Builders Jamaica April-July 2021

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ARCHITECTS 26 Virtuoso Architect Man is a part of nature. That is one of the central tenets that guides the design ethos of Virtuoso Architect Limited, helmed by architects and directors Hugo Matthews, Euhon Darling, and Sheldon Morris. The principle is demonstrated in their commitment to honouring the environments in which their projects are built as well as their signature Jamaican tropical modern aesthetic. It’s as sleek and chic as anything you might find in first world urban centres but also captures the vibrancy and warmth of Jamaica in the materials and textures used, as well as an emphasis on creating unexpected spaces for communal interaction. “What drives a lot of developments is profits, but what we find is that architecture is really about people and we like to design for the people,” said Matthews. “With all our designs, we focus on the common areas and spaces as much as possible.” Matthews and Darling met as first-year students of the Caribbean School of Architecture at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Morris was a year ahead of them in Photos: Virtuoso Architect the same programme. There, they engaged in discourse on what constitutes Jamaican and Caribbean style and eventually perfected the aesthetic for which they have now become known. “Myself and Euhon have a similar expression of what is modern architectural style in the Caribbean. That’s how everybody started to describe it,” said Matthews. “Sheldon’s style was a little different but still very clean. When we started the firm, we approached him and asked if he would like to join us. Our styles complement each other and we work well together.” Since its establishment in 2014, Virtuoso has left its mark on several key areas in Kingston and St. Andrew and St. James, with more than 24 projects either completed or in the works. To say they started with a bang would be a bit of an understatement, considering the fact that their very first project was 20 South, a $1.2 billion undertaking that caused quite a stir, being the first high-rise to be erected in the busy South Avenue corridor. The 10-storey luxury complex consists of 79 apartments, each with solid wood kitchen cabinets, quartz countertops, porcelain floors, and nine- to 10-foot high ceilings. Each unit also boasts aluminum powder coated casement windows, providing panoramic views of the city. High-end amenities include
ARCHITECTS a rooftop entertainment area, an infinity edge pool, and a mini-golf green. Safety is another important feature, and 20 South is an earthquake-resistant building that can also withstand hurricane winds of up to 200 mph. Once 20 South became a reality, other projects started coming along in quick succession. There were projects to design and implement as well as others to manage, from residential to commercial. These include Valley Vista, a 38-unit townhouse spread in Stony Hill and Parkhurst One, another luxury high-rise in the same vicinity as 20 South. Virtuoso also worked on 76 Half Way Tree, the sleek business process outsourcing (BPO) company invested by Usain Bolt; the edgy, new Bert’s Auto Parts building on Molynes Road, and the stateof-the-art Fontana Pharmacy commercial complex at the intersection of Waterloo Road and West Kings House Road. The company currently has two residential projects in development that are again generating quite a buzz and pay homage to their signature style in all its glory. First up 27
Page 6: MHURECC's Note Ministry of Housing,
Page 9 and 10: TIMELESS FINISHES UNMATCHED PROJECT
Page 11: Boooollld Coooollllllaabooooraatioo
Page 15 and 16: OPINIONS Just as important as the r
Page 17 and 18: lead story MBJ Check-in Terminal Ho
Page 20 and 21: COVER STORY Photo: Andrew Grey / At
Page 22: Bathroom: Proper Construction Bathr
Page 25: Industry news • Delivery Schedule
Page 30: is Spyglass, an upscale, multi-fami
Page 33: ARCHITECTS a stamp and seal. If the
Page 37 and 38: quantity surveyors Robert Wan Photo
Page 40 and 41: CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTORS 38 Could
Page 42 and 43: CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTORS Best Pra
Page 44 and 45: ENGINEERS & DEVELOPERS Engineering
Page 46: ENGINEERS & DEVELOPERS Photos: ZDA
Page 49 and 50: ENGINEERS & DEVELOPERS Looking ahea
Page 51: LEGAL Court of Jamaica for Judicial
Page 54 and 55: DOORS & WINDOWS Choosing the Right
Page 57 and 58: KITCHEN What's your countertop styl
Page 59 and 60: KITCHEN prep once it’s properly s
Page 61 and 62: athrooms Trade Your Toilet for a Ne
Page 63 and 64: A NEW CARPENTRY CONCEPT. QUALITY AN
Page 65 and 66: athrooms luxurious. In addition to
Page 67 and 68: ceilings & partitions Photos: Big A
Page 69: LIGHTING Natural Light Exposure to
Page 73 and 74: ELECTRICAL outdoor security cameras
Page 76 and 77: FLOORS The Truth About Installing C
Page 78 and 79:
safety & security Looking into Acce
Page 80 and 81:
Concrete Admixtures Epoxies Anchori
Page 82 and 83:
cement & concrete ADVERTORIAL Allcr
Page 85 and 86:
SERVICES Ground Engineering 84
Page 87 and 88:
GROUND ENGINEERING Palmyra property
Page 92:
DISCOVER THE WORLD'S BEST BRANDS UN
show all

Builders Jamaica April-July 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?