Family House in Portland, Jamaica

Our upcoming new project is promoting an outdoors living lifestyle in line with the climatic conditions and traditions of the island.

The project is based on the following principles and demands:

-5 bedrooms (2 of which en suite), kitchen, breakfast space, living room, study room et.al. An extra guesthouse is added on top of the garage volume which is programmed to be used also as a temporary studio during construction.

-A permanent residence for the family needing spacious and comfortable room for both its everyday and social activities.

-Studying the sundial movement at the area on an annual basis, clear (not obstructing) daylight is allowed throughout the day, even in winter time.

-In order to allow natural light and unobstructed view, movement within and along the house interior is unfolding parallel to the exterior spaces.


-The building design is using passive (non mechanical) techniques in order to allow for its environmental efficiency, by means of its overall orientation.

    -Introvert spatial logic at the façade to the road (protection) and extrovert towards the sea. View to the sea or the hill (and not the adjacent properties).

    -Outdoor/ common areas are placed in close relation to the interior living areas in order to create a sense of outdoor living, even when and if the family spends time inside. All interior common spaces may be ‘unified’ with the adjacent outdoor ones, both functionally and aesthetically (accessible and visible).

-The design provides with a variety of outdoor spaces in several shapes and scales (size) as well as orientation (in terms of the sun and air) in order to accommodate outdoor activities throughout the year and at any time during the day.

-Outdoors spaces include both verandas (with their own roof) or open air patios in a ‘gradient’ relation. The verandas mediate as in between spaces between the interior and the patios.

Project Team:
Nikolas Patsavos, Maria Nikolakaki, Alexandros Kapsalis