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Regent Hotels and Resorts has been named as the operator of the first hotel to be developed in Porto Montenegro, the glamorous new marina destination on the coast of Montenegro, masterplanned and designed by ReardonSmith Architects. Work on-site has already begun and the luxury hotel, with detail design also by ReardonSmith, is scheduled to open in the summer of 2014.
The inspiration for the architectural design of Regent Porto Montenegro came from the exquisite houses that grace this beautiful Adriatic coastline, and responds to the classical manner of the grand palazzos of the Italian lakes. While the hotel?s scale and style is imposing amongst its smaller residential and retail neighbours, the relationship with them is also clear; all the buildings are clad in Montenegrin stone and render, with terracotta roof tiles, and the arcade that wraps around the hotel echoes the arched colonnades that are typical of the region?s architecture. Directly on the Boka waterfront and with a large inlet – Venice Square Basin – to one side, the hotel gives its guests an exclusive connection with sea and marina. All the guestrooms and apartments offer spectacular sea and mountain views; the restaurants, bars and banqueting hall are all on the sea-facing side and the main entrance on the street side of the building is located to frame the view of the water beyond for guests arriving by car. Alternatively, they may arrive by Porto Montengro’s private Riva speedboat in Venice Square.
Regent Porto Montenegro comprises 34 large guestroom keys and 46 serviced residences which will be for sale and available for return into the hotel rental pool when not in use by the owners. Two fourbedroom spa penthouses each with a plunge pool and surrounded by large terraces top the two seafacing wings. Designed for maximum flexibility, they can be locked down in different configurations to release additional guest room and spa capacity to the hotel. Two two-bedroom penthouses top the central section of the fifth floor, and also have enviable views down to the tranquil water garden outside and across to the Boka. All the guestrooms and apartments have generously sized balconies; hotel rooms are typically 40-45 sq meters, excluding outdoor terraces.
The retail street-facing elevation is set back behind planting and a water sculpture allowing easy access by car to both the main and the VIP entrances; 100 car parking spaces are removed to a basement level. Promenading along the arcade, guests will find the indoor/outdoor spaces of a patisserie cafe with its own bakery and the all-day dining restaurant, the main lobby and a library for some peaceful reading over a cup of coffee. Sunken terraces surrounded by water channels provide secluded arbours for al fresco eating and drinking. Inside, the double-height atrium includes a grand cafe style tea lounge and leads out onto the water garden with its reflection pool along the sea-facing elevation. A feature of the garden is a submerged stone path leading to an island in the middle of the pool. When the island is required for dining, the surrounding water level is lowered, exposing the path for use and providing a truly exclusive area for private dining.
A grand staircase leads to the first floor on which is the main banqueting hall extending the length of the hotel between the two wings. This floor also has a green roof that provides a private garden for guests. Again, views from the banqueting space over the water garden and towards the marina and sea are superb, with the extra twist of the hotel’s main, outdoor pool directly outside its glazed doors. Also on the first floor, the Regent Spa includes an indoor pool and the Regent Yacht Club provides an exclusive members? area comprising a lounge and several private rooms.
The interior design of both Regent Porto Montenegro and the residences, by Pisano Atelier, will be sophisticated and contemporary with regional Montenegrin references. The construction of the hotel will coincide with the expansion of the marina from 185 to 370 berths, 50 or more of which will be for yachts over 45 meters, and a new refit and maintenance facility for superyachts, as well as the continuing development of apartments, boutiques and restaurants.
“The four years since we began to masterplan Porto Montenegro, transforming a decommissioned naval base into a world-class destination, have been engrossing and enormously rewarding,” says Ross Blunt, Associate Director of ReardonSmith Architects. “This is a "once-in-a-lifetime" project, and seeing our vision become a busy and vibrant marina town is tremendously exciting. The new Regent Porto Montenegro will undoubtedly be the outstanding hotel along this part of the Adriatic coast.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
