Cover Inside One Beachlands, a Barbados luxury villa, with views of the Caribbean Sea
Inside One Beachlands, a Barbados luxury villa, with views of the Caribbean Sea
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One Beachlands, an estate perched on Barbados’s prestigious west coast, features a serene blend of contemporary design, Caribbean craftsmanship and panoramic ocean views—and happens to be just a few doors down from Rihanna’s home at Sandy Lane
Nestled on the west coast of the island of Barbados, One Beachlands has breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, interiors that blend architectural elements of the region with contemporary design and a prestigious address.
A stone’s throw from Sandy Lane, the five-star resort where Barbados’ homegrown hero Rihanna is said to own a home, the beachfront villa embraces indoor-outdoor living and bespoke design details that celebrate the island’s natural beauty. The villa was also designed to complement the sophistication and exclusivity associated with the area; its proximity to landmarks like Sandy Lane inspired the inclusion of resort-like features, such as an infinity pool with sea views and pavilions, resulting in a look that evokes modern, refined coastal living.
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Encompassing 12,000 sq ft, the residence has six bedrooms, each with its own en suite bathroom. It has a grand open-plan living space, a state-of-the-art kitchen—and is right by the beach. The infinity pool terrace, flanked by two serene poolside pavilions, serves as the heart of the home.
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One Beachlands was created from the ground up by Douglas Patrick Luke and Marielle Assue-Gibbons of the Barbados-based Elements Architecture. The architects were introduced to the owner by Chris Parra of the real estate company One Caribbean Estates, also based on the island. “The initial brief was inspired by a nearby beach villa we had previously designed, which the clients had visited and loved,” says Luke. The clients loved the integration of luxury and coastal living in the villa they had seen and wanted “a contemporary Caribbean villa that maximised its proximity to the coastline while maintaining privacy and understated elegance,” says Assue-Gibbons.
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In a process that took three years, with construction spanning approximately 21 months, Luke and Assue-Gibbons brought the client’s vision to life. The architects embraced the natural beauty of the site, incorporating expansive terraces, frameless glass sliding doors and lush landscaping to create a residence that feels effortlessly connected to its surroundings. The result is a home with a streamlined façade and a seamless blending of the villa into its surroundings, dominated by natural materials. “Every design decision considered the natural environment, from incorporating large openings that connected the villa to its outdoors, the orientation of the villa to optimise natural cross-ventilation and sunset views, to the use of natural stone, timber and native plants,” says Luke. “The untouched nature of the site allowed us the freedom to create a cohesive vision that blended harmoniously with its surroundings while pushing the boundaries of modern Caribbean luxury.”
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The calming, neutral palette is a reflection of the architectural firm’s aesthetic principles. “Our design philosophy emphasises clean, pragmatic lines paired with contextual material choices that age gracefully; we aim to create spaces that exude sophistication without excess,” says Assue-Gibbons. Materials used in the home include coral stone, sustainably sourced timber and generous roof overhangs, the last of which protects the openings and patios from direct sun exposure. These were paired with modern finishes like honed stone floors, framed glass and bespoke lighting. The doors, architraves, wardrobes and bathroom vanities were crafted by local artisans, blending contemporary design with traditional Caribbean craftsmanship. The kitchen was designed in collaboration with Seimatic and features Subzero & Wolf appliances.
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One of the biggest challenges in designing One Beachlands was maximising space on a smaller, irregularly shaped plot, making it a complex task to create a design that felt equally as spacious and alluring as its neighbouring properties. The architects overcame this by employing clever spatial planning, “carefully studying the site’s geometry and leveraging every inch of the plot”, says Luke. “This ensured the villa maintained a strong sense of space and elegance while adhering to all regulations.”
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After the home’s completion, the clients were particularly taken with the master suite, which offers sweeping ocean views and opens onto a private terrace—a perfect blend of privacy and luxury. The architects’ favourite part of the home, meanwhile, is “the calmness of all the design elements—colours, textures, forms and the continuity of the indoors to the exterior working seamlessly together”, says Assue-Gibbons. “The interplay of natural light, ocean views, lush landscaping, and exquisite materials creates an atmosphere of tranquillity and elegance that is truly special.
“Watching the sunset from the completed infinity pool terrace for the first time was a truly memorable moment,” she adds. “It encapsulated the vision of the villa—an intimate connection to the beauty of the Caribbean.”
Credits
Images: One Caribbean Estates
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Andrea Lo was the Executive Editor of Tatler Hong Kong and Editor of Tatler Macau.
Born in Canada and raised in Hong Kong and England, she started her career in journalism in 2012.
Follow her on Instagram @andreastephenielo.
