4.2 Are Tamanu Beach Hotel and Muri Beach Hideaway Are Tamanu Beach Hotel Location: Year of completion: Total cost of construction: Architect/designer: Consultant: Builder: Number of guest units: Maximum number of guests: Other facilities on site: Site area: Access methods:
Principal attractions in the area: Muri Beach Hideaway Location: Year of completion: Total cost of construction: Architect/designer:
Builder: Number of guest units: Max. number of guests: Other facilities on site: Site area: Access methods: Principal attractions in the area:
Amuri Village, Aitutaki, Cook Islands 2001 US$1.2 million (approx.) Des Eggelton of Frame Group, Cook Islands Michael Henry Maru Ben 12 self-contained ares (studio bungalows) 30 (approx.) caf e-bar, office, laundry 1 acre (0.4 ha) by road (from Rarotonga International airport or Aitutaki atoll harbour) the lagoon and reefs of Aitutaki atoll, the island’s nature, water sports Muri Beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2001 US$400 K(approx.) Des Eggelton of Frame Group, Cook Islands (concept by Mike Henry) in cooperation with Pauline MacFarlane (resort owner and manager) local craftspeople 5 self-contained studio bungalows 10 office, laundry, owner/manager accommodation 0.375 acres (0.15 ha) by road (from Rarotonga International airport at Avarua) the lagoon and reefs, culture and art tours, dining
4.2.1 In their own words Are Tamanu Beach Village has a history going back hundreds of years. Like all lands in the Cook Islands, the land the [resort] is built on has a traditional name and it is Are Tamanu. The literal translation of Are Tamanu is ‘House of the Mahogany Tree’ and this land still retains some of the
native mahogany trees from which it is named (Figure 4.2.1). In keeping with its name, Are Tamanu’s luxurious self-catering individual ares feature tamanu floors and Cook Island style thatched roofs. Tamanu is also used for the carvings in each room and is a feature of the popular poolside bar. [The resort’s] private white sand beach borders Aitutaki’s superb lagoon providing endless opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and canoeing. Around [the] freshwater swimming pool is a large deck providing a pleasurable venue for evening cocktails and Sunday BBQs. [All] individual ares offer first class appointments including luxurious king-size beds, full kitchens, refrigerator/freezer, gas cooker, microwave oven, quality cutlery and crockery, and IDD telephones. Each are has a separate bathroom with hairdryer, kitchen, breakfast bar, room safe and outdoor decks with dining settings for four. All rooms are airconditioned and have insect screened windows. [Source: Are Tamanu Beach Hotel] (Figure 4.2.2). The Muri Beach Hideaway is an example of a small owner-operated resort. Apart from the original building – a two-storey family house, doubling nowadays as a laundry, storage space and the owner’s accommodation – there are only five small bungalows built on the site. The Are Tamanu, on the other hand, is a fairly typical medium-size resort, more than twice the size of its Rarotongan counterpart. Both share the same unit design with only a few small modifications introduced at the Muri Beach Hideaway.
4.2.2 Site selection and landscaping Both resorts are sited in locations of a suburban character, and resort development has brought about an improvement rather than destruction of the original sites. Both sites were already extensively modified before the resorts were built. The Are Tamanu is located on the principal island of Aitutaki atoll, on the major road running