The WATG Planning and Landscape team in London are celebrating the seventh built project to open in the past 12 months. The latest addition to the portfolio, El Mirador in Andalucía’s Sotogrande, opens this month.
Sotogrande’s idyllic location, along with its perfect climate, is recognised as one of the most discrete lifestyle destinations throughout Europe. The 50-year-old community includes the renowned country club, La Reserva, that was added to the surroundings in 2003.
La Reserva is about to have a major revamp and will comprise of rainwater-swimming lagoons, cycle and jogging trails, nature parks, sport facilities, a short course par 3 golf course and wellness pavilions.
El Mirador, which means “lookout” in Spanish, is the place where guests will get a first glimpse of the future vision for La Reserva. The Architectural language for new components is light, bright, in touch with nature, and unashamedly modern. El Mirador is the first chapter of a new story for Sotogrande evolving the 4,000 hectare resort into a benchmark for modern resort communities throughout Europe. WATG’s involvement has included strategy, planning, architecture and interiors.
“Sotogrande is so special in its setting that we had to create something that sat in harmony with the land and the surrounding nature – embracing the natural beauty of the site, without competing with it,” says Chin Lim, senior associate.
“Views out to the sea across the golf course were the ultimate priority. The resulting architecture and landscape design is simple, elegant and open, the perfect response to an amazing site.”
John Goldwyn, vice president and director of planning and landscape comments: “there is total connection with the land, a clear span of view with long vistas down to the Mediterranean to the south as well as the pine forests and outcrops of bedrock in the foothills above.
“The design is the synthesis of landscape and architecture. We designed a pavilion that dissolves back into the landscape. A place where guests feel like truly integrated with the local maquis vegetation.”
