Dream House | Luxury meets resilience in Westmoreland modular marvel

The United Nations (UN) has confronted a planet in crisis with the stark, ominous message: “Earth is getting hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.” They are galvanising us to race against time by implementing resilient housing solutions to mitigate against climate change.

Here in Jamaica, the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, at The University of the West Indies (UWI), is also promoting hurricane-resistant construction for homeowners.

This column brings to your attention a dream house that is not in accordance with expectations – a most unconventional of luxury premises on the island. It is a hurricane-resistant, advanced engineered system, withstanding disastrous, ferocious winds of 240 miles per hour (mph) – way above the category five hurricane wind speed of over 157 mph.

Furthermore, this custom-designed, maintainable, non-conformist construction is surprisingly in the form of a modern, modular (pre-fabricated) structure. Built-in sections (modules) in an overseas factory were shipped directly to Jamaica, they were then assembled on the owner’s 10,890 square feet beachfront lot. It is an all-inclusive package, consisting of materials, a kitchen, bathrooms, decorative elements, and equipment. With this building kit, finishes are of a higher quality, construction is much faster, there is a quicker completion timetable, and costs are less than conventional construction.

The just completed all-white building, finished in summer 2024, spreads over 6,110 square feet, enclosing all of seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms together with living and dining sections on two levels with huge, impact glass picture windows and doors, facilitating the eyeing of the most fantastical, visually engaging scenery. A true, harmonious interplay between human creativity and the beauty of the natural world. Vast roof glass-railed decks and three separate swimming pools intertwining with terraces hug the downstairs, with a seaside relaxation-shaded structure.

Its thankful owners are Nariman Bharucha, the former chief executive officer of MegaMart, and his wife, Pooja. We had featured their Kingston home in early September. This one, in Southsea Park, Westbay, Westmoreland, is reserved for those who seek the extraordinary.

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