategy and planning. Based in London, Ruano is currently working on projects in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, China, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Morocco and Spain. He is also an associate at the
Hotel Solutions Partnership. So, what in his qualified opinion should the masterplanner focus on? You’ll not be surprised to hear him say the landscape. “The landscape should be the one
thing a masterplanner really pays attention to,” said Ruano. “It’s the one unique thing about a resort that cannot be duplicated;
Gordon Miller is the Sustainability and Communications Director of membership organisation Sustain Worldwide. Gordon founded and runs the sustainable residential development website
www.whatgreenhome.com, and is a licensed BREEAM International Assessor.
most other elements can be but not the land. The masterplanner should use the contours, the vegetation, and any natural water features to his maximum advantage.”
“He should integrate the buildings
within the landscape, obtaining the best orientation.”
“He should also avoid a
formulaic approach wherever possible and emphasise what makes it special. All too often masterplanners start off with the best intention but the delivery is not so great, perhaps because of inexperience or budget limitations.” “Good examples of well-planned
landscapes are those at Belas Clube de Campo, outside Lisbon, Portugal. Six Senses typically do a good job integrating nature within their resorts.” Randle Siddley of RSA, who
Natural beauty | should be celebrated and incorporated into your plans ... it can really make your development stand out
works with commercial and private clients in a diversity of climates and conditions, including Canada, Russia, and the Middle East, feels that the landscape needs to be brought to the fore of developers’ (and masterplanners’) thinking. “It’s all about the visitor’s or buyer’s first impression,” he says. ”What people see and feel, often
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