Turning back time and spending it well at.

Have you ever seen a truly artistic necklace created to frame and cradle the most stunning rough gems while showcasing their natural qualities instead of moulding them until they all look the same?

While I am not much of a jewellery aficionado I do appreciate a one-of-a-kind piece, thoughtfully designed and meticulously handcrafted by a master jeweller. That is how I see The Shore Club: enhancing a beautiful treasure elegantly without pretention while giving what was previously inaccessible a welcoming smile and genuine warmth. Stan Hartling, CEO of the Hartling Group, is a visionary with the experience, wisdom and imagination to develop this extraordinary jewel on Long Bay Beach and bring it to fruition, offering a rare opportunity for luxury amidst the peaceful waters of Providenciales’ southeast shoreline.

Many of us who have watched Providenciales’ rapid development over the past several years agree that The Shore Club is a well-timed departure from bustling Grace Bay. Of course, there are a couple of developments that allow you to “get away from it all” but none offer the convenience of being a short drive from a wide selection of fine dining, a spot of shopping and challenging golf. All of Provo’s amenities are just minutes away, yet you feel totally secluded in a resort engineered to remain completely focused on the people and surroundings you love without distraction. Even parking is tucked away underground to enhance that feeling of the “Old Caribbean”.

Stan Hartling is not only a creative businessman; he is passionate about his projects. When he spoke so vividly of The Shore Club’s Coco Walk, the trail of rich native foliage canopied with Coconut Palms… it came to life. My memory ran back through the woods that claimed year after year of my childhood, feeling completely connected with nature, adventuring and discovering the most amazing sights. I always believed my children and later grandchildren would do the same, but the world has changed.

Yet, here comes a place where that can happen. I thought about his intention to offer a community where you can “create a legacy” for generations to come and had to smile. Before I knew it, I found myself imagining this cozy passage that threads through the property tying it all together: a stroll that could host the adventurous child in each of us, as well as a romantic couple planning their future or reliving their past.  Emerging from the pathway, you are met by an age old Banyan tree, dropping its shoots as if it is reaching down to give you a hug and invite you to linger where the manicured courtyard gardens of the Mansion House await with gourmet dining. Hartling explained that my reaction was exactly the feeling they worked so hard to evoke: each detail has been so well planned that individual locales you discover off the main path seem like serendipitous “events”.

Influenced by the old Barbadian architectural style of Oliver Messel, The Shore Club has taken great care to lead guests through these little dramas of nature and architecture as they unfold around the property. A theatre of sunlight and shadows plays across pathways and coral stone details.  In the same spirit of Messel, whose friends always claimed he “designed as if life bubbled along like one continuous play”, The Shore Club blossoms from branches of the Coco Walk into various luxury lifestyle areas brilliantly designed by lead architect Rafeal Amuchastegui (AIA, NCARB), Principal of RAD Architecture Inc in Miami.

Not every architect will endorse a developer with terms like “visionary” and “a very good friend”. However, that is exactly how Amuchastagui describes Stan Hartling, adding: “He has been of great inspiration and has wonderful ideas. With him, we have the opportunity to add to each other’s ideas every time that we meet creating new experiences for the project that will make this a very unique property in the Caribbean. All rooms feature stone floors and counter tops to rival any high-end property. The attention to detail is pushed all the way through to the bathrooms which include separate spa showers and deep soaking tubs.”

The Shore Club’s coral stone buildings limit the number of units to four per story with just five floors per building and the structures are stepped back in various places to give the softened appearance of a very large residence rather than a “high rise.” Of equal importance, is the long stretch of beach the development embraces: 820 feet for just 85 units. The way the suites have been angled, for the fullest possible view, yet stepped back into sunlit terraces for utmost privacy, is remarkable. They have been created to feel like a personal hideaway nestled in a most prized location.

Even when designing the swimming pools, Amuchastegui put ultimate consideration into maximising the views, enjoying the trade winds and planning for varying degrees of privacy to help your environment fit personal preferences on any given day. Understanding the importance of balancing social interaction with privacy, three separate pool areas are offered. A freeform pool graces the oceanfront with multiple levels and intimate alcoves so you can adjust your exposure to the breezes or other guests depending on your mood. There is also an adult-only pool in a separate area if you prefer a rather quiet time to revitalise.

At the heart of the first release is the Grand Colonnade Pool, resplendent with columns, arches and elegant white draperies that frame individual living areas. Here, guests can book a cabana for the day to lounge around while reflecting by the pool, enjoying a meal with friends or using the internet to connect to the “rest of the world.” This is the main bar and lounge

area where you can sit back and let The Shore Club cure what ails you.

For your residence, five impeccably designed options are available. They range in size from a spacious two bedrooms plus den “Beach House”, with a generous 2,271 square feet of indoor /outdoor living, to the undeniably magnificent Governor’s Perch penthouse suite with a palatial 6,239 square feet. Coral stone walls rise to meet remarkably high ceilings and doors, taking advantage of the cooling trade winds while enriching your views.

As you might expect, all floor plans feature state-of-the-art appliances of the highest calibre encased in custom cabinetry with matching millwork to paint a “lifescape” that blends kitchen and living areas together as an extension of the reason you came in the first place: the stunning outdoor colour of tranquil Long Bay Beach. The elements inside are rivalled only by those presented by Nature herself as she tickles your feet with gentle cooling waves and softly singing breezes.

