Let’s take a experience to the Caribbean, circa Nineteen Fifties. Vacationers are starting to find a lush island with virgin seashores, inconceivable ocean views, and the friendliest individuals on this planet: Jamaica. They’re drawn particularly to Ocho Rios, a hidden gem on the island’s north coast the place they are often among the many first to expertise the brand new Arawak Lodge. The resort is an architectural masterpiece. The rooms are creatively angled towards the ocean. Artwork-deco parts, novel for the time, infuse sophistication into the tropical vacation spot. On the heart of all of it sits a banyan tree, with its arms out extensive, welcoming visitors to this dwelling island getaway.
“If you happen to wished to construct a resort at the moment, you can have your decide of the most effective areas and this was among the many finest,” says Sandals Government Chairman Adam Stewart. “The Arawak actually helped put Jamaica on the map. It was the place to be, and to be seen.”
Friends lounge, play, and linger on the Morris Lapidus designed Arawak Lodge, the place to be and be seen within the Nineteen Fifties.
The resort emerged from the imaginative thoughts of legendary architect Morris Lapidus, who known as his work “an structure of pleasure.” Friends of the Arawak got here to delight in luxurious and expertise that distinctive island pleasure, with designs subtly main them from the banyan tree to the seaside. On some days, they’d see a boy strolling alongside the sand, carrying recent fish he’d promote to the resort so visitors from around the globe may share the love he felt for his Jamaican dwelling.
Keep in mind this boy.
Notes of Nostalgia: A postcard from the famed Arawak Lodge within the ’50s, an upscale retreat for adventurous vacationers, whose sun-drenched sands are dwelling to right now’s Sandals Dunn’s River.
The Boy Returns
By the Eighties and 90s tourism was thriving in Jamaica, however nonetheless nothing in comparison with the structure of the unique Arawak, or the intentional pleasure it exuded. The spirit of the resort had made such an impression on the boy who supplied fish that as an grownup, he would determine to welcome it into his household of Jamaican-born resorts.
This lifelong entrepreneur was Adam Stewart’s father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, and his first model of Sandals Dunn’s River on the website of the Arawak shortly turned the following pinnacle of all-inclusive luxurious.
“The story of Sandals Dunn’s River has particular which means to our household,” says Government Chairman Adam Stewart, “My dad grew up on the seaside right here on the Arawak Lodge in Ocho Rios, the place he used to play and promote fish to the kitchen as a younger boy. He dreamed of making a spot to showcase the splendor of the island with vacationers from the world over – and with Jamaica as his greatest inspiration, he did simply that when he launched the unique Sandals Dunn’s River again within the early ’90s.”
A glimpse of the unique Sandals Dunn’s River (left) and the twenty first century’s Sandals Dunn’s River (proper) with glowing swimming pools, verandas, and limitless alternatives for indulgence.
A waterfall, symbolic of Jamaica’s pure wonders, spilled into the most important pool within the Caribbean. Friends may swim as much as a pool bar, an unheard-of idea on the time, after which retreat to suites with breathtaking ocean views.
The center of the happenings: the tranquil waters of the unique Sandals Dunn’s River pool within the early ’90s, the place visitors have been invited to swim-up, loosen up, and soak within the surrounding blues.
However the two qualities that introduced a lot notoriety to the Arawak have been left untouched: the seaside, which remained as good as when it was first discovered, and the resort’s most distinctive designs.
“The Stewarts have by no means been a household that appears to knock issues down,” says Sara Hartman, VP of inside design for Hospitality Purveyors Inc., the unique design and procurement arm for all Sandals Resorts Worldwide properties. “They present an appreciation for superior structure by honoring the previous whereas additionally seeking to the long run.”
The Future is Right here
In 2020, the Stewarts acknowledged a possibility to once more remodel the enduring resort into yet one more benchmark for Caribbean luxurious. This time father and son duo would work on the two.0 model of Sandals Dunn’s River collectively.
The idyllic shores that welcomed visitors on the authentic Sandals Dunn’s River (left) are able to host a brand new chapter of luxurious on the new Sandals Dunn’s River (proper) after a fascinating transformation.
“Dad opened unbelievable resorts across the Caribbean,” says Sandals Resorts Worldwide Government Chairman Adam Stewart, “however he all the time had an emotional tie to this one. I feel he’d be amazingly happy with what’s been achieved right here.”
The reminiscences turned the literal basis for his remaining mission, combining the celebrated designs of yesterday with unprecedented designs that at the moment are being seen for the primary time. All of it begins with the unique footprint that Morris Lapidus drew for the Arawak Lodge.
“As a designer, I knew he should have had a imaginative and prescient for this property,” Hartman says, “however I didn’t perceive it till I got here and noticed it in particular person. There actually is a sure type of pleasure in using areas. We wished to retain that.”
