I hope you had an enjoyable holiday season and wishing you my very best for the New Year.
At Windsor, we opened up the season with a very special occasion honoring our late co-founder, W. Galen Weston. Artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin’s Grand Design, prominently installed along Windsor Boulevard, stands tall in the memory of Mr. Weston who sadly left us in April of 2021. See page 3 for a recap of this momentous day for the Windsor community.
Over the holidays, our Members, their families and guests enjoyed a plethora of events to celebrate the season and usher in the New Year. We held our largest ever Welcome Back party at the newly renovated Beach Club. Member family celebrations took place in a variety of venues including the Exedra, Allée and Equestrian Centre. Windsor continues to evolve and each season feels fresh and new.
Throughout the community, new homes are under construction and many renovations are taking place. On page 4 we share a stunning whole home renovation that was the cover feature for Veranda magazine’s September/October edition. The homeowner, interior designer and architects collaborated to create a Florida-meets-Milan inspired oasis for the growing multigenerational family.
We continue to make progress with the plans for the final development phase of Windsor and all the exciting new amenities it will feature. One amenity that we are adding to Windsor’s offerings is a Kayak Launch that will provide direct access to the Indian River Lagoon. Learn more about this treasured waterway and one local nonprofit organization that has a strong commitment to protecting it on pages 6-7.
To learn more about the lifestyle at Windsor and our new North Village neighborhood, please contact one of our Sales Associates listed below. They are always available to answer your questions and provide a complete tour of Windsor seven days a week.
Wishing you health and happiness in 2023.
Located in the South Village this light-filled residence, currently under construction, enjoys wonderfully tranquil views over the lake and golf course. Unique among Windsor properties, it offers turnkey living in a newly constructed, pristine home. Four main-residence bedrooms and a separate one-bedroom guest house ensure ample accommodation for extended families. It is also beautifully suited to indoor-outdoor entertaining with seamless transitions from the entry pavilion and pool courtyard, through the great room, to the garden and east loggia. Custom millwork and the highest quality materials set a tone of timeless sophistication. Offered for $6,950,000.
Elizabeth C. HanleyPresident & CEO Torwest, Inc.
President Windsor Real Estate, Inc.
Elizabeth Hanley, Licensed Real Estate Broker 772 388 8400 | betsy.hanley@windsorflorida.com
Laurin Lott Pohl, Sales Associate 772 388 8415 | laurin.lott@windsorflorida.com
Wendy Barin, Sales Associate 772 388 8417 | wendy.barin@windsorflorida.com
W. Galen Weston was admired for his business prowess, strong commitment to family and his generous spirit. He was also a visionary, a man who was able to see the possibilities others might overlook.
Together with his wife Hilary he envisioned and built Windsor, a new urbanist seaside village with award-winning architecture, exceptional sporting amenities and a high-spirited cultural scene.
Established in 1989, this forward-thinking community provided Mr. Weston with an idyllic setting where he could enjoy spending quality time with friends and family.
Mr. Weston passed away peacefully at his Windsor home on April 12, 2021, at the age of 80, after a long illness faced with courage and dignity. Everyone at Windsor felt his loss.
At a November 25 ceremony, Windsor paid tribute to the man and his achievement by dedicating a sculpture in his honor.
Titled Grand Design, the sculpture, which depicts an architect’s compass, was funded entirely by the W. Galen Weston Memorial Sculpture Committee spearheaded by Windsor Member, Charlie Baillie.
“Shortly after Galen passed away, several Members expressed the view that we should undertake a project to honor the individual who, together with his beloved wife Hilary, had the vision, desire and determination to conceive and develop this unique paradisiacal community which has so enhanced and changed many of our lives,” Baillie said.
The Hon. Hilary M. Weston and daughter Alannah Weston invited the celebrated British contemporary artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin to design a sculpture that would represent the many facets of Mr. Weston’s character and legacy at Windsor.
“I chose the compass as the object that would best represent Galen as thinker, planner and creator. His foresight, passion and commitment are nowhere more evident than here at Windsor,” said Craig-Martin. “The compass’ monumental scale seems a fitting tribute to capture his boundless ambition and achievements.”
