The Modern Gable Villa
Published newsletter written for Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd.
Text written by Devonne Coll, with final edits by Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd.
All photos and text are copyright of Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd.
At GSA we are well known for our private residential projects throughout the Caribbean and beyond, each of which has its own story, concept, design and process. This month we will focus on one of our newly completed residences in Barbados. A unique and innovative property, it is unlike any other house you will find on the island. Taking the traditional Barbadian chattel house architecture and reinventing it in a contemporary manner, this project speaks to this Caribbean vernacular in a completely new way.
Our clients are an English family, who were looking to create their new ‘home away from home’ on the island. The family have been regular visitors to Barbados and the Caribbean for over 25 years, and having always previously stayed in hotels, they felt now was the time to invest in their own piece of the rock. The clients are keen entertainers, and so the residence will not only provide a family home, but will also create a place for family and friends to visit and to enjoy the island.
“Our biggest achievement on this project was the Client agreeing with us on potential of the lot and the complete trust in our design team to create something very special for their family.” Jeremy Gunn, Lead Designer for GSA
Located on the West coast of the island, the plot is set just inland from the beach. Nestled between a main road to the West and existing villas to the East, North and South, the sloping plot is approximately 72,000 sq ft in size. GSA were originally approached by our client to review the existing site, and assess the potential for a new build residence. After we produced a compelling feasibility study, the client purchased the lot, and the design ensued.
The key challenges of this site, were the proximity to the main road and the sloping topography. These conditions played a key role in forming the overall layout and configuration of the house:
The main house is formed of two wings, to the west and the south. The western wing runs parallel to the main road, acting as a buffer, resisting noise into the overall property and creating privacy.
This is further enhanced by mature landscaping along the western boundary which was maintained, as were most existing trees on the site.
The pool deck sits in the centre of these two wings, which create a guarded structure of privacy.
The western and southern wings are not overly wide, to allow light and air into the spaces, whilst emphasising the connection to outside.
The site slopes downwards East to West, and we have used this terrain to our advantage. Key areas such as the Great Room and main bedrooms have been kept at levels in line with the higher points of the land where the site is entered, whilst service based areas are housed underneath at the lower land levels. This cleverly conceals the overall scale of the house as the lower areas are hidden from view on the main approach.
This approach to the layout of the house was adopted and maintained from the feasibility study. This is a key example that as designers, trusting our initial reaction to a site and project can be one of the most important factors in the design process.
Throughout working with our client and the evolution of the design, the final house became much larger than the original design, growing from approximately 6,000 sqft to just over 10,000 sq ft. The client’s spatial requirements included:
Large open plan living wing to the South, including a great room, kitchen and media room and adjoining yoga terrace.
Bedroom wing to the West, with 5 bedrooms.
Pool pavilion to the East.
Central pool deck and courtyard with adjacent garden and transition spaces – both the living and bedroom wings and pool pavilion all open onto the pool deck.
2 bedroom annex to the South.
Service areas including the laundry, gym and staff quarters.
One of the key design concepts influencing the villa’s form, was the typical Chattel house design, so intrinsic to Barbados. We reinterpreted this shape in a modern way, using 45-degree angled gable roofs for the two main wings of the house, accentuating the forms to create clean lines and internal spaces with high ceilings. It was necessary for us to meet the rules of the Design Review Board of the estate, which we achieved through speaking to this Caribbean vernacular, whilst also utilising all necessary finishes in a contemporary format, such as roof shingles and a simple material palette.
“The standout features of the project are the finished form and layout of the building being very close to our initial preliminary concepts and the client continually pushing us to refine key details such as the bespoke metal handrails and main entry stairwell details.” Jeremy Gunn
The design successfully creates a modern, Caribbean family home with its own unique character. Being a key design feature, the gable form has been emphasised throughout. The high, sloped ceilings give a monumental feel to the internal spaces, most noticeably felt in the open plan living wing. Tall, linear doors and windows accentuate the heights, and feature windows follow the shape of the roof. Cementitious floor materials and a light grey colour palette have been used throughout, providing contrast to the white walls.
We worked extensively with local specialist sub contractors for many feature items on this project. This included the metal roof trusses, flooring, internal doors, external aluminium extrusions for screening and feature stairwell. Working closely alongside these specialists ensured we were able to achieve the intended design for these bespoke items. Our close relationship with the client also led to the success of this project. The client was very involved throughout, often sourcing inspirational imagery from other projects which we were then able to translate into our design.
“I think the standout feature architecturally is the form - the contemporary take on a classic pitch roof; the amazing high ceilings, great amount of natural light throughout and the indoor-outdoor connection. From an interiors point of view, the spaces all still have a human scale and feel very relaxed and welcoming in a very clean and contemporary shell. I also think the lighting throughout is a great feature, as well as the use of iconic fixtures and furniture pieces.” Lisa Deane, Lead Interior Designer for GSA
The interior design of the house celebrates a clean and contemporary look, complementing the architectural design. A simple colour palette was used of whites and greys with light oak elements, providing warm tones which create a soft and homely feel throughout. The major furniture pieces were chosen by the client, once again highlighting their continual directional changes in the process, which GSA rationalised into the overall interior design. The contrast between structure and comfort was an idea explored with the chosen furniture.
Statement and oversized lighting was also a key concept, creating drama and interest. Artwork was particularly important, as the client purchased art from local artists early on in the project, and spaces were designed specifically around these. The client was very willing to experiment, which made the design process all the more exciting and enjoyable for us!
The landscaping was another key consideration throughout the design process. Working with Landscape Architect Kevin Talma, feature planting was also incorporated around the pool and transition areas. Pockets of private areas were created, and feature planters included within the courtyard were welcomed additions to the space.
The villa is the perfect example of where subtle detailing can make a huge difference. To maintain the clean lines and contemporary feel of the roof, a hidden rainwater gutter detail was used throughout. This allowed the gutter to be set within the roof structure. Cantilevered overhang elements were also utilised, above the lower level spaces such as the gym, guest bedroom and service areas. These are not only a practical element, providing shelter and shade from the elements, but are a nod towards the roof overhang design of the chattel house.
“The most challenging aspect was construction during Covid which included both site and island wide shutdowns, import delays, a volcanic eruption as well as a hurricane. The extensive consultant team worked closely with the general contractors to mitigate these challenges on a continual basis.” Jeremy Gunn
“A challenging aspect was definitely timelines and sourcing with all the issues in shipping/supply chain etc. That being said, we did well with the procurement and shipping team to have many of the items here on island for client move in.” Lisa Deane
The project began on site in October 2020 and was completed in February 2022. Despite construction taking place during the Covid-19 pandemic, we were extremely lucky to not be too affected by the challenges the construction industry has been facing regarding procurement, timelines and costing. This residence has been a fantastic opportunity for GSA to adapt our traditional Caribbean design knowledge into a contemporary format. We have created a unique family home that we hope the client continues to enjoy for many years to come.