Dream House | Exploring the unexplored

THE CONSUMMATE architectural adventure awaits those of us who are willing to experience the adrenaline rush that this unconventional house is known to provoke.

For make no mistake, this is not a journey for those who fear curiousity, that need to know which drives human behaviour … but rather, a voyage by the brave to their deepest desires, allowing them to explore the unexplored.

Most of us are unaware of the existence of such a house (that is until now), due to its jungle-like, inconspicuous position at the daring edge of a scarily steep hillside – encompassing the optimal views of Turtle Crawl Bay and the Blue Mountains in close proximity.

Over 50 years ago, an architect/engineer was part of the subdivision development of the San San area in Portland. He designed and built his family house on Fern Hill Road in Williamsfield, Port Antonio, for himself and his better half, and lived in it for some years. The present owner is a businesswoman from Kingston.

But why is the house so out of the ordinary? To begin with, where it is impossibly perched has sections on a 135-degree curve, generating a fair degree of enthusiasm.

The building blueprint is that of a two-bedroom house, with each king-size bedroom being a suite by itself (the master and the junior), having their own bathroom, living/dining area, mini kitchen, private terraces and balconies.

Let me not forget to mention the bidet in the master bathroom, rarely seen in dream homes here and in America, but yet popular in many parts of the world. Invented centuries ago in France, it is a receptacle for providing optimum hygienic conditions to intimate parts of the human anatomy.

The construction finishes encompass cement tiles on the floor, covered by colourful area rugs.

Tall, glass jalousie windows admit much-welcomed sunlight and commanding visuals without obstruction.

The ceilings are a series of distinguishing barrel-shaped, imposing, concrete formations in some areas, and timber in others.

White is the preferred colour on the outside; and, by now, you may have noticed that some of our weekly featured homes are in white.

Le Corbusier, one of the most famous architects the world has ever known, once remarked, “By law, all buildings should be in white”.

Richard Meier, credited as one of the most visionary architects of his time, said, “I think white is the most wonderful colour of all.”

The outdoors, totalling two mostly precipitous acres, rewards us with green lawns, tropical plants and fruit trees.

The jungle bar - built of wood and stone - is a great place to disentangle from the problems of the world and relax.

Beside the bar, trees enclose the whirlpool spa, with its innovative hydro-audio magnetic frequency therapy. It has been proven to heal.

Now that we have toured the house and tested the limits of its charismatic presentation, we confront feelings of gratitude for what the experience has given us.

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email: barry-rattray@hotmail.com, or outlook@gleanerjm.com