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Orlando, FL by Staff
Orlando, Florida is the most visited destination in the United States, hosting over 74 million visitors each year. Developers are seeking different solutions to satisfy this steady flow of vacationers. Typically, visitors stay in conventional hotels, but a growing trend is short-term rentals of privately-owned homes. Windsor Island Resort is a destination vacation home project in the rolling hills of Davenport, Florida. Located on the Florida Ridge, this site has a unique geographical feature for Florida - elevation, with 100 feet of grade change across the site. Housing became terraced to handle the grades. Only a short drive from Walt Disney World and surrounding entertainment areas, this vacation stay option is ideal for large families looking for the comfort of a home with an abundance of resort-style site amenities. The Team The project was developed by Pulte Homes, Central Florida Division. They selected the talents of the Orlando-based Landscape Architecture firm, Foster Conant and Associates (FCA) led by Richard Conant, PLA, FASLA, as the prime design consultant to create the area development and site amenities. Architects, MEP, and structural, fountain and pool engineers designed elements for the main entrance, clubhouse, and pool amenities. The planning process included conceptual master planning, schematic design through construction documentation, and construction phase services. The client's vision for the project was to make the hardscape and landscape feel like a Caribbean Island resort. FCA took the vision and designed architecture and landscape architecture into a cohesive project that captures the spirit of the islands. The Layout This gated community with a 24-hour manned guardhouse encompasses 517 single family villas and 272 townhomes. The front entrance sets the tone for arriving guests. The double-sided entrance sign incorporates two water walls backed with half round Mexican beach pebbles for texture and a 20-foot-tall tower. The base and panel of the sign are clad in coral stone veneer. The tower is finished with lap siding and topped off with a 'Royal Pacific Blue' standing seam metal roof. These materials are repeated on the guardhouse and follow through to the clubhouse. The landscape is a mix of formal and informal palm trees and other tropical plants. The Pool Amenity Site Located on the main street is a 14,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse, 7,000-sq.-ft. main pool, a children's interactive playground pool, a 760-linear-feet lazy river, dual water slides, spa, private cabanas, and a freestanding poolside drink bar, all on 23,600 sq. ft. of pool deck. A sand volleyball court, a 9-hole mini golf course, and a multi-use basketball/tennis court provide active sport activities. The clubhouse offers a fitness center, video arcade, grill service with outdoor dining, and outdoor bar with adjacent artificial turf play area and fire pit. A second fire pit takes advantage of the views of Disney's nightly fireworks. To create a Caribbean Island feeling, FCA designed for function and form using materials and color to influence the theme's goal. Portland white concrete pool deck 4"x8" pavers by Belgard in a simple herringbone pattern, brought the feel of white sand beaches to the surrounding deck surfaces.
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