This Washington Enclave of Avant-Garde Homes Will Seamlessly Blend Into the Forest
The tiny Caribbean island of St. Barts is famous for its bikini-clad jetset crowd, raucous beach clubs, designer boutiques, and many superyachts bobbing in the crystalline waters. The hilly volcanic island, part of the French West Indies, is also known for its multimillion-dollar homes and five-star resorts.
Domaine de Vignette, whose whopping $59 million asking price makes it the most expensive home currently on the market in St. Barts, is considered one of the island nation's biggest. The rare property is represented by Zarek Honneysett of Sibarth Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie's International Real Estate.
The two-acre spread, within Les Étoiles, a private, gated enclave that comprises just four estates, is built across five parcels with a total of about 6,000 square feet of covered living space along with myriad outdoor decks. The lush property features landscaping at every turn with more than 70 species of exotic trees and plants, including royal, coconut, and Bismarck palms; the traveler's tree; mango; elephant ears; bougainvillea; laurel; and bird of paradise. Nine individual bungalows, tiered throughout the hillside and connected via teak walkways and bluestone steps, contain a total of six bedroom suites and eight bathrooms.
Situated near Colombier Beach on the island's northwestern tip, considered one of St. Barts's most exclusive beaches and a sought-after location due to its quiet, low-key nature, Domaine de Vigne is next door to one of the island's most illustrious properties. Accessible only by boat or on foot along a jagged, cliffside trail, Colombier is perhaps most known by aficionados of the island as the beach at the foot a long-abandoned compound owned by David Rockefeller in the 1960s. The dilapidated 130-acre estate, weathered by storms and hurricanes over the years, was purchased last year for $136 million in an off-market sale.
Renowned designer Rémi Tessier, whose projects include superyachts, private jets, homes, and hotels, including the penthouse at Claridge's Hotel, was brought in earlier this year to redesign the property. The French designer infused a calm sense of natural warmth into the sprawling villa through the use of materials like local bluestone, doussié wood from Central Africa, a tropical species known for its durability, and brushed spruce milled in France.
The interiors blend casual Caribbean style and art with contemporary elements and a natural color palette that reflects the surrounding landscape. There are soaring ceilings, warm-toned woods, plush woven carpets, and wooden shutters for modulating light and air, along with custom furniture designed by Tessier, sofas by Rolf Benz, and limited-edition armchairs by Jean-Michel Frank.
Common areas include a spacious living room and a dining room with seating for up to 12, both of which open to a massive deck with a bar and several lounging areas. There's also a professional-grade chef's kitchen. The primary suite occupies its own bungalow, which is perched above the main deck. Additional bedrooms are located below the main deck, each with pool-facing terraces and en suite bathrooms. Another of the buildings is a house for a resident caretaker.
No matter where you are, there are beautiful west-facing ocean views and picture-perfect views of the magical sunsets by night. Amenities include plenty of covered and sun-drenched outdoor lounge spaces, a massive, turquoise infinity pool, and a pool house with changing rooms, bathrooms, and a water extractor that dries swimsuits in just eight seconds.
Along with Colombier Beach, Flamands Beach, which hosts the five-star Cheval Blanc hotel, is nearby, and the charming town of Gustavia is a quick 15-minute drive away.