ST. CROIX HOUSE

Prosperity Ridge, St. Croix,  U.S. Virgin Islands

The project is a proposed residence on the north shore St. Croix, a United States territorial island, east of Puerto Rico.  The property at almost an acre in size, sits on a mountainous ridge, 180 feet above the majestic Caribbean Sea surrounded by lush foliage offering unobstructed views below to the sea and out to the scenic unspoiled mountains of Hams Bluff. 
The compact house design takes advantage of the moderately steep site with multiple stories and terraces cascading down the hillside. The u-shape configuration of the house was designed not only to take advantage of the views but also to capture the constant trade winds for natural ventilation. The basic diagram of the house is comprised of three volumes. A long rectilinear stone-faced bar on the upside of hill, with a pedestrian bridge connection to road, contains circulation and service areas with two separate “pavilions” facing the sea, containing living and entertaining spaces.  The infinity pool was placed not only for the dramatic views and its adjacency to the home's living and entertaining spaces but to help evaporatively cool the home as the sea breezes blow over its surface. Traditionally inspired, the forms and massing of the home’s exterior are derived from West Indies architecture, typical of St. Croix and the Caribbean isles in general. The house construction will follow sustainable practices using durable materials such as regional stone, masonry, stucco, painted metal roofing and sustainably source tropical wood. Large roof overhangs provide needed shade and thick exterior masonry walls act as a thermal mass, reducing the wide temperature variations during the Caribbean day.  Flat roof portions of the home have been designed to accept the installation of solar panels for supplying electrical power and heated domestic water to the home. Rainwater also will be collected off the roofs and stored in a large underground cistern for domestic water use.