Dream House | West End property is geological spectacle

In the never-ending pursuit of dream house anomalies, we unearthed a living environment fearlessly sited where the brave may be a bit apprehensive to visit! But, please, have no such uneasiness here.

A house perched high on the very edge of a limestone bluff, directly on top of two sea caves! A geological spectacle of pure wonder and intrigue, with subterranean chambers above and below the sea. Those with the indomitable spirit among us feel free to jump into a cavern below the earth’s surface, through a blowhole above ground (emitting jets of seawater into the air), and swim eventually out to crystal, turquoise sea. A natural seawater pool deep inside the cave allows one to swim safely at their own leisure.

An uncontrollable, adventurous urge motivates us to enter the pine wood framed and walled building, created with cedar shingle roofs, timber floors, cedar louvre windows and bolstered by the presence of an upper level balcony and a covered porch at ground level, both staring over the coastal cliff.

Steps carved delicately into the rock face, lead below to the relaxation grottos. An above-ground swimming pool also at the precipice side with a cut-stone lounge/tanning surround deck, visually appeals with its sinuous outline.

The countrified two-floor space of approximately 2,000-square-feet encloses two bedrooms, each overcoming you with drowsiness, accompanied by one-and-a-half bathrooms. A snug living, dining and kitchen facility transports you into a surreal place, with the ever-constant breath of cool sea air blowing through the house, along with the reverberating sounds of waves crashing on the rocks.

The colours of the natural environment are quite supportive of the building’s manufactured turquoise and white painted exterior, with the interiors of white, emphasised by green and blue.

Jake Preble, who lives on property, a seasoned entrepreneur and maverick, was born in Negril and went to high school in Florida, USA, studying marine biology in college. It was his father from Massachusetts, United States, enamoured by the West End, who built this as his first home 40-plus years ago. He had purchased the vacant land of three-acres on the Lighthouse Road, Negril, from wealthy John Behmiller (whom I have previously written about), born in 1903, who alarmingly collected ‘shrunken heads’ from Africa, (human heads severed from the body and boiled to size).

A highly unusual house, in a most unexpected setting. Seeing is believing!

Barry Rattray is a dream house designer and builder. Email feedback to barryrattray1@hotmail.com and lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.