Located on the steep hillsides of St. John, this is a multi-level residence that navigates the challenging terrain through a series of exterior staircases connecting dispersed volumes across the site. Comprising a main house and a standalone cottage, the project offers private, independent living spaces, each with its own entrance and terrace, while a central outdoor terrace unifies the two structures. The design prioritizes privacy and views, with the master suite accessible by a dedicated staircase.
Location St. John, United States Virgin Islands
Typology: Residential new build
Services: Architectural construction drawings, permit obtaining
Built area: approx 3015 sq.ft./280 sq.m.
Status: Building permit
Structural engineering: Paul Ferreras, Walt Basnight
Estimated construction budget: 1M USD
Due to the very sloped terrain, the house is stacked and dispersed around the site. It’s made up of 2 units: the main house and a smaller cottage.
The parking area is on the uppermost floor, connected by a series of staircases to the main terrace that connects the 2 houses.
The main house is comprised of 2 bedrooms, a living room with a kitchen, laundry room (located on the main floor), a master suite (located on the upper floor), and technical spaces (located in the basement).
All access is done via exterior staircases.
The cottage is a self-standing single bedroom unit, with a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and storage. It also has its own terrace. Entrances for the 2 units are separate.
The master suite is completely private, with separate access from the main house via a private staircase.
