PRESS RELEASES
FRIDAy, AUGUST 17,2007
Three Acclaimed Architecture firms selected for Nausori Project - Friday August 17 2007
Executive Development Properties (Fiji) Ltd (EDP), master developers for The Haven, a major tourism development underway in Nausori, today announced that three architecture firms had been selected to design the major components for the project.
Lab Architecture Studio (LAB), a Melbourne based firm, was selected for their stunning double tower design for the hotel, retail and commercial centre; and Californian firm Studio Pali Fekete architects (SPF:a) produced the winning design for the apartment complex.
Acclaimed Australian architect Max Pritchard won the second Design Competition for the entranceway to the gated and secured, community accommodation complex, as well as the terrace houses, community club and small office complex.
In making the announcement EDP’s Managing Director, Neale Slack, said, “Over recent months EDP conducted two Architecture Design Competitions that attracted enormous interest both in Fiji and internationally.
“And from the finalists these three truly outstanding firms were selected to go on to complete their designs for The Haven’s major buildings and key development components,” said Mr Slack.
Mr Slack said that over two days in Suva recently six competing firms presented their plans to a selection panel that comprised representatives from the Intercontinental Hotels Group, The Haven’s project managers and consultants, and a number of locally based experts and industry representatives.
“Overall the panel felt that LAB met the design brief extremely well with their inspired land mark building for the hotel and retail and commercial centre that will also house serviced apartments, a water theme park, cinema complex and over 30,000 square meters of retail outlets,” he said.
Mr Slack commented that LAB’s hotel design had impressed the Intercontinental Hotels Group’s representatives as being well thought out and striking.
“SPF:a was selected for design work that encapsulated and redefined modern tropical architecture, one of the Architecture Design Competitions’ key objectives,” said Mr Slack.
“Their apartment buildings maximised breeze ways, view corridors and the use of light; and the SPF:a teams’ approach to environmental issues and applications was highly considered, aesthetically appealing, and extremely creative.
“Max Pritchard provided elegant and clean lined solutions for the terraced apartments, gatehouse, community centre, sports facility and office building.
“Max’s ingeniousness and clever use of the site really impressed the panel.
“The design work presented by all six finalists was outstanding and we are very grateful to all who participated in the Competitions, and hope to have the opportunity of working with some if not all of these firms on future projects,” said Mr Slack.
Mr Slack said that EDP’s aim is to sell all buildings in The Haven as Freehold Strata and that to date over half of the Max Pritchard designed villas had been sold ‘off plan’ and from word of mouth.
“The Haven will be the first comprehensive mixed use tourism development of its kind in Fiji and EDP’s prime objective is to deliver ‘world’s best practice’ standard on all the project elements.
“Now, with support from these extraordinarily talented individuals and architecture firms we believe we are well on the way to meeting that objective,” said Mr Slack.