More Guest Views of Jumby Bay

Guests sometimes take the most interesting photos of resorts during their stay. These are a series of Jumby Bay Resort building exteriors taken by guests that illustrate some of the design concepts we used.



This shot above shows how the new rooms (on the right) are set way back from the beach on a slight rise and backed up against the native vegetation so they do not dominate the landscape. For many years different hotel consultants pressured the owner to line the rooms right at the edge of the beach, because this is the way it has always been done and is what guests want. The result is that you have rooms looking down on you as you lay on the beach and from the rooms you have people right at the doorstep who are using the beach. At Jumby Bay we use the large lawns as a foreground to your view of the water and to also assure your privacy as you sit on your terrace.





The buildings as seen from the waterfront side are designed so that you can't really distinguish each individual room. Staggered roofs and a variation of building masses create a comfortable collection of buildings that read more residential than commercial hotel.





From the entry side layering of tiled roofs with deep overhangs are the main architectural characteristic of the buildings. The "architecture of roofs", which is very common in tropical climates. The buildings are softened both with gently curving courtyard walls and the use of soft colors to contrast with the intense landscape. Eventually the lush landscape will hide the building walls and all you will see are roofs.



The courtyard walls not only give the rooms privacy from the entry side, they also break the force of the trade winds so that guests can leave their doors open to naturally cool the room. There are no cars on the private island so bike parking is provided at each entry gate.





The entry to each room is through an exterior courtyard with large mahogany gates. The entry sequence is designed as a series of passages that allow a guest to relax as they approach their room.



This is the front door to their room which allows a view all the way through to the sea beyond. Again, because this door is on a courtyard they can leave it open for natural through ventilation and not have to rely on air-conditioning - which requires them to sit in a closed room rather than enjoy the beautiful outdoor Island environment.

Rosewood Estate Suite, Jumby Bay

We sometimes search the web for photos that guests have taken while at the resort we designed in Antigua, Jumby Bay. It is interesting to see what guests felt was important enough to take a picture of and share it on the web, especially when it is the architectural or site design that caught their eye or made an impression on them. Luckily one blog we came across, Super Yacht Blogger, the blogger also was a talented photographer - Frances Howorth - who captured much of the design spirit of Estate Suite in her following shots of the room during their stay.



This view of the suite terrace above shows the primary site design concept for Jumby Bay. When relaxing on your terrace there is nothing between you and the sea, no slot views between other buildings, no walkways running in front, nothing to disturb your privacy and enjoyment of the setting. The buildings are run in a gentle arc so that each room is looking out to the view and not at each other. Here is a link to the site plan.



Each room in the suite is designed as a simple proportional space with very high ceilings. No odd angles or architectural complexities. A clear simple space makes for a much more relaxing environment. Most hotel rooms have windows only at the end of the room, we call it tunnel vision. At Jumby Bay there are windows on two or more sides to make the rooms very light and airy as well as focus on the most important quality of Jumby Bay which is it's stunning Island setting. The clerestory windows allow views up as well as out. The Caribbean sky and the blowing palms are all part of the Island experience. The plan for the Estate Suite can be seen here.



The bedroom is a smaller more intimate space with lower ceiling off of the living room.



The bathrooms at Jumby Bay are large and again simple, opening onto private courtyards. The focus is on the vanity which is treated as a piece of furniture. The rooms are air conditioned, however, swinging the double doors open brings the outdoors in and allows the bath to be naturally cooled by tropical breezes.



The outdoor bath has become part of Jumby Bay Style that has evolved over the years. In the early 80's when we started working on Jumby Bay (at that time know as Long Island Resort) most Caribbean hotels had shower curtains which grew mold in the hot moist climate and had a tendency to be blown against your skin by the wind. The first rooms we designed for the island did tiled shower rooms to get rid of the dreaded vinyl curtains. For the next larger rooms we designed for the resort we added a garden courtyard outside the shower, because the private Island infrastructure at that time could not support air conditioning and we needed to be able to open louvered doors to keep the rooms cooled with cross ventilation. The next step was to move the shower and tub outside into a larger courtyard making an outside room, which is shown above. The courtyard walls not only provide privacy, they also break the force of the trade winds so the space is comfortable. The rooms still provide an indoor shower (sans curtain) for those not adventurous enough to venture outside for their shower, but most people find the experience enjoyable, even in the rain.

