The house is designed to take advantage of the stunning views of its location. Placed on a steep site, the building is a 2 story unit, with an entrance on the first floor. The main 2 bedrooms are placed on the first floor, each with an individual balcony, and the kitchen, family room, as well as a third bedroom, are located on the ground floor.
The entire design is on steps, with each floor offset from the previous. A low-angled roof is used to make it almost invisible from the outside while allowing for the installation of solar panels and water capture systems.
Location St. John, United States Virgin Islands
Typology: Residential new build
Services: Architectural construction drawings, permit obtaining
Built area: approx 5000 sq.ft./460 sq.m.
Status: Finalized
Structural engineering: Paul Ferreras, Walt Basnight
Code compliance: Rose Elswick Maunder
General contractor: Brent Squires
Client: On The Rocks St. John
Estimated construction budget: 3M USD
The entrance is located on the upper floor of the house. The entrance is connected to the covered parking terrace, which leads down to the house entrance. This opens up to the double-height space over the living area, as well as the corridor that leads to the bedroom and the master suite. Windows are generously used, ensuring light and a strong connection to the beautiful natural landscape outside. Similarly, the bedrooms also have large open terraces.
The lower floor houses the living area, the third bedroom, and the technical spaces of the house. Beyond, embedded in the hillside we also have the water cisterns. The inside leads to the outer pool terrace that overlooks the ocean. A final set of stairs leads to the site below.
Underneath the parking sits an additional apartment unit, made of 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
