Honeycomb : A Biomimetic Condominium In The Bahamas
The Bahamas; immaculate white beaches, scattered throughout its archipelago, make it a prime destination for vacations and leisure. Within New Providence Island lies Albany, a luxury resort and golfing community, with an ambitious plan to develop world-class accommodations. As such, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Architects took up the challenge and designed the Honeycomb. They wanted to design this condominium in a way that allows guests to fully enjoy the beauty the Bahamas has to offer.
A Luxurious Take On Biomimicry
“Our design is driven by an effort to maximize the enjoyment of the abundant natural qualities of Albany in The Bahamas: the landscape, the sea and the sun.” – Bjarke Ingels
An immediate standout feature of the Honeycomb is its unique facade that faces the sea. A hexagonal pattern, reminiscent of the natural forms found in honeycombs and coral, house amenities within each nook and cranny. As it stands along the waterfront, this arrangement of shapes cascade down to an adjacent public plaza. Considering its stature being the tallest in Albany, it certainly stands out.
Complementing this shape are its luxurious and ingeniously designed balconies. The designers utilized the angles and depth formed by the hexagon, which makes it possible to place a pool within each balcony. With cantilevers up to five meters from the main structure, each of these spaces provides ample room for outdoor activities. Glass balustrades line the ledges for an unobstructed view of the structure.
The plaza, an additional green space in Albany, fronts The Honeycomb also having hexagon geometries that reflect the buildings exterior. Commercial establishments invite visitors to the area with integrated seating playfully attached to green mounds. A variety of water features brings the building closer to the ocean with fountains scattered around a central pond. Surprisingly, these installations are interconnected through inlets that go between the honeycomb-shaped pavers.
Experience the Bahamas
The Honeycomb houses a wide breadth of means to enjoy what the Bahamas and Albany can offer. As with most residential designs, there is a variation in floor plans for each unit to suit individual needs and preferences. Furthermore, a central lobby ensures that hospitality services are able to function accordingly. Parking for golf carts, alongside storage units, provide additional conveniences as they are oriented in proximity to Albany’s golf course.
A wide array of carefully curated amenities are consolidated to meet whatever its residents may fancy. Daily shopping needs are met with retail spaces. Green spaces connect the building to other parts of the resort and golf compound. Sitting right by the marina, you can easily take a boat to explore the other beaches in the Bahamas.
The Honeycomb is considerate of its context, whether environmentally or as part of Albany, integrating sustainability features into its design. The emphasis on outdoor living spaces imparts passive cooling from the sea breeze and natural lighting from the sunny skies of the Caribbean. The plaza’s green spaces and water features also combat the heat island effect.
Standing Along the Coast
Designing along coastal environments poses significant challenges that BIG ingeniously manages to meet. A luxurious incorporation of sustainability features brings both comfort and even more conveniences to the development. The challenge of making the hexagon facade work brings in innovative approaches and cooperation between architecture and engineering.
The cantilevered balconies presented a slew of requirements to be able to support the pool, summer kitchen, and other amenities. A concrete “superslab” holds up this substantial weight, further supported by shear walls and column strips blended into the structure. The reinforced slab is 13 inches thick, while the shear walls of the pools’ sloped floors are 18 inches thick.
Aside from structural, you can only imagine the engineering needed to make the utilities work in this set up. Furthermore, the materials can withstand exposure to the elements because of special treatment.
Opulence Inspired By Nature
BIG architects came up with an ambitious take on biomimetic design, forming a unique condominium that manages to harmoniously blend in with its coastal surroundings. Its captivating aesthetic, sustainable motifs, and ingenious use of space create a one-of-a-kind residential experience for its tenants.
Read more: Nautilus Resort in Palawan Is the Ecotourism Complex of the Future
Photos are by BIG
