May 17 2007
Clearwater-based architectural firm, Design Styles, Inc. has announced that it has been selected to design its first international custom home design. The project, known as La Casa de Angeles, will be located in the Caribbean on land previously owned by Patrice Wymore-Flynn, widow of the late Errol Flynn. Created for the Children's Home charity of London, the 15,000 sq. ft. home will be designed to be a vacation residence for disabled and socially underprivileged children from around the globe.
"The connection between La Casa de Angeles and Errol Flynn, who is well known for being responsible for developing tourism to Jamaica, is perfect. It solidifies the fact that Portland, Jamaica is the ideal location for this project," said Lennox Blackwood, trustee of The Upper Room Church of London and the Children's Home. "We selected Design Styles because we knew they could design a collection of spaces that would enrich the experiences of our visiting children. We also knew that they had the experience and ability to develop an architectural landmark that will be the foundation for future development in the area," Blackwood continued.
"Design Styles is creating an environment where disadvantaged children can come to this vacation home and slip away from their daily problems. A place where they can experience something exciting and new while taking in the magnificent lush surroundings and sloped terrain that Jamaica has to offer," said Design Styles' partner, Andy Dohmen, AIA. "The handicap-accessible home, located near the Caribbean Sea Coast, will be designed in a U-shape and specifically positioned on the six-acre lot to maximize the views and to capture the sea breezes," said Dohmen. "It will include 10 air conditioned bedrooms, each having their own en-suite bathrooms and most with private balconies so that each guest can have their own space. A large game room will open out onto the second floor veranda and overlook the large, beach entrance pool below. An elevator will allow complete access to the home from the first floor pool deck to the third floor rooftop terrace ensuring that each of the homes guests will be able to enjoy the lush mountainous countryside and blue waters of the Caribbean Sea," said Dohmen.
While La Casa de Angeles' primary purpose is to serve as a get-away for disabled and socially underprivileged children, a benefactor concept is being considered as a means to create additional funding when the home is not in use by the children. All proceeds raised from this proposed idea will go to the Children's Home for aiding children worldwide. Construction for La Casa de Angeles' is expected to begin in August 2007.