There’s not much that can top the eight-mile beach at Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos.

Its sand is like crystal. The water is turquoise. And the natural reef just off the beach offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean.

But the 59-room Hyatt Andaz Hotel and the adjacent 74 condos – including 10 penthouse suites – surely give the bay a run for its money.

Denver-based developer Matt McDonald worked with RAD Architecture out of Miami and land planner Paul Weinberg from Fort Lauderdale’s Keith and Associates to modify a set of existing but incomplete structures on site.

“They positioned the building as an open “L” to follow along the landscape for frontage and the view corridor,” he says. “They faced it west for all the amazing sunset views.”

McDonald wanted a modern and minimalist design that wasn’t over the top, but that took full advantage of the views. And he got it.

“I wanted a ‘Wow!’ factor the moment you get out of a vehicle or shuttle,” he says. “The site is 10 feet above grade – so there’s a view through the lobby directly to the beach, the water, and the sky.”

But the indoor/outdoor penthouse designs by Francisco Jove of Modus Operandi Architecture and Design, also of Fort Lauderdale, are the icing on this cake.

Seven of the 10 penthouses are one-of-a-kind designs – each is a two story affair, with rooftop living, outdoor TVs, and plunge pools.

“One’s a studio loft with an urban feel – a loft with a wider bay,” he says. “The bath has a standalone tub and an indoor/outdoor shower, and then a spiral staircase to an outdoor kitchen and plunge pool.”

Besides the view and amenities like three bars, three restaurants, an indoor/outdoor spa, and fitness center – these condos look to be a solid investment.

After all, the land alone has doubled in value since McDonald acquired it during the last recession.

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