At the heart of every successful development is the ability to turn vision into reality through exceptional architecture and design. As Design Director, Jon Hunt plays a central role in bringing Tim’s vision for Tarafo Bay to life, backed by more than two decades of experience in international resort masterplanning.
Jon is leading the creation of a world-class destination where design, lifestyle, and commercial success come together. His expertise ensures every aspect of the resort is thoughtfully designed and positioned to maximise experience, value, and long-term legacy.
Expertise in golf architecture
Jon has built an outstanding reputation within the global leisure and hospitality sector, specialising in the design and development of world-class golf resorts. Over the past twenty years, he has worked on landmark projects across four continents, including the Al Dhannah Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, achieving numerous accolades and helping shape destinations that combine commercial success with memorable guest experiences.
His career has involved every stage of resort development, from early feasibility studies and funding rounds through to concept creation, detailed design, construction, and long-term operations. This depth of experience makes Jon uniquely placed to help guide the future of Tarafo Bay from vision to reality.
Having worked internationally for much of his career, Jon also brings a deep understanding of regional markets, cultural expectations, and the importance of designing resorts that feel authentic to their location.
Jon (right) pictured on the site of Tarafo Bay with Rob Davies, Development Director (left), Tim Strawson, Founder (middle).
The Golf Vision for Tarafo Bay
Jon is also Managing Director of International Design Group, where he leads the planning and delivery of golf resort developments worldwide. His extensive international experience now brings valuable insight, creativity, and confidence to the Tarafo Bay team.
“Great resort design is about much more than aesthetics” comments Jon. It’s about creating a destination with purpose, character, and a long-term vision for success.”
Tarafo Bay’s first of four championship 18-hole par-72 golf courses is being thoughtfully designed to sit seamlessly within the unique Boa Vista landscape. The course embraces the natural terrain, weaving through sand dunes and volcanic rock formations, while integrating sustainable design principles such as edible landscaping, indigenous planting, and the reuse of organic waste from the resort to enrich the environment and maintain ecological balance.
“Our ambition at Tarafo Bay is to create a course that feels like it has always belonged here. By working with the natural landforms of Boa Vista and using regenerative design principles, we’re not just building a championship golf course; we’re shaping an experience that respects and enhances its environment” Jon expresses.
Beyond the golf; resort masterplanning
Beyond the golf, Jon is responsible for shaping the wider masterplanning vision at Tarafo Bay, ensuring that every element of the resort works in harmony with its natural surroundings. His approach goes far beyond traditional golf and resort design, focusing instead on creating fully integrated environments where landscape, architecture, and lifestyle are seamlessly connected.
For Jon, masterplanning is about understanding how people will live within a place, not just how it looks from above. Every residence is carefully positioned to sit naturally within its environment, with native planting, trees, and local ecosystems woven into gardens and shared outdoor spaces. This creates environments that reflect Boa Vista’s unique biodiversity and Tarafo Bay’s vision for sustainability, while ensuring the built form never overwhelms the landscape.
His design philosophy prioritises continuity between nature and architecture, with each element of the masterplan considered as part of a wider ecosystem. From residential layouts and movement corridors to open space strategy and long-term landscape structure, Jon ensures that every decision contributes to a cohesive and immersive experience.
“For me, masterplanning is about restraint as much as creativity. The best developments don’t impose themselves on a place, they grow out of it” says Jon. “At Tarafo Bay, my focus is on making sure every home and space feels like it belongs in the landscape, not separate from it.”
Designing a Legacy for Boa Vista
“Every project has its own story, and the best developments are the ones that respect that story while creating something exciting for the future” Jon concludes. “My focus has always been simple: combine smart planning, great design, and commercial thinking to create destinations people want to return to again and again.”