Again then, it was a leading edge for visitors to enter an open foyer and instantly see the pool out again. The foyer, mezzanine, and columns are nonetheless right here, however now they’re extra open to the principle pool and the Caribbean Sea. The pool that rewrote the which means of “massive” is larger than ever, virtually spilling out to the ocean.
Brimming with pure gentle and natural sculptures, the foyer at Sandals Dunn’s River invitations visitors to expertise the plush Jamaican flora indoors.
It was additionally an architectural feat within the Nineteen Fifties to angle two resort towers and their balconies in such a solution to make the ocean a relentless point of interest. That’s precisely what Lapidus did. “The towers are spot on,” Hartman says, “so we preserved them.”
The ocean view of the Mammee Bay Beachfront One Bed room Butler Suite frames the Caribbean sea – a sweep of limitless blue at your step.
The Mammee Bay Beachfront Suites open out to the Caribbean sea, a sweep of limitless blue at your step.
Lapidus ensured visitors would all the time know they’re in Jamaica. It’s why, amongst different concepts, he stored the banyan tree in such a outstanding spot. However the newest improvements for the brand new Sandals Dunn’s River create the island embrace that even Lapidus couldn’t have imagined.
“We all the time problem ourselves to stretch the bounds of what could be performed,” Hartman says. “Our discussions for this mission finally got here all the way down to this: Let’s use innovation to intensify the uncooked great thing about Ocho Rios.”
The identical crystal-clear water that flows from rivers to the ocean additionally meanders down regionally impressed terraces. It’s designed into rain curtains within the foyer and privateness curtains in suites. Waterfalls accompany visitors to the spa and pool. Stay ferns drape elegantly from ceilings and partitions. Palm bushes and indigenous flora type corridors towards the ever-present seaside and the large banyan tree that has welcomed visitors since they first ventured to Jamaica and its legendary resort.
“The tree is an architectural centerpiece,” Hartman says. “It helps inform the story of Sandals Dunn’s River and our mission: Elevate the expertise and by no means lose sight of Jamaica.”
The Coyaba Sky Villa Swim-up Rondoval Butler Suite is designed with a rooftop primed for gazing into the Caribbean cosmos – full with a private Stargazing Concierge that can assist you navigate the celebs.
Friends can loosen up on the all-glass balcony of a Tufa Terrace SkyPool Suite, forging a reference to the sand and sea. The revolutionary Coyaba Sky Villa Rondovals invite {couples} to soak in rooftop tubs, surrounded by the shifting waters that gasoline the island’s pure magnificence. Then, at evening, you stand mesmerized by the Caribbean sundown and an incomprehensible galaxy of stars.
“We went off the chain somewhat bit with the brand new Rondovals,” Hartman says. “After I instructed we lower off the roof, Adam stated ‘let’s do it’. So, it’s a serious ‘wow’ as quickly as you enter and search for at this 13-foot ceiling. You have got the serenity of the rain curtains on the non-public plunge pool. And then you definitely go as much as the deck to the freestanding tub and telescope. All of it feeds into the Jamaican expertise we wished visitors to expertise throughout the complete resort.”
The serpentine curves of the Coyaba Rondoval village mimic the move of Jamaica’s winding rivers, inviting visitors to dip in non-public plunge swimming pools, enscone behind falling rain curtains, and lounge in luxurious.
It is an expertise the place there aren’t any boundaries between a luxurious trip and what Adam Stewart calls “a botanical wonderland,” or between previous and current. In truth, on the bottom flooring of one of many authentic Arawak buildings, the design crew created an ode to its heritage: the Lapidus Lounge, the place visitors can take a look at mementos from the well-known architect and sip particular cocktails from his period.
Jamaican pleasure extends past design into eating with the brand new Dunn’s Rum Membership, which celebrates the quintessentially Caribbean spirit in a sultry rum lounge setting and serves greater than 30 rum varieties – essentially the most intensive assortment in any Sandals Resort. Friends also can get pleasure from the brand new BLŪM Café, impressed by Jamaica’s quintessential Blue Mountains, the place espresso beans are harvested and roasted completely for the resort.
Style the strong flavors of genuine blue mountain espresso at BLŪM Cafe (left) – the place the espresso is as wealthy in historical past as it’s in taste – and resplendent Caribbean Rum on the Sandals Dunn’s Rum Membership (proper).
“From its days because the Arawak to the now Sandals Dunn’s River, I feel my dad could be amazingly happy with what’s been achieved right here,” says Government Chairman Adam Stewart.
From Lapidus to the Stewarts, from the Arawak to Sandals Dunn’s River, this has all the time been, and all the time shall be, greater than a resort. It’s an immersive expertise that honors the land and the enjoyment pouring by it. It’s precisely what the boy promoting fish dreamed of sharing with everybody.
To be taught extra in regards to the story behind Sandals Dunn’s River’s architectural evolution, please hearken to the Sandals PalmCast with Sandals Resorts’ Government Chairman, Adam Stewart, beneath.