Mr. De la Renta's first Dominican retreat built by Dominican Architect Ernesto Buch
...looks like an entire local economy could be based off of this place's upkeep...
The first of many picture perfect Properties to come, is the Dominican estate of Oscar and Annette De la Renta. Being a native of this tiny island state, one can hardly blame Mr. De la Renta for wanting to return to the nation of his upbringing. Describled as lush, verdent, and unimaginably beautiful, the Dominican Republic has long been the fashionable retreat for some of the world's wealthiest of individuals. However, on an island blessed with such beauty there is also a great deal of suffering and economic disparity. On an island with so much suffering and hardship, such poverty and economic injustices is it really ok to live so...so...the only word I can think of is...ostentatiously?
I've been mulling it over and over in my head and just cant seem to find a reconcilable answer to that question. Given Mr. De la Renta's close ties to the island (being his birthplace), and the fact that he would naturally need a good amount of entertaining space given his profession, and the fact that he and his wife Annette do vast amounts of fund-raising for various causes, I'll grant him his right to own a 35,000 square foot manse as a business expense. After all, the world of high fashion almost never takes a day off. The Oscar De la Renta brand consists of fragrance, jewelry, leather goods and handbags, as well as separate bridal and fur collections on top of the 4 legitimate fashion shows the designer must concoct each year. These being pre-fall, fall, resort, and spring, of which the last resort collection, the time when most designers only produce 15-30 exits, Mr. De la Renta produced 55 exits, all stunning, all luxurious and all uniquely different from each other, so its easy to see the man deserves time and space to relax in the...few days a year he has to himself.
But the issue I most have difficulty understanding is his insistence on the given architectural style all of his homes he's had built there in Punta Cana. This of course being the Neo-Colonial plantation style home. As an architectural student, and avid design freak, I'm sure Mr. De la Renta can appreciate the fact that, much like fashion, particular architectural styles, elements, and materials can convey very different meanings. I understand that in the end its a matter of personal taste and preferences, but I still feel a bit dejected they've chosen such a traditional and frankly... insensitive style in which to construct a new home. To build a brand new 35,000 square foot home on such an impoverished island is one thing...but to then build it in the style of a colonialist's plantation home will do little to both win you favors with the locals, but it also does nothing to improve the architectural landscape.
Its one thing to buy an existing historical colonialist plantation and live in your own little private bubble of luxury and forgetful nostalgia, but a completely different thing to go ahead a build a historical replica and simply disregard all the negative connotations and associations which go along with a building such as this....
Mr De la Renta's newest home as featured in Architectural Digest
...quite the manicured Neo-classical spread Mr. De la Renta's got going on here...
...the Piano Nobile...
...have a seat...
...the Palladian influences abound...
...smaller intimate spaces are great for breaking up 35,000 sq.ft of spatial overkill...
...The Great Hall which overlooks verdent lawns and gardens on both sides...
...The Morning Room...
...If This doesn't scream tropical plantation I don't know what does...
...The spacious Master Suite, perhaps larger than the size of most Dominican homes...
...The "Masters" view, and yes that was a snarky play on words...
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