INTERVIEW
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ENVI LODGES
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ENVI The Islita
WHERE VALUES MEET DESIGN ENVI IS GROWING ORGANICALLY AND HAS REACHED THE DESIGN PHASE OF A NUMBER OF EXCITING NEW PROJECTS. WE CATCH UP WITH NOELLE HOMSY, CO-FOUNDER, TO FIND OUT MORE.
Q:
You have attended our last two Eco Resort Network events and spoken on the subject of your brand and your vision. Now you are about to break ground on your first projects. How challenging is this period in the development of ENVI? This phase represents a critical juncture in the development of ENVI, where we translate the core values of our brand into tangible ecolodges. It’s a time when we vividly envision and create the guest experience within a specific environment, climate, and culture, while also defining unique, sustainable experiences. We now lay the groundwork for ecolodges that will host guests for many years to come. Yet, this phase hasn’t been without its share of unexpected challenges. We’ve come to understand that in the realm of sustainability, bridging the gap between theory and practice can be a big job. While our initial intention was to incorporate every possible
sustainable system into the design and construction, we realized that sustainability is unfortunately expensive, and we need to find the right balance between the financial feasibility of our projects, the comfort of our guests and the lodges’ impact on the environment. This was particularly evident in locations where air conditioning is essential, especially given our lodges’ positioning in the luxury segment. From left: Paul Jordaan, Chris Nader and Noelle Homsy plant mangroves