Located on the southwest coast of Providenciales, an island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, is Le Cabanon, a striking, brutalist family retreat designed by Arizona-based Rick Joy Architects.
In spite of the fact that Joy's firm is not local, the build works surprisingly well in its environment. For Joy, location takes precedence and he has a reputation of working with the unique qualities of a site. Le Cabanon sits beautifully within the landscape. Perched on the rocky coastline that occurs along many of these northern coral islands rather than on the shores of a sandy beach, the textured concrete form of the house contrasts beautifully with the brilliant blues of the surrounding sea and has the added benefit of being able to withstand the hurricanes and storms that often ravage the area. The house features a generously-sized terrace which connects the private areas in the west with the more public area that houses the living and dining room, and kitchen in the eastern pavilion. There is a feeling of solidity about the structure but Joy's design does not compromise the views of the water or natural xerophytic vegetation both of which are framed through generously wide and strategically placed Mahogany doors and windows. These openings allow light to enter and air to flow freely throughout the building.
Le Cabanon was constructed using specially trained local builders and the materials used were locally sourced whenever possible in order to minimise the footprint of the house. Joy also placed a large tank beneath the main terrace for the storage of water and has installed photovoltaic panels on the flat sections of its roof.
In spite of the fact that Joy's firm is not local, the build works surprisingly well in its environment. For Joy, location takes precedence and he has a reputation of working with the unique qualities of a site. Le Cabanon sits beautifully within the landscape. Perched on the rocky coastline that occurs along many of these northern coral islands rather than on the shores of a sandy beach, the textured concrete form of the house contrasts beautifully with the brilliant blues of the surrounding sea and has the added benefit of being able to withstand the hurricanes and storms that often ravage the area. The house features a generously-sized terrace which connects the private areas in the west with the more public area that houses the living and dining room, and kitchen in the eastern pavilion. There is a feeling of solidity about the structure but Joy's design does not compromise the views of the water or natural xerophytic vegetation both of which are framed through generously wide and strategically placed Mahogany doors and windows. These openings allow light to enter and air to flow freely throughout the building.
Le Cabanon was constructed using specially trained local builders and the materials used were locally sourced whenever possible in order to minimise the footprint of the house. Joy also placed a large tank beneath the main terrace for the storage of water and has installed photovoltaic panels on the flat sections of its roof.
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| Images | Joe Fletcher via Dwell |
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