Redevelopment · Grand Cayman
A three-floor lobby building redevelopment at one of Seven Mile Beach’s most established luxury residences.
Lacovia is a high-end multi-residential development on Seven Mile Beach, a property with a strong luxury identity and a discerning ownership base. KEMPA Design was appointed by the Lacovia Executive Committee to lead the redevelopment of the lobby building across all three floors, with a mandate to bring the physical environment into line with the exclusivity and sophistication the property is known for.
The scope covered every common-area touchpoint owners and guests move through, from the moment of arrival on the ground floor, through the reimagined second-floor owners lounge and business center, up to a boutique fitness studio on the third floor. Each level was redesigned to serve a distinct function while sharing one consistent standard of finish, materiality, and detail.
Beyond the common areas, KEMPA Design also curated the finish packages for individual residences across the building, sourcing and specifying flooring, wall and countertop finishes, plumbing fixtures, and cabinetry selections for owners requesting upgrades or customisation. Every package was coordinated with the wider Lacovia consultant team to ensure it integrated cleanly with the building’s construction documents and finishes strategy.
Project details
Project type
Lobby building redevelopment
Location
Client
Scope
Floors
Ground lobby · Owners lounge · Fitness studio
Status
Renderings — In progress
“Lacovia’s brand had already been built. Our job was to make sure the space delivered on it, every day, at every level.”
01
The arrival
A double-height entrance sequence designed to set the tone for the entire building statement-making, luxurious, and unmistakably Lacovia.
The ground floor was rebuilt around a single organising idea, the arrival. A double-height ceiling opens the space vertically, anchored by an architectural light installation that cascades from the upper level to reception height. The reception desk sits framed by a book-matched stone feature wall, with concealed uplighting picking out the veining after dark.
A sculptural spiral staircase rises to the owners lounge on the second floor, referencing the arrival sequence found in the highest tier of hospitality properties. The managers’ office and back-of-house were reconfigured to expand operational capacity and add proper storage for bellhop services and luggage carts, practical improvements that quietly elevate the day-to-day experience.
To one side of the reception, the ground floor opens into a lounge area, timber-panelled, softly lit, and framed by a full-height integrated bar and coffee station. The space works two ways: as a comfortable overflow for owners and guests during check-in and check-out moments, and as a quiet social space at all other times.
Furniture was selected for both scale and softness, curved bouclé sofas, low travertine tables, and a media wall that reads as architecture rather than furniture. The result is a room that feels layered without feeling crowded, with clear sightlines back to the entrance so the arrival sequence stays visually connected across the whole floor.
02
The owners lounge & business center
Formerly a fitness area. Reconfigured into a multi-purpose second floor for owners, where the day can shift from a quiet coffee to a full-board meeting to a champagne evening.
Four distinct experiences.
The second floor was originally home to the gym and wellness spaces, a use that had drifted out of alignment with what the ownership base actually wanted. The redesign transformed the whole floor into a flexible members-only zone with four distinct programmes: a lounge, a conference room, a private office, and a wet bar.
Layout, ceiling, and lighting design were all coordinated to allow each zone to function independently while sharing a single, cohesive material language, warm oak millwork, marble bar surfaces, deep green upholstery, and warm-toned pendant lighting. The lounge extends the ground-floor arrival experience one level up; the conference and private office repurpose the former Pilates and yoga rooms into a business-grade meeting suite; the wet bar (with fridge, sink, and dry storage) enables informal entertaining without leaving the floor.
03
The fitness studio
A high-end boutique fitness environment, cardio-forward, acoustically resolved, and calibrated for a health-conscious ownership base.
Boutique in feel.
The third floor was repurposed into a dedicated fitness studio, designed around what the ownership base actually uses, cardio, mobility, and functional training over heavy weight work. The layout gives clear open space for group classes, individual sessions, and versatile floor programming, with a strength zone tucked at the back to keep the room feeling generous.
Acoustics were a critical consideration: the ceiling was rebuilt with enhanced soundproofing to isolate the studio from the residences below, and finishes were selected to soften reverberation without absorbing the daylight coming in through the full-height windows overlooking the property. Warm timber joinery, integrated storage for equipment, and hospitality-grade materials give the space the feel of a boutique fitness studio rather than a residential amenity gym.
What this project actually involved.
Spatial planning & design
Full redesign of layouts across three floors of the lobby building, reception, ground-floor lounge, second-floor owners lounge, conference and office suite, wet bar, and third-floor fitness studio. Coordination of programme requirements with the Executive Committee and property management team.
Materials & finishes
Full material and finish schedules, floor and wall stone, feature wood panelling, cabinetry finishes, hardware, glazing, and decorative treatments, with a consistent palette maintained across all three floors. KEMPA Design also curated finish packages for individual residences, including flooring, countertops, plumbing fixtures, and cabinetry, for owners requesting upgrades.
Interior architecture
Feature spiral staircase, double-height reception volume, book-matched stone feature walls, timber panelling and joinery throughout, integrated lighting installations. Reflected ceiling plans coordinated with the acoustic strategy for each floor.
Custom millwork
Custom millwork designed for reception, ground-floor bar, owners lounge integrated bar and shelving, private office joinery, and fitness studio storage. Elevations and detail drawings produced in-house and coordinated with fabrication.
FF&E & specifications
Full FF&E scope across all three floors, furniture, lighting, decorative pieces, window treatments, artwork strategy. Fixtures updated to include revised owner-requested finishes across appliances, plumbing, decorative lighting, and cabinetry hardware.
Construction documentation & coordination
Conceptual drawings for all non-typical areas, coordinated with the wider consultant team responsible for CAD documentation and implementation. Review and mark-up of RCPs, electrical plans, and floor and wall finishes. Ongoing construction administration, RFI responses, and drawing review through the build phase.
Repositioning an existing development?
KEMPA Design works with executive committees, boards, and property owners to redevelop lobbies, amenities, and common areas at existing luxury properties. Share the project details and we’ll come back with clear next steps.