Set into the rocky hillside of the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts, the Viewfinder Villa is a retreat for family life and shared gatherings. From its perch, horizons encircle the site: the Atlantic to the east, the Caribbean to the west, Mount Liamuiga to the north, and Nevis to the south. The design responds by breaking the program into discrete volumes that turn to specific views, settling into the mountain, so the architecture feels an extension of the mountain, looking out to the various vistas beyond.
A main house crowns a partially bermed guest wing, and a caretaker’s cottage tucks below the arrival court. The pool terrace projects toward the sea, and a sequence of outdoor rooms steps down the slope to extend daily life into the landscape. Materials are drawn from the island wherever possible. Cast in place concrete and volcanic stone harvested during excavation give weight and durability, while indigenous plantings restore the site and anchor the villa in its ecology.
Passive strategies set the framework for comfort and resilience. Buildings are aligned to capture prevailing cross breezes. Overhangs and courtyards shape shade and light. Open living spaces flow along terraces that frame dawn and sunset and allow the villa to breathe with the climate. Polished concrete with local aggregate and boulders from the site carries the landscape inside. The arrival and interior circulation compress and release, withholding views before opening to long horizons.
The result is sculptural yet modest. It is a place for celebration and for quiet reflection, organized by wind, sun, and stone. By embedding the program into the hillside and using materials of the place, the villa strengthens its bond to the island and offers a lasting model for living delicately with an authentic sense of place, within a dramatic setting.
Team:
Firm: Architecture in Formation
Principal: Matthew Bremer AIA - Lead design
Paulo Flores, Project Architect
Brittany Dingeldein, Sinan Ilkdemerci, Guillermo Arsuaga: Design Team
BOA Architects and Engineers
Local Architect, Structural Engineering
Morozov, PE: MEP Engineering
Lighting Design: The SEED
General Contractor: Razo Construction
Project Manager: David McMahon
Photography credits: Eric Petschek
Drawings: AiF Courtesy
Materials Used:
Custom Millwork: Piece Management
Custom Upholstery and Drapery: StitchNYC
Windows and Doors: Duratherm
HVAC: Daiken Latin America
Entry Door: Tropical Glazing Solutions
Pool Furniture: Ledge Loungers
Cooktop: Pitt
