The Green Flash House
Cliënt:
Private
Program:
Residential
Location:
Troy Hill, Saba
Year:
2006
Status:
Completed
Nestled atop Saba’s Troy Hill, the Green Flash House reimagines island living by blending local heritage with Mediterranean flair.
Designed in 1997 and built in phases, it is one of the island’s largest villas, with over 1000 m² of living space.
Context
Saba’s steep terrain and pristine landscape posed both a challenge and opportunity for this project. Located on one of the island’s highest points, Troy Hill, the villa was designed to make the most of its panoramic views while adapting to the limited flat land.
With our design we wanted to create a little village with different buildings around a square. This layout reflected the unique charm of the island.
Mediterranean meets Saban
The client made the first sketches. She wanted to see the view, wherever she walked. She also insisted on the architecture being a fusion of Saban and Mediterranean styles. We made a synergetic design, where the two styles made each other better.
People can easily see the Mediterranean influences – but the villa is designed according to a classic Saban layout. We analyzed historic cottages on the island before designing the floor plan. Each room follows the classic 6×4 m size found in these cottages.
Working out the details
Mediterranean and local influences are also visible with the facade, where we used a sustainable mix of Saban sand and white cement. The wood that we chose has a Mediterranean look and feel. We tested different types of wood by placing them in the forests in advance to see what would be eaten by the local insects.
Arch doors, inspired by the client’s time in Italy, marked our first use of organic shapes—later seen in projects like the Campus of Saba. We researched how this works and how to make it fit into the Saban architecture.
When working with projects of this size it is important that all the detailed elements fit together. There are four different staircases. By choosing consistent materials and repeated the arch throughout, we added unity to the large villa.
Sustainability
One of the client’s wishes was the 20-meter-long swimming pool. The pool is supplied by three rainwater-collecting cisterns, used for household purposes and drinking water—a common practice on Saba.
Built to endure the island’s conditions, the villa withstood hurricanes like Irma with only minimal damage, thanks to good design. The client reported that only a few roof tiles were blown off during hurricane Irma, a testament to the solid foundation and resilient construction.
Construction challenges
All aspects of the villa, from the excavation to the final touches, were executed by hand. Even when the equipment broke down, the team continued the work manually. It was clear they took pride in contributing to a project never before seen on the island.
Due to the involvement of the client, the design was also executed as we had envisioned. Together we had fully worked out all the details. Even down to the sizes of the screws. This way the constructor could build everything exactly as it was designed. And as a result, the house is still in very good condition, even all these years later.
Completing the project
The project spanned several phases, starting with the guesthouse in 1997. The main house followed in 2000 and was completed over five years.
Team:
Lyongo Juliana
Pieter Hoogendoorn
Interior:
By the client
Contractor:
Robbie Hassel
Gallery
Nestled atop Saba’s Troy Hill, the Green Flash House reimagines island living by blending local heritage with Mediterranean flair.
Designed in 1997 and built in phases, it is one of the island’s largest villas, with over 1000 m² of living space.
Context
Saba’s steep terrain and pristine landscape posed both a challenge and opportunity for this project. Located on one of the island’s highest points, Troy Hill, the villa was designed to make the most of its panoramic views while adapting to the limited flat land.
With our design we wanted to create a little village with different buildings around a square. This layout reflected the unique charm of the island.
Mediterranean meets Saban
The client made the first sketches. She wanted to see the view, wherever she walked. She also insisted on the architecture being a fusion of Saban and Mediterranean styles. We made a synergetic design, where the two styles made each other better.
People can easily see the Mediterranean influences – but the villa is designed according to a classic Saban layout. We analyzed historic cottages on the island before designing the floor plan. Each room follows the classic 6×4 m size found in these cottages.
Working out the details
Mediterranean and local influences are also visible with the facade, where we used a sustainable mix of Saban sand and white cement. The wood that we chose has a Mediterranean look and feel. We tested different types of wood by placing them in the forests in advance to see what would be eaten by the local insects.
Arch doors, inspired by the client’s time in Italy, marked our first use of organic shapes—later seen in projects like the Campus of Saba. We researched how this works and how to make it fit into the Saban architecture.
When working with projects of this size it is important that all the detailed elements fit together. There are four different staircases. By choosing consistent materials and repeated the arch throughout, we added unity to the large villa.
Sustainability
One of the client’s wishes was the 20-meter-long swimming pool. The pool is supplied by three rainwater-collecting cisterns, used for household purposes and drinking water—a common practice on Saba.
Built to endure the island’s conditions, the villa withstood hurricanes like Irma with only minimal damage, thanks to good design. The client reported that only a few roof tiles were blown off during hurricane Irma, a testament to the solid foundation and resilient construction.
Construction challenges
All aspects of the villa, from the excavation to the final touches, were executed by hand. Even when the equipment broke down, the team continued the work manually. It was clear they took pride in contributing to a project never before seen on the island.
Due to the involvement of the client, the design was also executed as we had envisioned. Together we had fully worked out all the details. Even down to the sizes of the screws. This way the constructor could build everything exactly as it was designed. And as a result, the house is still in very good condition, even all these years later.
Completing the project
The project spanned several phases, starting with the guesthouse in 1997. The main house followed in 2000 and was completed over five years.
Gallery
Team:
Lyongo Juliana
Pieter Hoogendoorn
Interior:
By the client
Contractor:
Robbie Hassel
