“We’re really proud to say that despite the disruptions due to the COVID crisis, the delivery of the WaterClub was a real success on all fronts. This was mainly due to the focus we invested into the construction and delivery, and the professionalism of the professional team involved” mentioned Sébastien Bax de Keating Managing Director of Horizon Projects, and Founder of the Horizon Group.
Insights into this property developer with a flair for delivering unique projects, as well as questioning their optimism for 2022.
HORIZON Projects, not your usual property developer
HORIZON Projects, created in 2016, is the property development division of the HORIZON Group. With a solid track record since 2008 in hospitality operations (Horizon holidays) and property management (Horizon Properties), the group embarked on the development of its own real estate projects in 2016, and Horizon Projects was born with its first project, Manta Cove at La Preneuse.
Sébastien – passionate about architecture and real estate from a young age – has since the creation of Horizon, adopted the approach that long-term value is generated for clients via an integrated approach to developments. "When a client buys in our developments, they become owners, and a developer needs to remain involved in the long term whether it be via property management or assisting in resales," highlights the founder.
Most of the apartments at The WaterClub that are not occupied by their owners are managed by HORIZON Properties.
Two successful projects delivered
Both of HORIZON’s first developments have been a great success: Manta Cove (2020) situated at Preneuse (an RES project developed in JV with 2 Futures), and The WaterClub (2021) a PDS in situated on the riverside opposite La Balise Marina in Black River.
The WaterClub is a project that Horizon developed for the landowner, with the goal of designing the most meaningful project on the waterfront, both for the family in terms of aesthetics and their emotional attachment to the land, as well as offering value to the buyers and upgrading the neighbourhood with a quality development which pleases the eye.
Comprising only 12 apartments and 3 penthouses, The WaterClub remains a “bespoke property”. "We like to design practical, well thought out living spaces, responding to the desired lifestyle of our customers. We’ll especially focus on all practical elements that make a home nice to live in as well as all the aesthetic details," explains Sebastien Bax.
Key ingredients to Horizon’s success: passion and the spirit of partnership
When Sebastien talks about his first two projects and his upcoming ambitions, the word “passion” immediately comes to mind. This architecture-lover never seems to lack inspiration or ideas for how to do things better.
“The notion of partnerships is central to our development approach: foremost with the landowners, to whom we agree on a development partnership which suits their appetite for risk and involvement, but also with our technical teams: architects, engineers and builders, with whom we collaborate on pre-project concepts before kickstarting the project. We also often include our clients in the preliminaries of our projects to improve on initial plants and designs!"
A fresh “post covid” perspective to developments
HORIZON Projects has been preparing to launch new projects for the “new normal” which are relevant to today’s buyers.
“2022 looks promising with the launch of several projects: Maisons de Bonneval, a PDS project of six large villas in Belouguet with big stands and “country living” theme, which we will start talking about soon. Also to come, an exciting commercial project in the heart of Black River in JV with one of our clients, as well as the finalisation of property investment with South African investors within a unique residential estate in the West,” underlines Sébastien.
“The more we develop, the less we want to develop.” This is a contradiction which really emphasises that whatever we develop needs to clearly contribute positively to all stakeholders involved, including those that live in the West (Tamarin and Black River) which is our primary area of expertise. If a project doesn’t contribute positively to the wider audience and uplift the area, then we won’t even look at it.
“We believe that ecological & social concerns should be a primary concern for real estate developers, and we’re forever focusing more on these vital issues for the neighbourhoods of tomorrow that we’re helping to shape,” adds the founder.
A more conservative approach, starting with lower density villa projects, implementing efficient Photovoltaic energy systems to powerhouses and vehicles, and designing projects to incorporate existing mature trees are the first steps we’re taking to be more eco-conscious.
With these elements in mind, 2022 really points towards a promising year for HORIZON Projects.
