When a group of visionary developers realized that South Florida was experiencing a shift in demand for luxury residential living, moving away from hectic coastal condos, they came up with a unique residential project that offers customizable estates in a private 44 tropical acres enclave.
“AKAI Estates is the first project of its kind in Southwest Ranches. The exclusivity, privacy, and ability to customize residences to exactly what a buyer desires is what sets AKAI Estates apart from any development in South Florida,” Alex Yokana, Co-developer of Akai Developer.
Located at 4730 Akai Drive, this new development offers spacious homes in a quiet, rural-style living environment. Each on two private acres, there will be 16 ultramodern estates, the first of its kind in North America.
Rather than selling pre-built homes, the development team takes a design-build approach that allows buyers to customize their homes to fit their families and lifestyle.
“There are almost no large blocks of land left in South Florida. So, when we came across this property six years ago, we immediately saw the opportunity to develop a boutique project that we could set apart from anything else being built,” says Alex Yokana, co-developer of AKAI Estates.
Residences are priced from $8 million and range up to $14 million. They have a gated entry staffed with 24-hour security and a host of community amenities, including a helicopter pad.
Each estate includes an aquatic entertainment area and is highly customizable with the ability to add features, including putting greens, tennis/pickleball courts, or even a basketball court.
This high-end living concept unfolds across five open floor plans starting at 8,000- 15,000 Square Feet under AC and styling ranging from 1-3 levels, 6-8 bedrooms, and 8.5 baths with a selection of exterior/interior living spaces and pool size. The designer brilliantly created a seamless integration concept of bringing the outdoor, indoor.
THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The AKAI team has a diverse background and brings together some of the most experienced and forward-thinking minds in finance, real estate development, construction, and architecture. Dedicated to their lovely families, they recognize the importance of tranquility, space, and a safe living environment.
“We bring a lot of professionals together to make an incredible experience for the buyer, says Jairo Vela, project co-developer.
Developers Alex Yokana from Brazil, Jairo Vela from Colombia, Michael Sochaczevski from Canada, and designer Vasco Viera from Portugal have raised the bar on residential suburban living standards. Alex Yokana has a construction background and is the founder and qualifier for Contempus Construction Company. Jairo Vela is an architect and co-founder of Axis, a coworking space in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Micahel Sochaczevski is a Canadian developer and investor working on residential development projects in the U.S. and Canada since the late 1990s. Leading the sales team is Compass’ Bento Queiroz.
“Where we really differentiate ourselves is that we’re giving our buyers a curated experience where they can interact with the architect,” says Michael Sochaczevski, co-developer of AKAI Estates.
THE DESIGNER
Vasco Viera
Internationally acclaimed architect Vasco Vieira is the founder and head architect of Portugal-based firm Vasco Vieira Arquitectos. His work has ranged from individual villas to large eco-resorts, including hotels, restaurants, spas, and commercial buildings. With notable European projects, the firm has won awards for its previous work in individual villas, hotels, restaurants, spas, and commercial buildings, including Best European Development.
“My aim for the AKAI villas was to create a new and exciting architectural experience, establishing a constant interaction between the interior and exterior spaces, with each villa embracing the terrain,” says Vieira. “Not only do all the main living spaces flow flawlessly with the exterior spaces, but the creation of a series of atriums allows for constant contact with greenery and nature while experiencing the villa, he says.”
Some beautiful details and practical features in Akai Estates include 15-foot façade doors and 12-foot retractable glass panel doors that seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces.
OUTSTANDING LOCATION
Ideally located close to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Akai Estates has access to South Florida’s top-rated schools, fine dining, entertainment, and culture.
“We saw in southwest ranches an opportunity to build outstanding architectural design integration of indoor and outdoor living in a serene private environment for a fraction of the cost that could be found anywhere else. Come see our development. You will be impressed,” says co-developer Sochaczevski.
Location highlights include The Club at Weston Hills with 18-hole golf clubs by world-renowned Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Southwest Ranches Equestrian Park, Center for the Performing Arts, American Heritage School, as well as easy access to major airports and highways between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
RECENT BUYERS
AKAI Estates has received enormous interest and an uptick in activity from New York and Northeast markets. Southwest Ranches and the rest of South Florida have seen an influx of wealthy buyers seeking the South Florida lifestyle and tax breaks.
From Chicago, the owner of the nation’s most prominent natural products broker, Bill Weiland, purchased an Akai Estate for $15.4 million, a record for Broward County.
Prasad Hedge, from Connecticut, COO of Miami-based 777 Partners, and his wife Ruby bought an Akai two-acre lot for $8M.
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