HBA’s One&Only Portonovi: Modern Monastic Luxury on the Shores of Boka Bay

Set against the breathtaking natural drama of Montenegro’s Boka Bay, HBA’s design for the One&Only Portonovi stands as one of the studio’s most poetic expressions of contemporary resort luxury. Drawing inspiration from monastic architecture and the time‑softened textures of the region’s historic settlements, the resort unfolds as a quiet meditation on space, materiality, and emotional atmosphere. It is a collaboration between HBA’s global studios, seamlessly blending international design intelligence with a deeply local sense of place.

From the moment guests arrive, the property establishes an atmosphere of tranquillity and stature. Voluminous ceilings open the interiors to long, uninterrupted sightlines, allowing light to settle gently across stone, timber, and plaster surfaces. These architectural gestures encourage a slower pace, inviting guests to breathe, pause, and connect with the landscape beyond; an interplay between shelter and openness that defines the entire resort.

HBA’s design language draws from monastic typologies not through replication, but through interpretation. Instead of cloisters and abbey‑like austerity, the studio channels the serenity and spatial discipline characteristic of monastic spaces into a modern vernacular. The result is an aesthetic that is warm yet structured, sophisticated yet subtle. Layered textures echo the patina of historic Adriatic structures while remaining resolutely contemporary, balancing a sense of permanence with the softness demanded by resort living.

Time‑worn materials take centre stage in the palette, grounding the interiors with a tactile authenticity. Stone surfaces feel sculpted by natural forces, timber elements celebrate the beauty of grain and age, and hand‑finished details bring a crafted intimacy to even the grandest spaces. These materials are paired with clean, refined lines that keep the overall atmosphere fresh and modern, striking a rare harmony between history and innovation. Throughout the resort, HBA achieves that delicate equilibrium where a space feels both lived‑in and elevated; an aesthetic ideal for guests seeking luxury without ostentation.

Art becomes a narrative thread, providing visual cues that recall the region’s cultural heritage and rugged landscapes. Sculptural forms anchor spaces without overwhelming them, offering moments of introspection within the expansive architectural volumes. Curated artworks and object selections reveal influences from Montenegro’s coastline, stone villages, and maritime history, distilled into contemporary pieces that complement the resort’s serene tone. This artistic layering contributes to the sense of discovery that defines the guest experience, allowing each space to unfold its own quiet story.

Nature remains the ultimate collaborator in the design. Whether viewed through a panoramic window, reflected in a still pool, or revealed in the rhythmic play of shadows across textured walls, the surrounding landscape informs every aspect of the interior experience. HBA’s approach ensures that the resort never feels separate from its environment; rather, architecture and nature continually converse, softening boundaries and enriching the emotional quality of each space. The result is a resort that feels inseparable from Boka Bay’s majestic setting, rooted in place, yet elevated beyond the expected.

Paula O’Callaghan, Partner at HBA Singapore, describes the project as a “quiet statement of modern luxury and sophistication,” a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the design ethos. The resort sits amidst “quaint stone cottages tumbling down rugged, boulder‑strewn, verdant slopes that surround the ethereal, cerulean bays and inlets,” offering a counterpoint of poised, contemporary refinement. Rather than compete with the landscape’s drama, HBA chose to complement it, allowing the interiors to feel reflective, grounded, and integrally connected to the surrounding terrain.

Ultimately, One&Only Portonovi is an exercise in crafting atmosphere as much as architecture. It represents a hospitality experience shaped by calm grandeur rather than spectacle, where every material, proportion, and gesture is considered for its emotional resonance. Here, guests encounter a world where monastic serenity meets modern luxury, where cultural memory informs contemporary comfort, and where the beauty of Montenegro’s coast is not simply framed, but deeply felt. It is a resort designed not just to be seen, but to be experienced: immersive, refined, and warmly welcoming in every detail.

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