Hilton Grand Vacations Club.

Located in the bustling tourist metropolis of Orlando, FL, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club is an interval ownership development located on a monstrously difficult site surrounding a man-made, 11-acre lake. The sheer size of the lake--and complication with neighboring developments and drainage requirements--all but dictated the orientation of Hilton's seven mid-rise towers immediately along the lakeshore. Seeing the constraint as an opportunity to do something original, Fugleberg Koch Architects utilized the lakeshore location as an intuitive part of what would become a northern Italian/Venetian theme. In order to cover some necessary drainage shoring, Fugleberg Koch Architects proposed sea walls cloaked with functional amenities such as kids' play areas and a jogging trail around the perimeter.

With this development, Hilton aimed to exceed all existing design standards for the interval market in Florida, indulging residents with custom finished cabinetry, granite countertops, upsized whirlpool tubs, higher end appliance packages, custom built-in furniture, and custom designed light fixtures.

Targeting anyone from 25-60, whether married, with or without children, working or retired, the resort addresses a multitude of recreational and resort needs. Two lounges, one quiet and one active, are a microcosm of the variety offered at the Hilton Grand Resort. The active lounge, with its billiards tables and large screen television, is bustling and vibrant with youthful energy and vacation fun, and the quiet lounge provides a fireplace-illuminated, library-like setting for intimate gatherings or private reflection. Both are heavily frequented and adored by the resort's patrons.

The amenity deck and pool bar were designed to make the biggest splash. Fun, semi-formal pool features address all age ranges. An interactive fountain and lion's head playfully teases the children, and the adults are lavished with two 200-square-foot spas, four water-spraying spheres, and a poolside bar adjacent to a 40-foot wide waterfall, cascading 16 feet down into the main pool. A vine-covered trellis provides shade for enjoying a card game or cocktail.

Guests enter the club through a natural courtyard, and their line of sight is drawn immediately toward the striking pool area and amenity deck. The lake provides a surreal backdrop for the entire preview. "The clubhouse orientation for guest arrival sets the tone for an entire experience," described Kim Linehan, design architect and principal of Fugleberg Koch Architects. "We wanted to make guests feel as if they'd entered a different world when they stepped out of their cars, or that they were arriving somewhere more serene and inviting than almost anyplace in Orlando."

Despite the fact that it broke ground during the post 9/11 industry downturn, Hilton faithfully moved the project along successfully, both on-time and on-budget. Their determination and focus paid off even before the resort's opening. "By the time the project had reached the third out of four phases of development, 60 percent of the units had practically sold themselves. I don't think they anticipated that the sales pace would be so quick," Linehan said. "And I have to give 110 percent credit to the landscape designer, who created such marvelous spaces outside, and led the design team toward a cohesive and beautiful experience, inside and out."

DESIGN VERDICT:

The project represents good design in the "real" world, separating the wheat from the chaff. Our judges were impressed with the design team's ability to take numerous site challenges and use them as a catalyst for many positive aspects of the design.

PROOF OF SUCCESS:

60% of units sold before the project was complete.

MANAGER TO MANAGER:

Never cost-engineer aspects of a design that will closely touch your members or guests. These are the areas that will leave the deepest impression, and careful attention to lavishing guests with detail pays off in the long run.

TYPE: Interval Ownership Resort

SIZE: 34.5 Acres

ARCHITECT: Fugleberg Koch Architects

INTERIORS: Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo

LANDSCAPE: MSI Design

Architecture and Design Writer Dafna Zilafro has covered over 40 clubhouse design articles for Club Management. She works in a fulltime capacity as the director of marketing for SPF: architects (www.spfa.com), an award-winning California-based architecture firm.