Haute Residence continued its "Chat with Haute Residence Leaders" series with an exclusive one on one conversation featuring Vasco Borges: CEO of luxury private villa resort Beach Enclave.

He was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Borges’ illustrious career from CFO of Grace Bay Resorts, Project Director for Water Cay Development, and his eventual ascendancy in luxury real estate as the CEO of Beach Enclave.

Vasco N F Borges has over 20 years of experience in luxury branding, real estate development, and hospitality. As the CEO of Beach Enclave, Borges raised funding, designed, developed, and is presently managing three private villa resorts. Founded in 2013, Beach Enclave is redefining Caribbean beachfront living by offering the privacy and seclusion of your own home with all resort amenities. Borges’ accolades include Best Caribbean development in 2017 by the International Property Awards, #1 Resort in Turks and Caicos by TripAdvisor, and highest average daily rate in Turks and Caicos.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Borges.

Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about how you went from college, growing up in Portugal, to the Caribbean.

Vasco Borges: It was absolutely by happenstance. I had done a more traditional career of economics, then I joined this consulting company called McKinsey. When you are a consultant, you get exposed to a lot of industries. There were a few options on the table. One of them was to join a restaurant group in Singapore and the other one was an opportunity to come to the Caribbean to work. I had never been to the Caribbean before, but they promised me a beachfront bedroom in a five star resort, so I came here. It was a vibrant place and I absolutely loved both the real estate and the hospitality component. That is why the idea of building something where people are going to leave with lifestyle experiences, but also hospitality was really, really exciting.

SS: I would love to learn how you came up with the game plan or strategy because you came out and built three different luxury villas. What transpired into that?

VB: At the time, if you wanted to own real estate in Turks and Caicos or the majority of the Caribbean islands, you could either on a condominium or a standalone home. I could not figure out why we could not combine both. You have the great things of a resort, which is all the amenities or services taking care for you, and combine that with the privacy of your home. You really just go in and it is ready for you. I could not convince my employer to do it at the time, so I decided to go in on my own.

SS: What makes Turks and Caicos so amazing? You have not chosen to go to any other Caribbean islands, just mainly stuck to Turks and Caicos.

VB: An amazing combination of things. It has an amazing infrastructure. It has US dollar, UK law, and above all, beautiful beaches. You can have breakfast in New York and lunch on the beach. It is very unusual to get, but we have very low-density development, a fantastic legal setup, and quality people. We are 22 miles outside of Manhattan, so Wall Street is a big part of our market. We are also seeing people coming in droves from New York to New Jersey to the suburbs. We are seeing tremendous movement in Westfield because interest rates are historically low, so it is a win-win.

SS: Where do you see the next 12 months specifically for Turks and Caicos?

VB: We have seen an amazing amount of money coming in and a lot of interest in our homes. We presold all the homes, even before acquiring the land. There is a lot of demand there, particularly for the high-end products. I think that will continue, but also, what you see in some of these locations is this new way with investment that is helping us build more amenities. An expansion of the ecosystem around us helps as that you really need people to come into the islands. Our purpose is continuing to grow because people want everything to be as easy as possible. We are putting together all these protocols and trying to make the experience top, top, top notch for our client.

SS: Where do you see your company in the next five to 10 years as you are expanding the brand?

VB: We are very happy with this location. Being on the best beach, we have some amazing homes coming our way. Maybe we will do something else here, but I think our next wave of growth once we have solidified and built our roster, the team is to go and expand abroad. I think what we have done here can be done in pretty much any location where you have wealth coming in, interest in real estate, and interest in a good lifestyle experience.

For more information, please contact Vasco Borges at 1-866-580-1675 or visit www.beachenclave.com.

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 7: Vasco Borges appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Who plays the starring role in the movie? None other than the city-state of Singapore. From the global hub’s upscale real estate to the trove of luxury lifestyle offerings, Singapore's dazzling opulence is highly celebrated throughout the film. And so, taking a cue from Crazy Rich Asians, enrich yourself by viewing these wealthy Singapore penthouses currently for sale. Your eyes are about to feast upon some crazy realty extravaganza.