Standing at 13 feet in height, the magenta-colored, galvanized steel sculpture was installed at the terminus of Windsor Boulevard, the community’s major thoroughfare, with the stunning view of Windsor’s Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course as its backdrop.
The compass is beautiful, said Windsor Member Valerie Pringle, who added, “I see a moral compass which speaks to Galen’s character and is an example to us all.”
Sir Michael Craig-Martin was present for the special occasion.
“It was an honor and a challenge to have been invited to create a sculpture in memory of Galen who is so greatly missed by all who have had the pleasure of knowing him,” Craig-Martin told the audience.
The artist also selected a compass because Windsor, he said, is the result of Galen’s vision and planning. It was the realization of his dream.
“Everybody here is a beneficiary of that vision and I think that was very, very important as a consideration,” he said. “I love the compass also because it stands straight, it stands firm, just like Galen. It’s tall like he was. It’s very straightforward. There is a slightly anthropomorphic aspect to the sculpture. It’s symmetrical and seems like a proper classical image.”
Craig-Martin said that when he makes a sculpture of an object, it is typically still. “This one is different because the compass is drawing a line on the ground and if you notice the circle, its drawing is not complete,” he said. “This is because Windsor isn’t finished. And it’s up to you all … to continue the work that was done and started by Galen.”
In 2019, The Gallery at Windsor presented Craig-Martin in his most comprehensive exhibition in the United States at that time. Comprising more than 35 paintings, sculptures, prints and editions, the exhibition entitled Present Sense was the second annual exhibition at Windsor in a three-year curatorial collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Throughout his career Craig-Martin has produced work in a variety of media as he explored the nature and basic principles of visual language and our perceptions using everyday objects, images and materials.
A reimagined Windsor home sings with exuberance after New York-based interior designer Ellen Hamilton worked her magic. Reconfigured and redesigned, the captivating pink home comes alive with a Florida-meetsMilan vibe and an inspirational art collection.
The updated Windsor Village residence was featured in the September/October 2022 edition of Veranda magazine. Veranda is a lifestyle publication that focuses on extraordinary design.
The 10-page cover feature article discusses the homeowners’ need for more open entertaining areas as well as ample private spaces for visiting adult children. Equally important was making sure there was abundant wall space for art. The homeowners are serious art collectors who are especially fond of contemporary and abstract works by women and artists of color.
Sixteen photographs showcase the home’s sleek Italian walnut cabinetry, terrazzo floors and bold, graphic tile installed in the kitchen and bathrooms. The home unabashedly sports energetic color throughout. And why not? The homeowners understood that Florida’s natural light is a welcoming environment for high-impact art and color.
To accommodate the homeowners’ wishes, New York-based architect Hope Dana opened up the floorplan and extended the outdoor living space with new loggias on every floor. The pool area now has an inviting courtyard made
more intoxicating by a monumental tile commission by Wisconsin-based artist Michelle Grabner. Guest quarters were added above the garage.
The homeowners were drawn to the house, in part, for its double lot. But they wanted the grand home to feel more livable. They wanted an intimate retreat that showcased their personal style. In the end, that’s exactly what they got.
Read entire feature at windsorflorida.com/news.
Celebrated author Earnest Hemingway believed wine to be one of the most civilized things in the world. He once said that wine “offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”
At Windsor, we tend to agree.
Sharing a love for fine wines with like-minded people is a passion for members of the flourishing Windsor Wine Association (WWA). Now with close to 100 members, the WWA offers many benefits of membership.
The WWA has formed remarkable relationships with winemakers, wineries and wine-related businesses around the world, allowing members to enjoy tasting events, special dinners and travel adventures geared to the curious and discerning palate.
Perhaps the best benefit of WWA membership is access to a state-of-the-art wine cellar that now stores more than 25,000 bottles of its members’ wines.
Windsor worked with international consulting firm WineTrend to concept and develop the climate-controlled specialized facility with a capacity for more than 40,000 bottles, plus an additional 15,000 if case stacking is used on floor space.
An elegant tasting room that can accommodate small- to medium-sized events features wine cellar management software by CellarTracker. Members can catalog and access their inventory through an online portal, where they also can review notes on wines and research values.
The association’s members have the privilege of using Windsor’s Wine Cellar, where they can store their collections, host private events or simply relax in one of the comfortable club chairs and enjoy a glass or two from their collection.
