In The Abacos, a collection of islands and cays known for their turquoise waters, secluded beaches, and laid-back Bahamian character, a new private-island residential community is taking shape. Set across 53 acres, The Residences at Montage Cay is being designed around a central idea: The island’s natural environment should play as important a role in the residential experience as the architecture itself.
Rather than transforming the landscape to accommodate a conventional luxury resort aesthetic, the development team is working with the island’s existing vegetation, coastal terrain, and distinctive topography. The result is a landscape strategy intended to create an immersive sense of place, connecting private residences with the surrounding natural beauty of The Bahamas.
Inspired by the Character of The Abacos
For Sean Simms, president of SKS and project landscape architect for The Residences at Montage Cay, the vision begins with the character of the surrounding islands. Drawing inspiration from nearby Marsh Harbour, the landscape design incorporates intimate pathways, natural materials, and tropical vegetation to create an environment that encourages exploration while maintaining a sense of residential privacy.
“We wanted Montage Cay to feel less like a traditional luxury resort and more like a Bahamian village, where the landscape invites you to slow down, walk barefoot and explore,” says Simms. “Drawing inspiration from the character of Marsh Harbour, we’ve incorporated intimate pathways, natural textures and lush plantings that create a sense of discovery while allowing each residence to feel private and connected to the island.”
The approach also recognizes the diversity of the island itself. Sandy beaches give way to rugged ironshore, while changes in elevation create opportunities for different landscape experiences throughout the property. Rather than imposing a uniform design, the team is allowing these natural characteristics to influence how individual areas are developed.
“What makes Montage Cay particularly interesting is the diversity of its natural landscape,” explains Simms. “You have beautiful beaches, a marina, rugged ironshore and changes in elevation that are unusual for this part of The Bahamas. Rather than creating one uniform landscape, we wanted each area to have its own character, allowing the experience of the island to unfold naturally as you move through it.”
Preserving the Island’s Natural Beauty
Preservation is a significant component of the landscape plan. According to the development team, nearly 20,000 existing plants protected under The Bahamas Environmental Protection Code have been preserved through relocation and transplantation, allowing them to remain part of the island’s evolving landscape.
By completion, the property is expected to feature more than 150,000 plantings, combining existing vegetation with new tropical landscaping. The extensive planting program is designed to establish a lush setting while maintaining a connection to the island’s natural character. The environmental strategy also extends offshore, where a coral reef transplant project is part of the development’s broader preservation efforts. Together, the initiatives reflect an approach that considers the relationship between the island’s terrestrial and marine environments.
Conray Rolle of Nassau-based Transformation Landscape Design is spearheading the landscaping design, helping translate the broader vision into an environment that reflects the distinctive vegetation and coastal conditions of The Bahamas.
Where Landscape Becomes Part of the Home
For homeowners, the landscape is intended to serve as more than a scenic backdrop. Tropical plantings will help define individual residences, frame private pools and outdoor entertaining areas, and create natural separation between neighboring properties.
“The landscape is what gives each residence its sense of privacy and place,” says Simms. “While the resort and residential areas are designed to feel like one continuous environment, the planting creates intimate spaces around the villas, with lush greenery framing private pools and outdoor living areas. For estate owners, there’s an opportunity to take that further and create something that feels entirely personal.”
This relationship between architecture and landscape is especially significant in a destination where outdoor living is central to the residential experience. Gardens, shaded pathways, and private outdoor retreats become extensions of the home, creating opportunities to enjoy the island’s tropical setting throughout the day.
The landscape is also being planned with a longer perspective. As trees mature and gardens become established, the character of the community will continue to change, gradually creating more intimate spaces and a deeper connection between residents and their surroundings.
“One of the most beautiful things about landscape design is that it’s never truly finished,” says Simms. “We’re designing Montage Cay not just for how it will look when it opens, but for how it will grow and evolve over the years. The goal is to create places that become part of people’s memories, whether it’s a favorite tree to read beneath or a quiet garden that becomes part of a family’s daily routine.”
At Montage Cay, the ultimate expression of luxury may be found not only in the residences themselves, but in the natural surroundings that connect them to the island. From preserved tropical vegetation to quiet garden pathways and sweeping coastal views, the landscape is being designed to become an enduring part of life in The Abacos.