Dream House | Architectural treasure hidden along Martha Brae River

Our dream house exploration today seeks to unravel the undisclosed location of this architectural treasure, in supposed uncharted territory in Trelawny. We traverse deep into the jungle-like, tropical woodland thriving with wildlife, eventually chancing upon a mainly untravelled parochial road, leading us to this home in the wilderness, right on the snaking, Martha Brae River, outside of Falmouth.

The property, not perceivable to most eyes, is on a crest of a ravine in the mountains, surrounded by heart-stopping vistas of the exhilarative, placid, rafting water way, shadowed by dense growth and, the absorbing peaks and steep valleys of the Cockpit Country.

Martha Brae, as the fable goes, was the name of a Taino woman with supernatural powers, who was tormented beyond measure by the Spanish and forced to disclose the whereabouts of gold concealed in a cave. She drowned her captors by changing the directional flow of the river; and to this day, the treasure trove is yet to be found!

Rivers of the world have impacted, and made great, many civilisations of the past, with this one influencing the design of the house, and the manner of living of those within. Its owner, a former CEO of a leading Caribbean hotel chain, enjoys golf, football, squash and running. It was his childhood friend, architect Gary Marr, who was tasked to design and maximise views, while creating interiors of openness, bathed in heavenly light.

The walls of the breezy river house, built in 2001, encase 6,500 square feet of six slumberous bedrooms, six bathrooms; a raised foyer; separate sky-lit living and entertainment rooms; a formal dining room, and kitchen, with its pantry.A balcony, porch, and patio, lures one to indulge in the outdoor visual offerings. A two-car automated door garage (with a gym) follows.

Physical attributes include porcelain floor tiles, kitchen and bathroom granite counters, soaking tub, dual (his and her) showers and basins, koi fish tank indoors, and a predominant fibreglass shingle roof and full solarisation.

The deep blue, part infinity-edge swimming pool, contrasts and harmonises with the turquoise riverscape in its one-and-a-quarter acre, manicured garden setting.

For the believers, we might never find the hidden gold on the river. For others, we are well rewarded with this valuable jewel of a residential find.

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