Blue Bay Hills Residences

We designed 18 apartments and 6 penthouses for Blue Bay Hills Residences, arranged in six blocks with four apartments each. The buildings follow the natural slope of the hill and are slightly rotated away from each other to ensure every apartment enjoys an unobstructed view of the sea.

This subtle twisting, combined with a height difference of nearly one and a half meters between units, guarantees ample privacy for all residents.

From study to design

Our design process began with a massing study to explore how the volumes could harmoniously integrate into the hillside while complying with local and national regulations. A key challenge was to orient every apartment to capture the sea view, despite the steep terrain—which has a height difference of over 10 meters from front to back—and its perpendicular orientation to the coast.

Just as we completed this initial study successfully, the client acquired the adjacent lot. This prompted us to expand the design, carefully integrating both plots so the volumes form a cohesive whole. The final plan resulted in a complex of 24 apartments that fit seamlessly into the slope.

Keeping it cool

To create a pleasant living environment on Curacao, the use of the trade wind is a prerequisite. In addition, you must ensure that you keep the heat of the sun outside. By providing all living areas with at least two openings in different wind directions, these areas can be naturally ventilated. We incorporated large roof overhangs and shaded galleries to protect windows from direct sunlight, while insulated roofs help keep radiant heat out.

One of the greatest qualities of living in the Caribbean is enjoying the outdoors. That’s why every apartment features spacious terraces adjacent to the living room, separated only by wide sliding doors that seamlessly connect inside and outside. Thanks to the building’s orientation and layout, residents can find spots with varying degrees of shelter throughout the home.

Reusing materials and sustainable features

Another striking aspect of the project is the use of materials. The starting point for this was warm natural earthy colors. This has resulted, among other things, in the frequent use of wood, or derivatives that are less maintenance-sensitive, and the reuse of the stones that emerged during the excavation works.

As Caribbean architects we wanted to use local products. The local stone that we used has a warm beige tone. Sand-colored walls, dark bronze window frames, and red-brown roof tiles come together to create a harmonious and authentic Caribbean aesthetic.

Sustainability is deeply integrated into the design. Besides the heat-mitigating components we will also collect rainwater to supply the swimming pools. As mentioned, we will use cross-ventilation to make the indoors comfortable and if necessary residents can turn on their cooling system. These systems are all energy-efficient. Rather than treating sustainability as an afterthought, we consider it, alongside functionality and aesthetics, as a starting point of the project.

Planning

In summary, Blue Bay Hills Residences is high-quality project where the landscape, climate and culture have led to a unique design in which the comfort of the user is central.

The construction of the modern Caribbean apartments started in July 2022.

Renders: WAX