James Bond location sets the scene for luxury resort masterplan by Make Architects

Make Architects has won a closed competition to masterplan and design a new luxury resort on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, beating off competition from Foreign Office Architects, MVRDV and Heatherwick Studio.

Montenegro has a fast growing tourist industry, buoyed by the country’s appearance in the recent James Bond movie ‘Casino Royal’ and exclusive beach performances by Madonna and the Rolling Stones. The number of visitors to the area is expected to triple over the next six years; Make’s winning design targets the upper echelons of this market.

Proposals for the resort capture the unique spirit of the site and include a branded luxury hotel and residential apartments, private access to a secluded beach, extensive leisure facilities and a selection of restaurants and bars, all set within a stunning cliff top location that boasts spectacular views.

Make’s concept takes advantage of the site’s challenging topography and transforms it into a dramatic design feature; three landmark crystalline beacons sit 100m above sea level, offering panoramic views of the Adriatic coast and linking visually with a fourth beacon located in the sea; in between these ‘diamonds’ are three clusters of residential buildings. The gradient is further exploited by the creation of a series of shielded and secluded areas which accommodate a variety of leisure, spa and wellness amenities.

Guests will be able to access all facilities within the resort by either a funicular railway that runs down to the beach, or a treetop walkway which loops through the canopy of trees offering a unique perspective on the natural environment.

The whole resort is bound together through sensitive landscaping and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. A stream will also link each element, cascading down the hill from an infinity pool and culminating in a rock pool on the beach. This will lend itself to the use of micro hydro-power, thus adding to the scheme’s overall energy efficiency and ultimately reducing the running cost of the development.

Project Architect Bibiana Zapf said: “This is a dream project for any architect. The location is truly unrivalled and DC Invest has a bold and brave vision for the scheme which will capitalise on the country’s burgeoning tourism industry. We are looking forward to progressing with the design and masterplan”.