Tropical Hideaway is an off-grid island retreat designed as a simple place for family and friends to gather and connect with the surrounding landscape. At its center, a corrugated metal pipe typically used for bridge and tunnel construction is repurposed as the main living space. A public dirt road passes over the concealed structure, with earth and planting on either side allowing the home to recede into the site. Large openings at each end frame views of the ocean in both directions.
Sleeping pavilions and a hidden underground garage occupy the east-facing side of the property, while a pool, outdoor kitchen, and barbecue area open to the west. Conceived as screened sleeping porches, the bedrooms remain closely connected to the weather and landscape while hurricane screens and shutters provide protection when needed.
The remote location and limited access shaped every part of the design. The house uses straightforward construction methods and locally available materials, reducing the amount of labor and material that had to be transported by ferry and along the island’s dirt roads. Cross ventilation cools the great room, with angled walls accelerating breezes through the space. The surrounding earth moderates indoor temperatures and protects the interior from solar heat gain, eliminating the need for conventional heating and air-conditioning.
Roof-mounted solar hot-water and photovoltaic panels provide the home’s energy while forming ventilated double roofs that shade the sleeping structures. Energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting further reduce demand; the entire lighting system draws roughly the power of a single 250-watt bulb. Designed to meet High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements, the net-zero residence is both self-sufficient and prepared for the Caribbean’s demanding climate.
