Located on the Turks and Caicos Islands, this three-bedroom family retreat by Studio Rick Joy is surrounded by rich native vegetation and the daily winds of Chalk Sound National Park. Perched on a site comprising 21,000 square feet of porous iron shore rock with views over white sand and bright turquoise water, the home is constructed with exposed cast-in-place white concrete walls and warm-coloured mahogany hardwood doors, windows, and ceilings.
Elevated on a platform that is on the same horizontal plane throughout, the program of the house is separated into two distinct volumes: an elongated bar to the west which houses private areas, and a standalone Pavilion which is open to the water and views.
Rather than relying on mechanical systems such as air conditioning, the main pavilion is an open-air living/dining/kitchen concept that employs a cross-ventilation strategy. The asymmetrical single hip roof above the living space includes an operable triangular window at the leeward tip that draws air through to maximize the efficiency of cross-ventilation.
In terms of further measures to minimize the impact on the environment, the white concrete walls are made of locally sourced sand and aggregate, thus reducing the number of imported materials. The mass of the concrete walls keeps the interior spaces cool during hot and human days, while also serving as a shield from hurricanes.
Water is harvested and stored underneath the main terrace and solar panels are placed below the parapet on the flat roof.
