Cover As majestic as the vinta it took inspiration from, the Vinta Sailscapes of the Hotel Elizabeth Resorts and Villas looks poised and ready to sail out to the open sea
As majestic as the vinta it took inspiration from, the Vinta Sailscapes of the Hotel Elizabeth Resorts and Villas looks poised and ready to sail out to the open sea
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A piece of paradise is less than an hour’s flight away, and with Carlo Calma’s architectural ethics it will stay as pristine as it is today
Pre-pandemic, when the architect Carlo Calma started his oculars of the property, he found himself in an untouched paradise. San Vicente, located on the north-western side of Palawan Island, is categorised as a first-class municipality and home to the longest white-sand beach in the country, the second longest in Southeast Asia. At 14.7km long, said to be three times longer than Boracay’s White Beach, San Vicente’s prized possession is aptly called, Long Beach. This natural gem, plus the opening of the new San Vicente Palawan Airport today make this part of Palawan a growing tourist destination.
There were already a few resorts on the island, but the 3.12 hectares of Hotel Elizabeth Resorts and Villas given to Calma to develop were still practically virgin. And the architect known to work with nature wanted to keep it this way.
Above Entertain at the individual sunken areas for each villa, or go nearer the sea which is just a bridge away
Entertain at the individual sunken areas for each villa, or go nearer the sea which is just a bridge away
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“I remember taking long morning walks on the beach, about two-hour walks,” Calma says. “I also went back several times a day to see how the place was at noon, in the afternoon and in the evening.” From sunrise to sunset, the place was constantly picture-perfect.
A dense mangrove also sits on the property, along a body of water that looks like a lagoon but is really a canal that leads out to the sea. “There was a discussion on whether this canal ought to be covered; this did not progress at all,” Calma recalls. Instead, he designed the master plan incorporating nature, working with the existing terrain and landscape. “It kind of made sense,” he says. For instance, he will equip the villas in the mangrove with jacuzzies. “Imagine the experience of soaking in a hot swirling tub amid a lush vegetation!” he enthuses.
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Above Aerial shot shows boat-shaped plant boxes that separate each villa of the Vinta Sailscapes and the 15-metre infinity pool below
Aerial shot shows boat-shaped plant boxes that separate each villa of the Vinta Sailscapes and the 15-metre infinity pool below
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All told, the resort will have a total of 101 rooms, a ballroom, another infinity pool as high as the coconut trees, and areas of play and wellness. It is envisioned to cater to big events such as Iron Man. But for now, fully finished and opened softly for family, friends and friends of friends is the Vinta Sailscapes.
To preserve the natural lagoon, Calma employed pilotis architecture. As such, Vinta Sailscapes sits on the body of water, lifted by posts like a house on stilts. Taking advantage of the abundance of sunlight, Calma also turned to solar energy.
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Above Lounge at the back patio overlooking the sea
Lounge at the back patio overlooking the sea
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Fronting the beach on one side and the mangroves on the other, this first building holds 12 villas all in all. Truly a prime location that enjoys the best of both worlds. Like flowing water, it undulates and curves with the terrain and mirrors the vintas and sailboats which regularly navigate the water routes of southern Philippines. The concept was not rocket science at all; the inspiration was laid down on Calma’s feet like an altar offering. “On my first few oculars, I had already been taken by the undulation of the waves, the movement of the water in both beach and lagoon, and the precious view of the ocean. I saw all these inspirations infused in the design of the first building,” Calma explains.
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Above On the ground floor are the dining area, the living room, and sleeping area
On the ground floor are the dining area, the living room, and sleeping area
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Vinta Sailscapes is not your usual rectangular block. Three-fourths of the way, it bends to follow the canal finding its way out to the sea. Its most prominent elements are the cantilevers that mimic the vintas and boat sails. An aerial view will also reveal plant beds shaped like small boats on the deck, separating each villa. From the mangrove side, Calma provided each villa with a private ramp that leads from the ground to the deck. The ramp is also designed like curving waves and bordered by greenery, as Calma makes sure Nature is always with you. In fact, he also echoes this wave design in the pathways around the building and the bridge to cross one side of the canal and onto the white sands.
Every villa is family friendly. Each one has a loft with a king-size bed. Below is a dining area, a living room area and twin beds. As homage to the place, Calma placed on one wall a replica of the map of Palawan in wood mounted on a round shape like the sun. “For variety, I designed a boat instead of a map in other villas,” he shares. “I really wanted to bring out the cultural identity, the sense of place of the area.” The main seller indoors is simply the breathtaking view. Huge glass windows on the ceiling-high wall facing the sea frame an Amorsolo- esque scene of sea, sand and swaying palm trees, at times disrupted by the passing of a sailboat.
Facing the beach, each villa has its own sunken area for sitting and enjoying cocktails, doing a barbecue, dining out. This sitting area also leads you into the 15-metre infinity pool in case you’ve had enough of the sea for the day. “So we have the longest beach and the longest pool,” Calma chuckles.
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Above Twin beds and comfy sofas welcome a big family
Twin beds and comfy sofas welcome a big family
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What’s striking about the place is how it lends itself to a variety of activities. You can swim in the pool or cross the bridge and get to the beach, the sand and the sea. You can organise a barbecue in your private sunken setting or just sit around al fresco with a glass of bubbly. Then again, you can take the ramp on the mangrove side of your villa and go up the deck. Request a dinner set-up in your private space and dine while enjoying the full view of the sea under a canopy of stars. Calma says that movie showing can also be organised here for communal viewing and you can sit on the deck or try the steps on the ramp. Boredom is not an option.
It doesn’t stop here. The property has a hiking trail for the physically active; when you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the entire cove. There’s also a spot where turtles hatch their eggs, an area the resort protects as a natural jewel. But feel free to watch one of nature’s miracles.
“The owners wanted something iconic or unique for the area,” Calma shares. “With the natural wealth the place possesses, this was doable.” But the architect wanted to do more. “I wanted to give our guests an experience,” he explains. “People look for an escape. This is precisely the new resort template: escaping to nature.”
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A journalist of more than 30 years, Chit has had varied exposures in this field, both in hard news as well as in soft news, and brings everything she has learnt to the production of the magazine. When not writing or editing, Chit is deeply involved in her chosen service organisation, Rotary International.
