A Destination Resort
Situated along the Scenic Highway 30 within the South Walton community is the WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa, Florida. Set on 3.3 acres, this vacation destination, which initially opened in 2002, has since become a Forbes Four-Star award-winning luxury resort that boasts a laid-back, comfortable environment complete with the modern-day luxuries of a boutique hotel. Resort guests experience elegant beachfront rooms and suites, complete with beach access, family-friendly, resort-style amenities, and resort dining venues that feature locally sourced menus.

Team Plans
Working in tandem with a multi-disciplinary team consisting of architects, engineers, designers, and contractors, the Landscape Architecture firm Wood + Partners of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, served as the lead site consultant on the amenities improvements project. The planning process included conceptual master planning, schematic design through construction detailing, and construction phase services. The design team crafted the overall vision for their outdoor amenity and pool area to reflect an inviting ambiance that not only exuded vibrant seaside elements but also acted as the perfect companion to the tropical location. With the ultimate goal of enhancing guest and member experience, these amenity improvements inspire coastal elegance while providing a welcoming family-friendly environment.

Design Approach

 
Given that this was a redevelopment of an existing site, space available for the renovation was limited. The site was constrained between the existing hotel edge and a sensitive dune system on the ocean side, including the Coastal Construction Control Line established by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This line limited the development of structures beachside to minimize the impact on the dune system. The limited development zone would also impact how pool deck space would be divided to provide expanded seating for guests. Because of these constraints, the design took on a linear pattern that utilized a meandering edge. The organic pattern allowed for the creation of gathering nooks within the pool and the ability to create pool deck areas that radiate from the pool edge. This design approach allowed the final design to maintain a loose character that complements its beach setting while providing a new enhanced member and
guest experience.

In an added effort to provide the client with a comprehensive vision of the design, the team used detailed graphics and renderings to convey the design intent. These renderings serve as a valuable tool that offers visualization and clarity of the project for the client. They help to express the form and function of a finished design while providing the clients ease in understanding the overall project expectations.

Design Elements
As part of an effort to update the current inn offerings and surrounding amenities, Wood + Partners developed a new resort-style pool area, complete with outdoor environs. The improvements include a new 2,800-square-foot pool with features including a zero-entry walk-in edge, cantilevered shade umbrellas, underwater benches with therapy jets, and a meandering wet edge coping. The pool deck was expanded within its confinements to accommodate more guests and incorporate materials to convey a clean coastal vibe such as light-colored concrete pavers with coral stone and exposed
seashell imprints.

The pool deck spaces adjacent to the dune system incorporate plank-style concrete pavers to simulate boardwalk areas along to the beach. A new al fresco bar surrounded by gathering areas was also incorporated as an extension of the bar and restaurant which allows the interior functions to flow outside and engage with the pool amenity. Exterior gathering areas feature large cabana-style daybeds, fire tables, assorted lounge seating options, and a shade trellis. Site furnishings and seating were specified to flow with the simple, clean, yet contemporary feel of the destination's design. Amenities include hose bibs, decorative trench drain and drain basin grates, ADA showers, and pool foot wash stations.

Resort Sustainability and Plantings
In maintaining an environmental awareness of the project, sustainable elements were incorporated into the landscape design to ensure a cohesive feel. Plantings that required minimal irrigation were utilized throughout the landscape and included a mix of native and regionally appropriate landscape materials. Plants placed throughout the site included groupings of Sabal Palm trees (Sabal palmetto) to enhance the coastal aesthetics. Additional plants included: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis); Saw Palmettos (Serenoa repens 'Cinerea'); Dune Sunflower (Helianthus debilis); Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris); Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides nana);
and Coontie (Zamia pumila), among others.

Considerations
Neutral-colored permeable footpaths wind throughout the site, simultaneously providing connections to the beach while conveying a soft feel and reducing impervious pavements. The decorative lighting meets wildlife and turtle-friendly guidelines and include bollards and down lighting emitting a long or absent wavelength with amber-colored light to ensure minimal disturbance of local wildlife, such as sea turtle nests.