Beach House
The Bahamas

This three bedroom house is located on a remote Caribbean island. Since being able to live outdoors year round is one of the main attractions of a tropical climate, the house is designed to accommodate an informal lifestyle.

Local building forms and available construction techniques and materials inform the design. The layout and the construction details of the house are typical of tropical architecture. The centrally located living room is a vented, 2-storey space which acts as a "chimney" and, along with cross ventilation, enhances air circulation. High ceilings and ceiling fans also help to keep the rooms comfortable without relying on air-conditioning.

The sun’s heat is reflected by the light colored metal roof which is cooled by allowing air to circulate directly beneath it. Large overhangs shade the exterior walls, and trellises are used to moderate sunlight. The dining room is a large, screened porch with a translucent roof. There is no fresh well water in the area, and the building's roof area is used to collect rainwater which is piped to cistern tanks.