The Windsor Club also hosts a series of wine events throughout the season bringing in notable wineries such as Accendo Cellars, Bryant Estate and Marchesi Antinori, to name a few. Pop-up tastings at the Village Store and the Village Centre Pergola regularly offer an opportunity for all Windsor Members to try a variety of wines.
Nature activates our senses, prompting us to become more mindful, focused and calm. Windsor has always understood this. Now in its final development phase, Windsor is designing its North Village with a focus on promoting health and wellness by offering new and enhanced amenities that encourage Members to immerse themselves in their beautiful natural surroundings.
One new amenity offering being planned, the North Village’s kayak launch, will provide Windsor’s multigenerational membership with direct access to the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most important and biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons on Florida’s Atlantic Coast: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River, and the Indian River. At 156 miles long, the Indian River Lagoon is studded with more than 150 spoil islands, which were created in the 1950s during the dredging of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway.
Over the years, many of these man-made islands have developed into valuable and distinct habitats for animal species and native vegetation. Some islands are designated conservation land and off-limits to foot traffic while others have been designated for gentle recreational use such as picnicking and camping.
The Lagoon contains some 35 species listed as threatened or endangered — more than any other estuary in North America. At last count, the lagoon is home to approximately 2,500 types of animals and serves as a spawning and nursery ground for different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. The lagoon also has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America.
Nearly one third of the nation’s manatee population lives in the Indian River Lagoon or migrates through seasonally. Also frequently spotted here are dolphins,
which can move more than 18 miles an hour, and at times, jump up to 16 feet out of the water to show off spectacular tricks and flips.
The juvenile Loggerhead Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle both venture into the waters of the lagoon, and the largest heron in North America, the Great Blue can often be seen wading through the shallows searching for prey. The Lagoon is simply a haven for birds of all kinds. Brown pelicans can be seen roosting in the mangroves, while osprey soar overhead and kingfishers dart here and there.
Kayaking is one of the most serene and eco-friendly ways to explore the Lagoon and view the amazing wildlife up close. This popular water sport activates the body and mind without negatively impacting the waterways. Exploring this shallow water estuary by kayak, canoe or paddleboard also offers access to the hidden spots not accessible by motorized boats.
Fitted with storage and secure entry to maintain privacy for the community, Windsor’s North Village kayak launch will provide the membership with an exclusive spot to launch an Indian River Lagoon adventure.
A Windsor-supported nonprofit focused on protecting our estuaries and oceans has found a new home in Vero Beach.
The Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA) has plans to relocate its headquarters from Fort Pierce to a 6,500-square-foot building in Vero Beach that will house an office, lab and education space.
The scientific-based conservation organization was founded in 2005 by internationally renowned deep-sea explorer and MacArthur Fellow, Edith “Edie” Widder, Ph.D, who helped design and invent submersible instruments and equipment that produced footage of rare bioluminescent displays as well as the first video ever recorded of the legendary giant squid in its natural habitat.
Widder says the new location is ideal since Vero Beach is midway along the 156-mile length of the Indian River Lagoon where much of the group’s research is done.
ORCA is dedicated to improving the quality of water to help protect habitat fish, marine mammals and other ocean wildlife. Having observed the decline of the Indian River Lagoon since she first moved to the area in 1989, Widder dedicated herself to finding what actions were most needed to reverse the downward trend.
As part of its work, the research institute collects and shares data on water quality and its impact on marine ecosystems. Working with a rapidly growing force of volunteers and interns, the staff of ORCA is generating critically needed scientific data in a way that directly involves the public and raises community awareness of marine pollution. By educating and engaging the community, ORCA seeks to solve the problems leading to the degradation of the Indian River Lagoon and connecting waterways.
Over the years Windsor has been a supporter of Widder and the important work being done at ORCA. In 2022, ORCA was one of the beneficiaries of Windsor’s biennial Charity Polo Cup. The organization received $175,000 in support of its research and conservation initiatives.
“ORCA was incredibly grateful to be named a beneficiary of the 2022 Windsor Charity Polo Cup,” said Widder. “This support comes at a critical time for our organization and for the Indian River Lagoon.”
