Dream House | A model sanctuary – Daniel Eugster’s storied seaside retreat

The story begins with Liz Benn, who built this, her dream house, in 1986.

Canadian-born, with a very financially challenged childhood, she would, at 14 years old, turn down the starring role in a major MGM motion picture, which eventually went to Elizabeth Taylor. Liz Benn would, however, become one of the globe’s most famous fashion models, dominating runways of Givenchy, etc, and the covers of the world’s leading style magazines of the day, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

Liz, at 19 years old, arrived in Jamaica on a fashion shoot for the legendary Ford modelling agency. She immediately met and married, within two weeks, Jamaican John Pringle, a one-time equerry to HRH, the Duke of Windsor, of the Bahamas, and ADC to Sir John Adams Hunter, governor of British Honduras (renamed Belize).

Together, they built and managed the exclusive Round Hill hotel on the island. Later, Pringle became ambassador-at-large and director and chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board. They divorced in the early 1970s.

Swiss-born, Daniel Eugster, the house’s exultant present owner, has long been chairman of Swiss Stores. For generations, it was the esteemed watch and jewellery store in all of Jamaica. Daniel fell in love with this place in Port Antonio, Portland, on a visit and, inadvertently, ended up purchasing it from its second owner, a Swiss travel agent, some ten years ago.

The one-and-a-half-acre elevated site jutting out into the sea towards the reef and bounded by water on three sides leaves you enraptured by its two sandy bathing beaches, bordering lush tropical vegetation. Integrated into the landscape is also a self-contained two-bedroom cottage. A private pier welcomes boats and sunbathing.

The timeless, eco-friendly architecture of 3,229 square feet of simple, natural beauty is constructed completely out of pine wood in the traditional style. Symmetry in design, rules with ‘cooler box’ windows.

It is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom abode, providing a casually elegant lifestyle, with breezy, elongated verandahs at the front and rear. The latter opens to a saltwater infinity swimming pool, seemingly kissing the deep blue sea. Interiors reveal white–painted walls, Ralph Lauren furniture, Jamaican artwork, and cement and wood floors coloured uncustomarily in yellow.

A house of international acclaim, it has been prominently featured in the renowned House Beautiful magazine and France’s main newspaper, among several other publications, with a who’s who list of celebrity overseas visitors to the property.

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barryrattray1@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.