Luxury Architecture In St. Barthelemy

Executive Global: Your record on St. Barts speaks for itself, and for 26 years all kinds of people have been entrusting their projects to you. How did this happen?
 

Allem Nefra: I have a short answer, and a longer one! Your question is that after 26 years here, what is our secret? The short answer is simple. Be professional and take care to everyone- the fisherman and the megayacht owner, in the same way, and listen to what they tell you. The longer answer - St. Barthelemy is a well known place now, but for decades it was a discrete and private paradise. Its landscape is now famous worldwide, yet most dream houses are owned by a large variety of lucky or adventurous, and able people. These blend in its tropical flair, matched with a pinch of Swedish-French magic that is quite rare.
 

One should always remember that this is the result of a process that extends far longer than the last 30 years. Of course, many things have changed during this period of world growth that most of us may see as more significant. However, I am still dealing with the core idea of a project on this island in the same way as I did three decades ago.
 

From the very beginning to present day, the most important thing to me as a professional is to understand what is really at stake in building here. As you know the concept of the villa as a statement, individually and also socially- is nothing new, dating as far back as antiquity, Rome, and beyond. The purpose is obviously to demonstrate the connection between a person and a place, with the open view on the ocean here as a central theme.
 

It is how we deal with this context that confers the real meaning of the project. How do we blend in? How much technology has to be involved to express the feeling of the place and its liveability? In other words, the manner in which we don’t even think about the availability of things in the US, Europe or elsewhere,  becomes quite important here, and we have to think through the whole project so that it becomes a harmonious and coherent feature. For anyone familiar with the island, the reason is obvious. It is…an island!
 

There is a lot to say about the local history, the development of tourism and construction on a place deprived of nearly any ordinary conveniences. Even water has to be produced through a complex and fuel-consuming process from sea water. No wonder the concrete is expensive!
 

Everything has to be imported. Food obviously, but also fuel and gas, all construction materials and items such as windows, appliances, wood, paint- everything. The designs vary vastly but there are some features that are now recognised as essential because they are of great consequence. The projects are connected to a local reality, which is leading to certain choices, so much so that some are starting to name it the St Barth style. Yet, despite all of these difficulties, the results are widely seen as successful and highly valued among the Caribbean.
 

EG: Quite interesting, it seems that everyone tried to follow his own dreams, whatever the difficulties. Some projects are truly impressive, and for a few years it seems that there has been a shift towards much bigger dimensions. How does this articulate today and how are you dealing with that?

AN: Great Question! There’s a local saying here, called dream wise. People may be chasing something, or running from something, or both. Yet they all carry their dreams with them. And yes, for the higher end of investors, there has been quite a change in the size of projects. Not only did each room get bigger, but also the global extent of investments has experienced a large and rapid turn.
 

Nevertheless there is a local reality and some experiments have shown their limits. Not only because of nature being unforgiving and unpredictable, but also in terms of what the people were able to accept.
 

EG: Is there any interest locally in architecture, and do you think that contextuality has gained in momentum?

​

AN: The interest for architecture on St. Barthelemy is rooted in the basics. In such a little place, more than anywhere else- any kind of construction has an impact on the landscape first, and many other aspects, including some which may initially appear to be quite minute, can become surprisingly concerning- and often are. The main concern to me is to match the dreams of our clients with the challenging local realities and create a relevant project.

EG: Where are the next challenges for the construction business and its appeal on St. Barts, and from a more comprehensive point of view- do you have any vision for the future in your domain?

​

AN: After about twenty years where I used to keep things low key and sustainable through the mere size and kinds of projects I was dealing with, and in trying to convince owners of the possibility of a distinctive and overall satisfying path, I don’t see future challenges much differently as one might think. It’s always been a concern, for some very good reasons, and became a big part of the message for any project. This is even more so for a villa. We are dealing with the same reality all the time, even if the architectural truth is seen by each of us in a different way.
 

When I started to work on St. Barthelemy, the point was more about the relevance of certain choices and how to build in this precise context. Any other location might have brought up other concerns.
 

The main concern, as an architect, has always been the same. What is a relevant answer to give to someone who just bought land to make his new home and refuge, here on the island of St. Barthelemy, or on a mountain thousands of miles away? How far should we go in terms of scale to establish a powerful enough message? How complicated and technologically elaborate should it be in this precise location, on this island where everything has to be imported, where we don’t have any large infrastructure? Just as a reminder, our plane landing strip is too short for jets and the harbour also has a limited capacity.
 

EG: In light of your experience being in such a remote and small place, how do you explain the success and achievements that have paved the recent history of St. Barts? What do you think is the architectural contribution, and specifically how your own work should be a part of it? Do you have any projects you’d like to mention among your designs that have best displayed your ideas?

AN: It’s just a matter of luck sometimes, and there was a lot of luck involved when I first came to St. Barthelemy. Some projects are just very demanding, and left a strong impression on me, though they might not have been that impressive in reality. Others are just born under a lucky star. Some projects prevail through their meaning or use. I didn’t only take part in the design of villas- there were some other interesting projects too. Commercial buildings, projects for the community in the early days, alone or in collaboration- quite different things actually.
 

In the end, there is no such thing as the perfect project. They are all, each and every one of them- the most interesting for me while dealing with it…and this does not always have to do with what is to be seen from the outside. The meaning of a project, the people, or the location, as well as the technical challenges or the broader picture, are what make things so interesting and rewarding.   EG