St John Cottage

St. John Cottage
East End
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Square Footage: 765 square feet

Project Description:

This off-grid, self sustaining cottage is located at the eastern end of St. John in the Virgin Islands on a dramatic site 80 feet above the Caribbean Sea. The small home has two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchen and a living room.

The building generates all of it’s electricity from solar panels, and captures rainwater from the roof to be stored in cisterns and used for domestic water supply.

The building angles forward of the cliff in a dynamic gesture meant to accentuate and reinforce the drama of its precarious site; while also reflecting a modern interpretation of traditional island architecture with its louvered facade recalling the shuttered openings that protect traditional structures on the islands from harsh sunlight.

The home’s tall ceilings stratify the air, and the cross ventilating windows take advantage of the prevailing easterly trade winds to allow for natural cooling most of the year.

The expansive exterior decking is constructed of cumaru, a Brazilian hardwood that can withstand the harsh setting.

The house is constructed from Quad-Lock (www.quadlock.com) insulated concrete forms on the basement walls and cistern and Dynabilt (www.dynabilt.com) insulated steel wall panels and galvanized roof trusses on the main floor. The angled porch columns and the deck support are constructed of structural steel.

On September 6, 2017 the house went through the eyewall of Category 5 Hurricane Irma, remaining intact while sustaining some repairable damage; speaking to the resiliency of the building system.