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CONFIDENT project chief Chris Woodrow aims to lift the gloom surrounding the kingdom's home building sector with a 'wave' of optimism surrounding one of Bahrain's success stories.
Amwaj Islands is now well-established as a popular choice for locals and expats to buy and rent and work is continuing as planned on a contemporary addition to its development.
Amwaj Waves, a BD100 million project developed by Lona Real Estate Development, is the single largest residential plan in Amwaj spanning a total area of more than 287,000 square metres with more than 1,000 apartments.
Mr Woodrow, projects director, said: "This project is a community within a community. It's a modern development that is very family-oriented with lots of features for recreation. There will be interactive fountains, swimming pools, squash courts, gymnasiums, saunas and steam rooms along with lush landscaped areas.
"We chose to have the project in Amwaj because of its proximity to the airport, and also because it's a self-contained island, which features stunning sea views and will occupy theme parks and a hospital.
"There are also public beaches, swimming pools and full shopping centre set to open soon at the Lagoon. Basically there is something for everyone at Amwaj and while there is already a lot here, there is much more to come."
Inspired by its proximity to the sea and its Arabic name 'Amwaj', it is strategically positioned so that from an aerial perspective the buildings create a visual of the formation of rolling waves.
This contemporary design created by internationally-renowned architect, Davenport Campbell, will feature 16 buildings that give rise to 1,106 apartments with scenic views of the sea, the city, and landscaped pool areas central to each 'wave'.
Each 'wave' represents a different phase of the project, creating a total of four 'waves'- or four plots - made up of symmetrically-positioned 13 and seven-storey buildings.
The first 'wave' will have 299 apartments, the second 366 apartments; the third will also have 299 apartments and the fourth with 146. All the buildings feature one to four bedroom homes in addition to penthouses and maid's quarters within the three bedroom apartments and penthouses.
At the moment, the first wave is underway. This will include four buildings, two 13-storey and two seven-storey buildings with landscaped podium areas in between.
Mr Woodrow explained: "The project is already well underway and concreting work is now up to the Mezzanine floor level.
"With more than 270 operatives on site, the project is moving at a really great pace and ahead of the planned construction schedule at this time.
"We are two weeks ahead of the programme and we are planning to be four weeks ahead of the programme by the end of the summer.
"We have already started marketing the project but not officially started selling the units at the moment.
"I have been involved in many prestigious projects in the four years that I have been in Bahrain, but this is really something quite unique.
"In the first 'wave' there will be 12 cabanas, six barbecue areas and children's play areas, koi ponds, two big family pools, a large children's pool, Jacuzzi and 50 sun loungers. All the buildings and gardens sit up on the first floor, which is quite unique.
"I see this as a family-type development with young professionals and families occupying the apartments. A lot of people are already quite surprised by the size of Amwaj Waves and while we have seen a lot of interest in rentals, we are also putting together a package that is attractive to buyers. The first phase will be finished by the end of April, 2012."
While some projects in the market are facing interrogations from their investors on whether they can still deliver on promises made, Mr Woodrow is extremely confident that Lona Real Estate will not disappoint.
He said: "Lona Real Estate is formed from an extremely strong executive committee of investors. The finance is in place to set the first phase of the project forward to completion. The construction of the first phase alone is worth BD19 million.
"There are some heavy-hitters within the committee who have been investors in other projects and all those have delivered from start to finish. So what is happening around us does not affect Amwaj Waves.
"It's going to be a flagship project. I have been involved in many high-profile projects and we have always delivered and we will deliver again.
"Also, we have a feature on our Amwaj Waves website which is refreshed every week. It will show people all the updated pictures of the site and a comment from me every week, which would say for example there are 270 workers on site today, we have done that and the next milestone is this. So people can actually see our progress."
