OLEA comes to life

Camana Bay’s first for-sale residential community, OLEA, is no longer just a set of architectural renderings and blueprints.

Phase one of the new neighbourhood, which is now welcoming its first residents, is the real-life manifestation of those renderings: an eloquent expression of modern Caribbean architecture nestled in an amenity-rich, waterfront town.

We are delighted to see OLEA coming to life,” says Dart President Real Estate Asset Management Justin Howe. “This is an achievement many years in the making and the realisation of Dart’s vision to create a town where people can live, work and enjoy a relaxed, comfortable lifestyle.”

OLEA is part of the master-planned vision for Camana Bay and its blossoming reality is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between Dart Real Estate and Grand Cayman-based developer NCB Group.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGN
Designed by Cayman-based TRIO Architecture, OLEA is the winner of the five-star 2019-2020 International Property Award for Best Sustainable Residential Development in the Americas. The collection of 124 homes, which consists of condos, duplexes and townhomes, boasts a sophisticated, coastal design with energy efficiency at its core.

“OLEA’s newest residents can now enjoy the benefits of this design,” says Howe.

Each home not only channels the cooling effect of the prevailing North Sound breezes, but also features a geothermal cooling system, LED lighting, WaterSense plumbing fixtures and concrete form construction that provides maximum insulation. When all four phases are complete, OLEA’s solar array will be the largest residential array in the Cayman Islands.

Perched along waterfront boardwalks and tree-lined streets that connect OLEA with the Camana Bay Town Centre, each home is a showcase of sophisticated architectural design with a nod to humble Caribbean style.

“We approached the design with a Caribbean contemporary appeal in mind,” says Mike Stroh, lead architect and principal of TRIO Architecture. “We also wanted to make sure that the functionality followed the philosophy of Camana Bay, which is to bring people together.”

CURATED INTERIORS
Clean lines, luxurious finishes, high-quality fixtures and open floor plans with abundant natural light are characteristic of each OLEA home.

With impeccably curated packages from Design Studio and IDG, two leading, Cayman-based interior design specialists, homeowners have access to a variety of premium options for customising their interior spaces.

“We want OLEA residents to feel joy when they come home,” says Howe. “The interior design teams worked really hard to achieve this with a balance of beauty, comfort and functionality.”

From the solid, Shaker-style doors to the ornate backsplash tiles, every fixture, countertop, cabinet, faucet, towel rack and tile was selected as part of a very meticulous design process. Standard finishings include quartz countertops, porcelain flooring and brands such as Kohler and EMTEK. Furniture packages offer an array of high-end furniture, lighting and accents straight out of a decorator’s dream.

LANDSCAPING AND AMENITIES
With almost two acres of land dedicated to amenities and green space, which includes Cayman’s only lazy river and a resort-style pool, OLEA’s landscaping features more than 200 specimens of drought-tolerant flora.

Dart’s landscape designers and garden gurus led the selection process of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants — 80% of which are native to Cayman or the Caribbean and include shady palms, flowering bushes and the quintessential coccoloba and bougainvillea trees.

OLEA amenities will include electric-car charging stations, on-site recycling depots, a community herb garden, a yoga lawn, poolside BBQ with dining areas, a waterfront boardwalk with boat docks and convenient access to alternative transportation such as Bird scooters and ZÜN car sharing service.

Although current residents are the only people who can currently relish the fact that they can call OLEA home, there are still a limited number of townhomes and duplexes left for sale for those who would like to experience the amenity-rich community in the future.

For more information on OLEA, visit camanabay.com/olea, email olea@camanabay.com or stop by the Camana Bay Sales Centre on Market Street.

This article will also appear in the November 2021 print edition of Camana Bay Times.

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