July 14, 2015: Aman has announced the launch of Amanera, scheduled to debut in the Dominican Republic during the fourth quarter of 2015. Located on a sublime cliff top overlooking the crescent-shaped Playa Grande beach, Amanera is surrounded by verdant jungle and framed by the island’s dramatic Cordillera Septentrional mountain range. The resort will become the first golf-integrated Aman, sited alongside the undulating fairways and challenging greens of the lauded Playa Grande Golf Course, a track distinguished by having the highest number of oceanside holes in the Western hemisphere.
The resort is situated on 2,000 acres of virtually untouched land. The surrounding region is notable for being both pristine and sparsely populated, offering a variety of scenery that includes starkly beautiful desert areas, dramatic waterfalls and sleepy towns.
The resort, designed by John Heah, sits atop 60-foot cliffs and is set between the beach and golf course amongst landscaped gardens. It offers extensive dining, spa and recreational facilities, and 25 Casitas each demonstrating a raw, organic design that complement the natural setting.
Capturing the relaxed essence of the Caribbean with a contemporary flair, each Casita offers beautifully handcrafted living spaces which echo the warmth of the country itself. Natural materials are part of an aesthetic ripe with detail: stone from local quarries, indigenous handmade Aguayo tiles and Dominican art and artifacts. The Casitas have flat biodiverse roofs that cultivate green gardens, cool living spaces and further blur the lines between dwellings and jungle.
At the heart of the resort lies ‘Casa Grande’ constructed in such a way that it appears to ‘float’ above a three tiered water feature and offers sweeping ocean, golf course and jungle views at every turn. In the centre is the lofty open-air bar and lounge with inviting seating nooks. A discreet reception, serene library, and cigar bar all branch off the Casa Grande, which also leads to Amanera’s signature restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining areas. Beyond the restaurant, the curved swimming pool cascades down and around the dining areas with daybeds fringing the water’s edge.
The resort’s informal beach club, the Club de Playa, is tucked into a sandy cove on Playa Grande beach, the island’s most beautiful, prized for its broad golden sands and clear, azure seas. Here guests can enjoy casual feet-in-the-sand dining, relax in a hammock under the coconut palms or take advantage of water sports equipment provided. Open throughout the day, the Club de Playa also offers a children’s club nearby providing creative activities and outdoor adventure.
Spread over 370 acres, the world-class Playa Grande Golf Course was originally designed by celebrated architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. His son, Rees Jones, an acclaimed designer and known as the Open Doctor, for his role in sprucing up many recent U.S Open venues, has revived his father’s legacy with a full renovation of the course. With 10 holes playing directly on ocean cliffs, it stands as the course with the most holes on the ocean in the Western hemisphere.
The magnificent canvas of towering cliffs, panoramic mountain-to-sea views and windswept plateaus next to the undulating coastline, will soon be joined by a new Aman Clubhouse. The Clubhouse will include a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as the course’s ‘19th’ hole for post-golf refreshments. Other facilities will include a pro shop, fitness centre, tennis courts and an Aman Spa.
Designed as a tranquil sanctuary, the Aman Spa will offer both single and double treatment rooms and will adopt a holistic approach to wellness. The extensive treatment menu will include massages, facials, scrubs and wraps, as well as a number of signature Spa Journeys tailored to individual needs. These will incorporate the Aman range of chemical-free products with a nod to traditional energy-based shamanic healing. The resort’s fitness centre will offer a full range of cardiovascular and strength equipment and a personal training studio. Additional wellness facilities will include a steam room, sauna and relaxation room.
