House 2 at Roches Noires
Mauritius
1993-1999

On plan the house is a square. The living spaces are planned around a central courtyard off which walls are raised to slope the roof from the inside outwards and terminate low on the perimeter. It hugs the ground to provide good sun and rain protection. The courtyard contains a pool which has a cooling effect to the home. It acts as a ventilation lung permitting all rooms to breathe by cross ventilating from the outside in, and up through the open roof. It also acts as a space which connects the others. The entry to the house is on central axis with a framed view of the emerald sea beyond. The house is set back from the beach forming a large front lawn gently leading to the sea.