Relax Like Royalty In This Moroccan-Style Rental Home On The Island Of Bequia

The Mangwana House (also known as The Bequia House) designed by Edgley Design is a large modern and inviting home in a stunning locale, available for rent or for photoshoots through Grenadine Escape.



The five bedroom villa is situated on a steep hillside in dense forest on the island of Bequia in the Caribbean with breathtaking views.





The design is inspired by traditional Moroccan courtyard houses, where a series of intimate spaces surround water, providing shelter from the sun throughout the day and cooling humidity from the pool.







Each bedroom tower has a living space below and a private access stair.




To the north of the courtyard a large hall provides eating and dining areas, and creates a sequence of spaces from a delicate balcony entrance suspended high over the treetops, through the public hall to the private towers beyond.




This stunning home sleeps a max of 12, is located between Friendship Bay and Lower Bay, Bequia and is a 7 minute drive to the beachfront. It has spectacular 300 degree views over the Grenadines, and an incredibly inviting Infinity pool that faces south.



You enter Mangwana at mezzanine level directly into a vast living area with vaulted ceiling, open- plan kitchen and magnificent 16 ft high Brazilian hardwood doors which in turn open onto the pool and frame one of the villa’s many stunning views. Rental includes maid service and the use of a Jeep.




Winter Rate DECEMBER 1 - APRIL 15 (7 nights min.) : USD $12,500 per week
Summer Rate APRIL 16 - NOVEMBER 30 (5 nights min.) : USD $10,000 per week

For more details about the booking the house, as well as more images, visit Grenadine Escape.

One Darn Cool Pool. Swimming At The Casa Devoto (Devoto House) In Argentina.

Andres Remy Architects designed this private residence for a couple with two children in Devoto, Argentina. The home, situated on an 18 x 24 meter lot, is a modern, luxurious home with an open floor plan, most of which has angles which allow one to view the unusual above ground pool.



While the entire home is nicely designed, it's the pool that I was really drawn to. With it's see-through window, flush wooden deck and split level interior.









The pool reminds me of one of my other favorite swimming pools (I have many). That within the Brazil Slice House by Procter-Rihl, shown below:


See all of Casa Devoto here.


Design Team: Andrés Remy, Carlos Arellano, Hernán Pardillos, Julieta Rafel, Lilian Kandus
Interior Design: Andrés Remy, Julieta Rafel, Diego Siddi, Martin Dellatorre
Photographs: Alejandro Peral
Area: 550m²
Year: 2009/10
images and information from Andrés Remy Arquitectos and e-Architect

Ray Kappe Beach Front Home On the Market For $13.5 Million

FOR SALE: 1600 The Strand, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Built in 1985 by well-known architect Ray Kappe of Kappe +Du architects, the 5200 square foot, 3 bedroom 6 bathroom beach front home, known as the Scheimer Residence, on California's Manhattan Beach Strand has recently gone on the market for the first time since the house was constructed.



The modernist masterpiece with views to die for and a rooftop pool is represented by Crosby Doe, for the asking price of $13,500,000.



Not one of my personal favorite of Kappe's -- I prefer the look and layout of his wooden beam homes like his Benton residence in Brentwood (which is the home of David Duchovny's character in Californication) his Millner-Myler Residence in Oakland as well as his new prefab structures for Living Homes), one cannot deny that the location and views of this home are almost unparalleled.



The sculpted, stainless steel door, a work of art on its own, pivots on its axis, inviting guests into this large concrete, steel and glass Ray Kappe designed house on Manhattan Beach's world-famous Strand, inches from the sand and sea. 





A three-story atrium, paneled in teak, is filled with exotic plants.



The atrium reaches up to the kitchen which opens into a great room with a bar and sweeping views.





A floating staircase, with glass steps leads to the media room, three bed-rooms, six baths and a pool deck. For the less athletic, there is an elevator.





Located on a northern corner and cradled in the curve of the coastline, the house commands a Queen's Necklace view that extends from the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina to the south, and north all the way to Malibu.






It's a very sexy, romantic house, it's a fantastic weekend retreat for someone who wants a second home, or for somebody who wants to get out of the city and live at the beach full time. 

Above, the master suite is open and light-filled, a loft-like space that projects outward, over the living room, sharing its monumental windows and spectacular views of the beach.




The bedroom is completely surrounded by curtains that can enclose for privacy and darkness. Above, a translucent Japanese-inspired screen can be retracted, opening the high-ceilinged room to the domed skylight.






The adjoining master bath is an indulgent private spa, featuring his-and-her water closets, a freestanding, black tile Jacuzzi tub and an immense granite and tile steam shower with its own view into the swimming pool from below the water's surface.







The master bedroom has its own private staircase, leading to the rooftop deck and lap pool. White steel railings carry on the steamship theme to the summit of the house. It is an ideal space for poolside parties or just sunbathing.




The plans.

Overhead view:

side elevation:

Lower level:

Middle level:

Upper level:

above text and images courtesy of Crosby Doe & Associates

If you haven't seen Ray Kappe's amazing LEED-certified prefab houses for LivingHomes, you gotta check them out here.