Dream House | A playful, geometric gem by the sea

Let your imagination run wild, as we go in search of a house not held captive by the constraints of convention, but liberated to push the boundaries of what’s architecturally possible.

What manner of house is this? We found it hiding on the road less travelled, between the seacoast and the Great Pedro Pond, with the Santa Cruz mountains in the background.

The curious, one-of-a-kind home provokes visual intrigue with bold, bright-coloured orange and yellow, geometric symbols of squares and circles, that define its playful, perforated-walled exterior. The composition of the geometrical shapes and colours elicits various positive emotions from those who lay eyes on the property.

The departure from the expected continues, unabated, awakening all your senses and drawing you into the unknown from the moment you set foot through the timber trellised entry, onto the open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area (with breakfast bar), opening delightfully to the poolside terrace. A spiral stairway elevates you to some of the six bedrooms, all with en suite amenities, while a trellised balcony happily makes itself available to all rooms on this upper level via a separate doorway. Another private trellised deck is on the lower level.

Interior finishes complement the desired look with off-white walls; floors in coloured, polished concrete; kitchen counters also from concrete; while bathroom showers are part glass panels with high-pressure rainwater shower heads. The décor is simple, yet tastefully curated, and the hands of local artisans extraordinaire were engaged.

Still, another staircase ascends to the private rooftop wet bar, with a further wood stair climbing to the sky lounge directly above. The viewscape from here might leave you at a loss for words! Outdoor garden hammocks are shrewdly positioned throughout the quarter-of-an-acre lot. A barbecue grill stands ready.

Surprisingly, the building was constructed in two phases: the lower floor in 2015, while the upper floor was added three years ago. The address is Old Wharf district, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth.

The homeowners are both retired. The husband left Jamaica at 10 years old, studied architecture, and worked in design and construction management, while his American-born wife became a senior project engineer. The home’s casual and warm character mirrors both his laid-back nature, not easily frazzled, and that of her warm and outgoing, people-person persona.

We will continue our dream house voyage to the outer limits of your imagination. Buckle up, my friends.

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