Inspired by the turquoise southern shores, powdery white sands and rainbow crowned reefs, interior designer, Celia Domenech, has developed a timeless island atmosphere within these personal sanctuaries. Domenech explains “I approached the interiors much like I would approach a residential project, keeping in mind the durability of the fabrics and finishes. The fabrics selected for the interiors are natural, treated to be resistant like an outdoor fabric that resists fading and stains, but to still feel soft and inviting. The use of unique architectural details in the apartment like exposed coral rock walls, prominent mouldings and millwork, distressed wood floors, transoms above interior doors, and recessed panelled doors and doorways create a warm, nostalgic feeling. Even the furniture selection continues the balance of old and new, with high-tech entertainment items available but concealed.”

Speaking of conveniences at your fingertips that remain unobtrusive, a community within The Shore Club gates provides all those not-so-little extras you have come to expect from the Hartling Group. Of course, there is a tennis court for sporty guests, but you can also dine by the light of the moon at the plantation-style Mansion House or host a grand gathering in the Ballroom. Do not just massage your feet with the waves… melt into a world-class spa tucked into lush tropical gardens featuring mineral pools. Need a special little something to wear? Browse the retail boutique for handpicked exotic items without even leaving the property.

Another “little extra” point of refuge being considered is the Balinese-style pier planned to allow you to observe the fish below or cuddle with a loved one. I would bet there will be a wedding or two there as time marches on. Gazing back to the shore from such a spot offers a totally different perspective, a whole other dimension to your feeling of finding sanctuary. When you are over the water during a sunset, you become immersed in the colours that dance not just on the horizon, but also all around you. I cannot think of a better place to hold hands and kiss the day goodbye.

With so many conveniences, you might not realise how much care has been given to preserving Long Bay’s natural charms while lacing extraordinary architectural detailing and privacy alcoves throughout the development. Indigenous flora has been set aside by landscape designer Chuck McDaniel to use throughout the property, a move that gives you a more authentic “TCI feel” and ensures that local species of birds, butterflies and geckos can continue to populate the area.  Even the sand dune will be protected with a special wall separating it from the whole construction process so it does not become disturbed.

Entrusting McDaniel with the landscape, Amuchastegui for the architecture and Domenech for the interiors, reflects Hartling’s ability to hire great people who do their job to the highest standards. It is interesting to see how seamlessly these three facets of development come together in The Shore Club. You have three high calibre professionals collectively using their individual creative gifts to weave a tapestry of the Old Caribbean that incorporates high-tech ideas to ensure your every need is met: from underground tunnels providing food service without disturbance, to the spa-like environment.

No other resort offers this carefree step back in time. Because Long Bay Beach is primarily residential, it is not likely to become as densely populated with development as Grace Bay. There is really only one other large oceanfront parcel nearby and the Hartling Group owns it, thereby controlling what will happen immediately surrounding The Shore Club for the foreseeable future. This project is operating on a three to five year plan. Hartling says he will be flexible enough to only offer what will work with supply and demand to help maximise the current value of purchased homes. However, he is quick to point out that, really, there are only 85 units in the entire development and that does not take very many buyers when you consider that property at this level is marketed worldwide to affluent individuals. Also, the people buying Hartling’s product are not looking for a quick flip of the property. They are people who love what they see and want to make it a part of their lives.  That is the kind of commitment that survives over time. There is even interest in offering a portion of the project to a resident’s building for those who would prefer to not place their unit in the resort rental program.

Hartling handpicks only top-notch individuals throughout his organisation and owners never have to wonder where they fit into the scheme of things. Their website and brochures are loaded with positive testimonials that can only be achieved from getting it right time and again on all levels. The Hartling Group’s Director of Owner Relations, Joan Hagan, sees to it that their most valuable asset: reputation among owners, remains unblemished, providing an open line of communication and fantastic service throughout the Group’s projects.

Those who wish to include their unit in the rental program can feel confident that a highly experienced management team is promoting the resort and running the show. You need only look as far as the Regent Palms and The Sands with their long list of satisfied clients to see how successful the Hartling Group is in this arena. Owners have been thrilled with their track record of successfully offsetting expenses through their rental programmes over the years. With the rental option in mind, every unit features a separate access from which your suite’s adjoining lockout ‘apartment’ can be entered, so either space might be visited simultaneously by owners and their guests.  For those wishing to place their unit in the rental program, this will be an immensely useful bonus.

You can call The Shore Club home and an investment in your future for between US$1.3 to US$2.3 million. Privacy in a rapidly developing world is getting harder and harder to find. It is especially rare to discover a development that cloisters you amidst nature. Once a place like that takes hold of your heart, it goes with you everywhere... calling you back again and again to create more memories; more family traditions.

From the time­­­­­ I was a little girl, puttering around the tiny islets and coves of the Tennessee River, a passion grew and the need to stay anchored to nature became ingrained in me. It was a magical time that would forever dictate my sense of what to seek in a place to share with the people I treasure. That need for sacred seclusion is either in you or it is not. If it is a part of you, then perhaps, The Shore Club should be, too.

You can contact The Shore Club for more information on their toll free number: 1-877-477-9774 or through Hartling Realty: (649) 941-3339.

For a peek at individual floorplans, go to www.theshoreclubtc.com