Oregon Mountain Home

Photos by Rich Stroude

This large home is designed around a central lodge with extended building wings that have family bedrooms, garages and an attached guest house. The long stepped linear form allows this home to sit naturally at the edge of a mountain meadow. Separating the four garages into opposing wings on either side of a large stone entry porch reduces the impact of the garages on the street elevation of the home. The large roofs are broken down with gable and eyebrow dormers that also shade the large window areas. The mass of the building was further broken down with layers of local stone,wood shingles and wood siding -- with the stone at the bottom creating a foundation for the house to sit in the landscape or winter snow. Deep wood trim made up of layers of individual wood members on the eaves and gables makes the roof look visually substantial enough to bear the heavy snow load. Both the stone and shingle siding flare out at the bottom to further express the substantial character of the house and is inspired by some of the distinctive Cascade Mountain lodges built as WPA projects during the depression.

Contemporary House Plan 3

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Contemporary House 3 is a 25'x105' "Linear Home". It is a 2900 sf plan with a master suite, second bedroom suite, and a third floor get away that can be a study or a third bedroom. The linear plan layout results in a long facade toward the street that creates the image of a substantially larger home. On the inside the linear open plan reinforces the perception of a large home despite it's modest square footage. The first level is laid out for entertaining with a large central entry hall for greeting guests who can then easily circulate to the living room or large kitchen dining area. A covered verandah off the living room expands the entertaining area as an outdoor room complete with fireplace. The visual connection of the in line spaces encourages circulation between gathering and sitting areas. The large kitchen area can accommodate a table for 10 to 14 or can be arranged with four smaller independent tables seating four each.

A covered carport provides direct protected access into the house for rainy days and can be used as a carport. The garage can be made into a home office or shop if not needed for car storage. The master suite has a walk in closet that connects directly to a large laundry room that can also be used for messy projects you wouldn't want to do in the kitchen.

Contemporary House Plan 3 Interiors

On the first level one can visually see from one end of the house to the other, a distance of 53', making the home feel much larger than it is. Running the stairs in a linear pattern along the street elevation provides not only privacy, but also means that interior stairs are not blocking the visual connection between spaces and that the floor area can be fully utilized.

Oregon Coast House 2

All Plans Copyrighted MCMarchitects 2010, All Rights Reserved

This beachfront residence, located just beyond the foredune, was designed as a primary residence as a family four. The original house, out of which this new residence was created, was a one story, flat roofed vacation house constructed in the early 1960's. In remaking the house the intent was twofold. First, to expand the small residence to meet the needs of an active family. Second, the owner's wished to create a house that reflected the northwest style of architecture with a strong nod to the wife's Scandinavian roots.

The linear plan of the existing house, coupled with zoning restrictions and view opportunities led to a linear, two story solution. The details, shingled exterior and traditional windows recall the great houses of Martha's Vineyard while the scale and massing contribute to a casual elegance. On the entry side a broad porch greets visitors and established the homes pedigree. One enters directly into the Dining Room and the view to the ocean beyond. A pair of fireplaces separate the Dining and Living Rooms and also separate the service wing from the bedroom wings of the ground floor. On the upper level a separate bedroom suite, a gracious Master Suite and a Playroom complete the composition. The Playroom opens onto a rooftop deck that is expressed as a traditional Widow's Walk on the exterior. Throughout the interior natural blond woods, off white paint and simple detailing contribute to the desired Scandinavian feeling and the overall impression of a space that is both traditional and modern at the same time.