Villa Hideout

We’re designing a villa near the top of the mountains on Saba, perched on a steep plot more than 500 meters above sea level. From here, our client will enjoy breathtaking views over the village of Windwardside.

But this location posed an exciting challenge: the building must be securely anchored into the mountain to withstand the terrain and elements.

Rhythms of the island

Analyzing the historic houses on Saba, we noticed they tend to be composed of relatively small volumes, and for bigger houses they repeat the smaller volume. We have embraced this concept to stay in sync with the island’s architectural character.

Height differences

The villa is divided into three volumes, each housing different functions. Part of the house is elevated on stilts because the client wanted most of the living space on the upper floor.

To be able to have the swimming pool on the same level as the main floor, we cleverly located the cistern beneath it, bridging the height difference seamlessly.

By staggering the volumes, we create a strong interaction with nature. The columns supporting the upper floors will blend into the garden, becoming part of the landscape rather than just the structure. To enhance stability, we added a cross brace inside the cistern, making the home more resilient to hurricanes and earthquakes. Under severe weather, this home will serve as a safe haven. Like all our designs on the Windward Islands over the past 25 years, it will be hurricane resistant.

Connecting with nature

Materials play a vital role in connecting the house to its natural surroundings. We will use local stone harvested on site and incorporate various wooden finishes.

The connection with nature in Saba is not a choice but a necessity. Since there is no running water, we will collect all the rainwater, this will be reused for everything except for drinking.

Heat is always an issue when living in the Caribbean. A lot of houses aren’t well designed for this tropical climate. To mitigate the heat inside, the house itself will have an insulated roof. This is rarely done on the island but it is necessary to make the home cooler and a nicer place to stay. Strategically placed pergolas provide shaded outdoor spaces where the clients can relax comfortably.

This design is the result of the detailed requirements of the client, the historic architecture of Saba, the tropical climate and our vision for comfortable, contemporary Caribbean living. The construction of this project started in August 2023.