Luxury Indian Ocean LUXURY INDIAN OCEAN #9 EDITION 2019 - 2020 | Page 97

led by professionals who understand local
environmental factors.
Management of energy and natural
resources
CONTACT P. 136
“Building work nowadays needs to accord
with the environment”, explains Michael
Ruel, chairman of the MJ Développement
Group. “All the construction sector’s
stakeholders have to take a responsible
approach to the environmental
implications of their activities. That is
why we do everything possible to improve
our environmental performance both in
terms of design and during the actual
construction process”. The promoter has decided to use only
70% of the 98,000 m² site, leaving 30%
largely untouched in order to preserve local
plant life, although with some additional
planting. The plans also include resource
efficiency measures, such as the treatment
and recycling of wastewater for irrigating
green areas. In addition, solar energy will
be used rather than heat pumps for hot
water and LED lamps for lighting, while
the wood used in the project is from PEFC
sources (Programme for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification). Villa and
penthouse swimming pools will use salt
chlorinator systems in order to minimise
the use of chemicals. The project’s integral
architectural design (using low-rise
horizontality and built entirely on stilts)
uses the sloping terrain and natural airflow
to reduce the need for air-conditioning.
Solar gains come in particular from the
orientation of each of the properties to
make maximum use of natural light. As the
architect further explains, “We’ve sought
to create a discreet, indeed unobtrusive,
project which has the least possible impact
on its close vicinity”.
Legend Hill is working in the immediate
environment of a sensitive site on the
slopes of the Tourelle peak in Black River.
In order to realise development there,
it has been necessary to give maximum
consideration to the preservation of the
site’s biodiversity. In bringing in local
expertise such as architect Pierre Yves
Serret of Architects Studio and Etwaro
& Associates (quantity surveyors), MJ
Développement has been able to ensure
that the project has been designed and Once finished and operating as a resort,
as well as a vegetable garden that will
supply the resort’s restaurants, Legend Hill
will operate in line with the eco-friendly
charter common to all MJ Holidays (the
group’s hotel-management subsidiary):
electric vehicles for the use of estate staff,
reduced use of plastic, glass containers and
in-house production of drinking water –
everyday gestures designed to minimise the
impact of the resorts’ tourism activities on
their immediate surroundings.
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