Dream House | Ocho Rios villa a labour of love, harmony

With the earth heating up due to alarming atmospheric conditions, the United Nations declared recently that our plight was “out of control”, and that “we are moving into a catastrophic situation”. Even physicist and climatologist Friederike Otto, among Time magazine’s most respected persons in the world, has warned that “it’s a death sentence for people and ecosystems!”.

Today’s obscured property, which is almost impossible to find, is the portrayal of a languid living environment, cooled by emerald green waters lapping gently against it. Temperatures here are appreciably less intense than inland, which is a natural advantage for its occupiers.

The Ocho Rios coastal villa rises dauntlessly 30 feet skywards from the seafront, steeply up a cliff face, with its structure anchored to the rocky contours of the site. The woodland of tall trees enveloping the building produces enormous shade while affording some amount of desired camouflage.

Construction was a labour of love, with more than its fair share of challenges and opportunities for the owners. Completed four years ago, its architecture has brought forth electrifying curves, arcs, arches, and semi-circles that has fashioned window and door openings, beams above, staircase, and walls.

One of the most unenvisaged aspects of this design is the single bedchamber, yes, the one and only bedroom in all of the three-storey arrangement! It is located on the very top level, floored in hardwood, with a curved wall bathroom vaunting a rain shower and soaking tub. This level also welcomes the front-door entrance at the top of the cliff.

The other floors contain a seating area, corresponding bathroom, living and dining room, with a granite infused kitchen, securing its own dining counter.

The bamboo-furnished balcony on the lowest level intrigues with its adventurous curving staircase and custom bar serving up the spirits.

The insane picturesque scenery of sea and greenery from every section of the artsy – crafty colourful interior has been thoughtfully calculated to bring the outdoors in. The sounds of constant wave action allows for a meditative experience.

Steps lead further down to the private pier/tanning deck and the exciting waterfall soaking pool. A private beach awaits your plunge.

We would love to escape from the sweltering heat to this refreshing environment.

The truth is: we need to make our own houses climate proof, adaptable to the planet’s changing weather patterns.

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barry-rattray@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.