Villa Brisana
In the lush, exclusive Caribbean enclave of Dorado Beach, Villa Brisana reveals a thoughtfully revitalized and expanded private residence shaped by tropical living. Originally built in 2001, the bungalow’s 315 square metre layout lacked the openness and connection to nature that the climate invites.
The renovation and 104-square-metre addition reimagine the home as a relaxed, breezy interior that welcomes the landscape at every turn. Guided by a desire for continuity between inside and out, the design balances local building traditions with resourceful, contemporary strategies. Much of the original structure was retained, reducing material waste while allowing the home’s character to evolve.
Materials reflect the region’s architectural roots, including whitewashed stucco, smooth concrete, and terracotta clay tiles. A defining feature is a series of three terracotta solar screens, ranging from 5.5 to 9.75 metres in length and covering 20 per cent of the exterior. With scalloped apertures, the screens temper sunlight, provide privacy, and introduce depth to the façade. Interstitial spaces between the screens and the house support lush plantings, reinforcing a layered connection to the surrounding landscape.
The result is a home that is both grounded in place and attuned to climate, where light, air, and vegetation shape everyday living.
The home is reimagined as fluid and breezy, inviting the surrounding landscape into daily life at every turn.
Terracotta screens temper light and privacy, creating layered thresholds between interior space and the tropical landscape.
Retaining the original structure reduces impact while allowing the home to evolve in response to climate and place.
Local materials and passive shading strategies shape a home that is both rooted in tradition and responsive to environment.
Stretching along the garden edge, the lap pool becomes a quiet axis of movement, light, and reflection.
