WaterSound Beach is 256 acres of magnificent landscape along the Gulf of Mexico, blessed with a talcum white beach, towering dunes and a natural stand of tall pines. This distinctive coastal environment inspired the design of WaterSound Beach -- an architectural collaboration between Robert A. M. Stern, Cooper Robertson & Partners, Graham Gund, and EDAW.
The town plan takes its direction from the landscape itself. WaterSound Beach is conceived in accord with its spectacular setting -- a natural place where all paths lead to the sea. These pathways and pedestrian bridges will also link the various neighborhoods of WaterSound Beach and allow for the appreciation of protected woodlands and conservation areas. In addition, there will be a series of engaging foot trails for beach carts designed specifically for WaterSound Beach. These wooden pathways will gently meander through the natural openings and contours of the dunescape for access to the white sandy beach and emerald green waters of the Gulf.
Within WaterSound Beach, several different ecosystems overlap to create a rich and varied environment. The landscape changes from brilliant white sandy beaches to dunes typified by drifts of saw palmettos, scrub oaks, hollies and wax myrtles. Moving away from the Gulf, the inner dunes give way to the sandy pine forests and dense stands of mature live oaks.
Camp Creek Lake provides WaterSound Beach another distinctive ecological niche. This coastal dune lake brims with flora and fauna that exist in both fresh and brackish water. The lake comes within a few feet of and at times opens up to the brilliant emerald waters of the Gulf, creating a rare and thriving wildlife habitat.
Farther inland, WaterSound Beach gradually changes to a coastal forest of high canopied pines, live oaks, red and white cedars, and native Southern magnolias. This intersection of diverse environments makes for a captivating landscape with fertile vegetation, an abundant wildlife habitat, and a truly extraordinary place to live. WaterSound Beach is master-planned for 499 residences -- a combination of homesites, multi-family residences. |
