Cotton Bay Villa
3,200 square feet
Eleuthra, Bahamas to be completed 2009
The Invisible Villa is a prototype residence for Cotton Bay's future. The residence is nestled into the dune of the property, imperceptable from the road, save for the entry drive. Views and breezes are focused on the beach front portion of the property.
SITE:
- Two opposing openings are created from within the house
- a glazed inner courtyard sheltered from the oceanwinds
- fully glazed eastern walls frame the broad ocean horizon creating 180ยบ views up and down the beach--the reason for being here!
- This is a dichotomy of two distinct exterior areas; the ocean side area of openness, pool, beach and the breeze while the interior court defines a focused world; view of sky, water gurgling in a fountain, hardscaped ground
CLIMATE:
- A mild/hot climate dictates methods to reduce general heat as well as direct exposure to sunlight
- Reduce walls exposed to hurricane winds and driving rains
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:
- Reduced heat loads mounded sand
- Solar electrical and water heating panels to reduce energy requirements,
- Rain water collected and stored in cistern to reduce irrigation needs and provide exterior evaporative cooling
- Soil kept on site to aid in regrowth of native vegetation and to reduce the amount of truck hauling
PLAN REPLICATION:
- The courtyard/view diagram lends itself well to repetition with the view lots of the development. Sheltering segments of the building in soil can make sense on other sites hillside sites, or on flat sites where sands can be mounded and planted on southern walls
CONSTRUCTION:
- Walls and floors of concrete, timber or concrete roof construction
- public area covered by a bahamian roof evolution that provides the rain shedding/sheltering qualities of its original design
- The house is easily closed during vacancy--window walls are covered with full height rolling shutter systems