Le Nouvel Ardmore

Christie's International Real Estate

Le Nouvel Ardmore is a 33-storey residential tower that is the most coveted address in Singapore. Each level of the building spans more than 8,000 square feet, with only two apartments per floor, and each with its own private lift. Every apartment is a sanctuary that boasts unparalleled views, the most exquisite interior furnishings, rare luxurious marble flooring measuring 3 x 3 feet per slab, a personal wine cellar and a gourmet kitchen outfitted with top-of-the-line appliances.

And yes, it gets even better. Also included is an astounding array of concierge services: a sky dining observatory on the 27th floor, a lap pool, private massage suites and jacuzzis.

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Bishopsgate Residences

Christie's International Real Estate

Located within the prestigious and highly coveted District 10, Bishopsgate Residences has a timeless design, similar to an expansive vacation oasis that embraces the quiet serenity of its surroundings while offering the conveniences of contemporary city living. Natural colored stone and materials were used to enhance the modernity of the interior.

Christie's International Real Estate

The contemporary sleek aesthetics of each apartment make for crazy rich retreat-style living.

Christie's International Real Estate

Living in 8 Napier is the ultimate Singapore experience. First, 8 Napier is located only a stone's throw away from the Singapore Botanic Garden and Asia's premier shopping destination, Orchard Road.

Christie's International Real Estate

Christie's International Real Estate

Christie's International Real Estate

 Top Image: Christie's International Real Estate

The post Crazy Rich Living In Singapore appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The gardens features eighteen "supertree" structures that stand at 50 meters in height, with thousands of plant species growing throughout. The "supertrees" are connected by bridges 20 meters up and the tallest "supertree" even has a bar at the top! Each structure is unique; for example, one features flowers from the Mediterranean while another features a 30-meter-high waterfall. Gardens, a lake, tree-lined walkways, a playground and an events space round out this space.

This fantastical creation was a hard-fought prize for Wilkinson Eyre and Grant Associates; the teams won a competition  in 2006 which awarded them the project. The garden opened to the public earlier this year. Truly these are some must-see natural buildings!

Source courtesy Dezeen. Photos and additional information courtesy The Gardens By The Bay website. 

The post The Gardens By the Bay Win Title of World’s Best Building appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The main reason behind the success of these units is the scarcity of space and rising home values, which leaves people with no other option but to opt for these small housing units. The growing concern by the government lies in the rising trend of developers building these units and the people staying in them. And this concern is beyond valid: The areas around the shoe box units were not built to sustain the extra traffic, water use and electricity that comes with a higher population that lives in the towers housing small units.

Architecture magazine Atlantic Cities noted; "The URA recently announced a new set of rules discouraging new developments outside the central part of the city that consist primarily of these smaller units. The rules, which will take effect in November, acknowledge that shoebox units are wanted and needed in the city, but officials are hoping they can limit just how much of Singapore becomes concentrated with towers full of small apartments and many, many residents."

Source and photos courtesy Atlantic Cities.

The post Singapore’s “Shoe Box” Homes appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The attraction, to be called the New York Wheel, will overlook the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the downtown Manhattan skyline.The privately funded project will cost $230 million, with grounds around the ferris wheel including a 100-shop outlet mall and a 200-room hotel. The attraction is projected to attract up to 30,000 riders a day during peak season, with about 4.5 million visitors a year.

In a press release, Mayor Bloomberg said; “Our Administration has made major investments all along the North Shore of Staten Island, because we know this area is full of potential for economic growth. But this newest plan is the most exciting of all. The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City – even unlike any other on the planet. It will offer unparalleled and breathtaking views, and is sure to become one of the premier attractions in New York City and the latest exciting addition to our newly revitalized waterfront.”

Source and photo courtesy press release. 

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