5 Based on the island of Bonaire, a rapidly developing tropical paradise in the heart of the Caribbean Netherlands, Gino Obersi Architecture B.V. is a small firm at the centre of this region’s evolution. Specialising in residential buildings but demonstrating equal mastery across commercial projects such as office buildings and boutique hotels, the firm provides a full-service approach covering everything from the whole design through to the permits, calculating the costs, and even supervising the construction. We had the pleasure of speaking with Gino Obersi on the back of his firm’s win. Gino Obersi Archictecture B.V. (GOA) was founded in 2014 by Mr Gino Obersi, the renowned namesake architect and esteemed head of the firm. Over the past decade or so, GOA has become one of the most soughtafter architects in the Caribbean Netherlands, carving out this reputation for itself as a result of the network of partners it has built and the invaluable advice and guidance Gino injects into every project – with his expertise stemming from a family background in both construction and architecture. The firm has had the pleasure of working on some truly spectacular projects since opening its doors, with these covering everything from medical centres to luxury homes. As this award title suggests, it is in the residential space that GOA’s light shines the brightest, and the team here are continuously pushing the boundaries of design innovation through their projects in this setting. This is seen as recently as GOA’s latest development, a three-bedroom home designed in the traditional colonial style but with a refreshing modern twist. Since the house was not particularly big and for an elderly woman who lived over in the US, the project did come with some challenges. Many of these stemmed from the architect and the client not quite seeing eye to eye when it came to the blend of tradition and modernity, but GOA was able to leverage its comprehensive knowledge and unrivalled attention to detail to achieve the desired balance. The result is a quaint property that is as charming as it is practical, reflecting GOA’s slogan – “Form Follows Function” – down to a T. This project is simply the tip of the iceberg when it comes to recent designs orchestrated by the company, with another, ongoing project being a four-bedroom house for an older couple also based in the US. Explaining this development in more detail, Gino told us: “This house is very modern but very stylish. It is currently under construction and we are doing the project management. The challenge was to create privacy but still maintain ventilation and views. I am proud of the outcome as it will be a house that stands out!” Going back through the quality-driven portfolio that GOA has amassed over the years, a particular favourite of Gino’s is the project that got the firm its most recognition thus far: Moon Tower. Recognised as the “Coolest Villa on the Dutch Caribbean Island of Bonaire” in a piece by the Caribbean Journal, this villa is characterised by its encompassing views of the ocean and a spectacular pool. It is also particularly special for Gino as it is one the first villas that he and the team at GOA ever had the opportunity to design. “This is the perfect house for a vacation rental, thanks to its four bedrooms with ocean views, an entertainment room, lots of terraces, and a spectacular view from its double infinity pool.” Another highlight for Gino’s is Crown Terrace, a vacation villa in the Sabadeco region of Bonaire. Completed in 2023, this project comprises five bedrooms all with sea views, as well as a host of luxury amenities in every corner of the house. What is particularly interesting about this property is that the whole thing goes slightly uphill, which made it a welcome experiment for Gino and the team. The results speak for themselves, with Crown Terrace being one of the region’s cosiest, most desirable vacation villas. Both of these projects benefit immeasurably from the comprehensive approach GOA employs across every development, a process beginning with the team sitting down with the client to have a very open conversation about what it is they are wanting from the design. Once an agreement is in place, the team work their magic and start to create sketches, focusing on function before going on to give a building a shape. Shapes can be as bold as the client requests, so long as function is not lost to an impractical design. The details of this method pinpoint what it is that makes GOA so unique in this space – its relentless focus on bringing the wants and wishes of its clients to life. Diving deeper into this, Gino explained: “Eventually, they are the ones that are going to use the building. We are simply a translator for their wishes. Of course we guide them and bring our expertise, but the clients have certain visions and we have to be creative enough to fit these into architectural functions and forms. This way of working really makes us stand out.” On the back of this, GOA is fortunate to be able to keep up a very busy schedule, despite facing some difficulties in enticing architects and engineers to move to the island on a temporary basis and work with it. By planning ahead and approaching every project with the same enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail, truly bespoke and original designs can be created at every turn. This is essential in the firm distinguishing itself on an island where both construction methods and material variety are limited. Moving through the rest of 2025 and beyond, Gino tells us that GOA has even more exciting residential projects in the works, but that the firm would like the opportunity to design something different – such as an urban project. In this vein, the team are currently in the process of negotiating to design what will be Bonaire’s first padel centre. Beyond this, plans are in place for some affordable housing options, with Gino and co. creating two or three modern and functional concepts for those with lower incomes. Finally, regarding expansion, Gino shares with us that whilst GOA is committed to designing projects on the island of Bonaire indefinitely, it also looking to spread its wings with developments all over the world. It has already designed several houses on Curacao, as well as a house in Portugal. Recent discussions have also taken place pertaining to an aparthotel complex in Aruba. With these projects under its belt, the sky is the limit for this, Bonaire’s most famous architect, as it continues to reach new heights. The ultimate functional and modern architecture firm in the Caribbean Netherlands, Gino Obersi Architecture B.V. balances traditional, islandstyle architecture with a modern and luxury touch. Its full-service approach makes it the perfect partner for those in search of sheer design brilliance, and we urge anyone interested in knowing more about Bonaire’s premier residential architecture firm to follow the link below to its website for further details on its projects, its approach, and its opportunities. Contact: Gino Obersi Company: Gino Obersi Architecture B.V. Web Address: https://ginoarchitecture.com/
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY1MjM3