(London, UK - 2 February, 2012) Regent Hotels and Resorts has been named as the operator of thefirst hotel to be developed in Porto Montenegro, the glamorous new marina destination on the coast ofMontenegro, masterplanned and designed by ReardonSmith Architects. Work on-site has alreadybegun and the luxury hotel, with detail design also by ReardonSmith, is scheduled to open in thesummer of 2014.
The inspiration for the architectural design of Regent Porto Montenegro came from the exquisitehouses that grace this beautiful Adriatic coastline, and responds to the classical manner of the grandpalazzos of the Italian lakes. While the hotel‟s scale and style is imposing amongst its smallerresidential and retail neighbours, the relationship with them is also clear; all the buildings are clad inMontenegrin stone and render, with terracotta roof tiles, and the arcade that wraps around the hotelechoes the arched colonnades that are typical of the region‟s architecture. Directly on the Bokawaterfront and with a large inlet - Venice Square Basin - to one side, the hotel gives its guests anexclusive connection with sea and marina. All the guestrooms and apartments offer spectacular seaand mountain views; the restaurants, bars and banqueting hall are all on the sea-facing side and themain entrance on the street side of the building is located to frame the view of the water beyond forguests arriving by car. Alternatively, they may arrive by Porto Montengro‟s private Riva speedboat inVenice Square.
Regent Porto Montenegro comprises 34 large guestroom keys and 46 serviced residences which willbe for sale and available for return into the hotel rental pool when not in use by the owners. Two fourbedroomspa penthouses each with a plunge pool and surrounded by large terraces top the two seafacingwings. Designed for maximum flexibility, they can be locked down in different configurations torelease additional guest room and spa capacity to the hotel. Two two-bedroom penthouses top thecentral section of the fifth floor, and also have enviable views down to the tranquil water garden outsideand across to the Boka. All the guestrooms and apartments have generously sized balconies; hotelrooms 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 accessby car to both the main and the VIP entrances; 100 car parking spaces are removed to a basementlevel. Promenading along the arcade, guests will find the indoor/outdoor spaces of a patisserie caféwith its own bakery and the all-day dining restaurant, the main lobby and a library for some peacefulreading over a cup of coffee. Sunken terraces surrounded by water channels provide secluded arboursfor al fresco eating and drinking. Inside, the double-height atrium includes a grand café style tea loungeand leads out onto the water garden with its reflection pool along the sea-facing elevation. A feature ofthe garden is a submerged stone path leading to an island in the middle of the pool. When the island isrequired for dining, the surrounding water level is lowered, exposing the path for use and providing atruly exclusive area for private dining.
A grand staircase leads to the first floor on which is the main banqueting hall extending the length of thehotel 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 aresuperb, with the extra twist of the hotel‟s main, outdoor pool directly outside its glazed doors. Also onthe first floor, the Regent Spa includes an indoor pool and the Regent Yacht Club provides an exclusivemembers‟ area comprising a lounge and several private rooms.
The interior design of both Regent Porto Montenegro and the residences, by Pisano Atelier, will besophisticated and contemporary with regional Montenegrin references. The construction of the hotel willcoincide with the expansion of the marina from 185 to 370 berths, 50 or more of which will be for yachtsover 45 meters, and a new refit and maintenance facility for superyachts, as well as the continuingdevelopment of apartments, boutiques and restaurants.
“The four years since we began to masterplan Porto Montenegro, transforming a decommissionednaval base into a world-class destination, have been engrossing and enormously rewarding,” saysRoss Blunt, Associate Director of ReardonSmith Architects. “This is a „once-in-a-lifetime‟ project, andseeing our vision become a busy and vibrant marina town is tremendously exciting. The new RegentPorto Montenegro will undoubtedly be the outstanding hotel along this part of the Adriatic coast.”
