The St. Croix Landmarks Society will launch its 2010 House Tours on Feb. 10 with the first of three tours. The East End driving tour will depart Canegata Ball Park at 9:30 a.m. Houses on the tour will include homes in Estates Judith’s Fancy and Lowry Hill, and a surprise residence in Christiansted town.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Carmelo Rivera makes its first appearance on Landmarks’ house tours. The newly constructed home in Estate Judith’s Fancy was designed and decorated by the homeowner Nilsa Rivera. It is ingeniously tucked away from everything on Robin Lane. Its three bedrooms, porches, patios and pool all have awe-inspiring views overlooking Salt River.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert White’s Estate Lowry Hill home is also part of this week’s tours. The house is a replica of a 1626 Mexican church. It features a cook’s dream kitchen and a grand bedroom reminiscent of the Whim Greathouse. The balcony affords splendid views to the north and east. Furnishings include a unique collection of pre-Columbian artifacts found on the property. The estate also includes the ruins of a greathouse, servants’ quarters, carriage house, smoke house, church and cemetery.
A special surprise and rare experience await February 10th House Tours participants as they visit a Historic Residence never before seen by the public in its furnished state. This residence is part of the grandeur of Christiansted, with beautiful harbor views. It is has been in continuous use by the same owners since 1771 and is replete with unique Crucian antiques.
The second House Tours on Feb. 17 will feature three homes on the west end: Matthew Snow’s pyramid roof house in Estate Prosperity, Richard Harris and John Connors’ Concordia Beach House and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McIntire in Estate Jolly Hill. The day’s events will culminate with a tour and presentations by William Taylor, AIA and Gerville Larsen, AIA at the Meeting House in the Arthur Abel Complex in Frederiksted town.
The Estate Prosperity house, a collaborative design effort between the architect Hortensia Lanio and one of the owners, Matthew Snow, a painter and designer from New York, might be seen as a postmodern interpretation of an Island Great House. The barrel vaulted ceiling covering the bedroom echoes a design element found in some of the abandoned sugar plantations scattered around the island, while the stairway descending down along the front of the house facing the sea firmly links the house to a kind of island vernacular, anchoring it in place and adding visual complexity. The interiors were designed by the owner, Matthew Snow, with a combination of antique, contemporary and bespoke furnishings.
Situated on a peninsula between Long Point and Sandy Point, the unique home of Richard Harris and John Connors with its eight separate roofs commands an unobstructed view of the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge. The owners are the operators of the DesignWorks furniture store and use their home as a showcase for their line of solid teak colonial-style furniture, which can be found even in the kitchen and bathrooms. The walls are adorned with works of local artists, and reminders of travel to distant lands are found throughout. The interior features bold colors to counter the bright sunlight, lofty tray ceilings, and open-to-the-sky showers.
High up on Estate Jolly Hill, sits the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McIntire, commanding beautiful west coast views, from Frederiksted to Sandy Point. The secluded hillside villa sits off scenic Mahogany Road amid the verdant splendour of the West tropical forest. The geometrical style of this villa, designed by Robert McIntire, provides a feeling of interior spaciousness in harmony with the surrounding beauty of nature. a hexagonal shape and three separate pods. Delight in a stunning panoramic view of the Caribbean, Sandy Point, Frederiksted and visiting cruise ships..
A special afternoon and evening tour in Christiansted, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, will begin with a visit to the Roseway Schooner and continue with a Crucian Fête at No. 1 North Street. The celebration will mark the 250th anniversary of Thia Tyler’s magnificent Danish townhouse. These very special 55th Anniversary House Tours were planned under the leadership of architect Hortensia Lanio, Landmarks trustee and events committee chairperson.
Since 1954, St. Croix homeowners have graciously shared their homes, furnishings and gardens with residents and visitors to raise funds for Landmarks. Each year, tour devotees eagerly look forward to the opportunity to visit distinctive homes that reflect historic and contemporary elegance. Proceeds from Landmarks House Tours support the Estate Whim and Lawaetz Family Museums and other preservation activities; educational programs for children and adults; and Landmarks Society’s Research Library and Archives, which are among the finest in the Caribbean.
