design et al are delighted to announce that Powerstrip Studio have been shortlisted for Beach Hotel Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2018.
Inspired by the Cayman Islands motto, ‘He Hath Founded It Upon The Seas’, the principal designers, Dayna Lee & Ted Berner, Powerstrip Studio incorporates local elements from Grand Cayman’s cultural history and personality throughout Seafire Resort, which include textures by rope-making, thatch weaving and English lace. Powerstrip Studio sketched an ambiance within its glass box interior architecture where ‘rustic meets polished.’
Powerstrip Studio envisioned a large scale sculptural centre piece, for the lobby library, which manifested with a restored Cayman catboat, Miss Ola, suspended from the teak ceiling of the comfortably appointed room decorated with archival Caymanian family photographs, intimately curated, as well as shelves lined with dozens of books purchased from the Cayman Islands Humane Society’s book loft. Powerstrip Studio worked with local artists to make games sculpted from local tree species and foraged stones. All of these details combine to allow resort guests to get a feel for the history and British culture of the island within polished interior architecture and modern special joinery.
The interior/exterior design is inspired by the lines of sea grape trees that line the hotel’s beach via custom wall sconce. Cast from sea grape leaves of island trees. This is the largest 75 ft long sconce ever designed by Powerstrip Studio. Creating a seamless transition between living indoors and outdoors at Seafire is perhaps most evident in the Lobby Loggia leading to the pool and beach. Outdoor canvas panels cover the pathway and billows in the wind. The quiet evening light glowing from the custom designed ‘clam shell’ light fixtures made for the safety of baby turtles line the exterior teak walls. The pool area is designed like a lagoon with red chaises, like flame tree blossoms dotting the grounds.
Powerstrip Studio chose to make the process of conceptual and interior design a strong collaboration with locals. Without them, the design of the spaces would not have the richness and subtlety of warmth and content. All of these details combine to allow resort guests to get a feel for the history and British culture of the island within the polished interior architecture and modern special joinery. The merging of the new work and the local history makes Seafire a unique environment. It is not a museum, it is an island residence, modern and timeless.