Savannah, Windermere Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Lovely modern in desirable Windermere

Reaching back toward the dawn of architecture for his inspiration David Hicks, Britain's foremost interior designer of the 60's and 70's, brought an essence of the Nile Valley to this residence on the Bahamian Island of Eleuthera. His design alludes to the clean cubism of the temple of King Zoser. Tall, cool, and contemporary, it suggests, rather than imitates, its ancestor. Its glass-pierced outer simplicity is the direct expression of its inner reason for being, to provide a restful, mini-maintenance holiday sanctuary for escaping metropolitans.

Savannah commands the sea and beach from atop its own private Sahara. Its storm-safe concrete-block walls are coated with plaster mixed with honey-colored lime stone dust from a local quarry and textured with seashells. A light raft-like walking deck, anchored at its edges by occasional low standing parapets of the same plastered masonry, surrounds the house.

The grand entry leads through to a screened porch and dining area. To the right stands the master bedroom and to the left a double bunk bed room. The large high ceilinged living room is soft and cool with bold sculptural paintings dominating the walls. Another guest room leads off to one side of this and the newly renovated kitchen to the other. A detached guest pavilion stands to the right of the house.

All rooms are air-conditioned with ensuite bathrooms. With one king bedroom, two double twins and four bunk beds the house sleeps 10 comfortably. Take the private path down to the five miles of deserted pink sand beach. Or a short walk brings you to the sheltered lagoon. Your rental entitles you to access the Windermere Club next door to the property, which in season has a restaurant and library with cable and satellite T.V. and year round there is a large swimming pool and two tennis courts.

Windermere is a private gated island joining Eleuthera by bridge. There is a daily housekeeper and with notice a cook can be arranged.