Design/Build in Vieques, Puerto Rico Modern Rainforest Eco-Hotel

La Finca Caribe is an eco-hotel and artist retreat established in 1970, located on Vieques, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico. In September 2017, Vieques felt the full force of Hurricane Maria when it passed over this island, completely demolishing the hotel’s main building, uprooting 50% of the native trees, and cutting the property off from the nearest roads for months.

In November 2019, as a team member of a 4-month design/build project, I worked and lived on site for 1 month, assisting with wood and steel construction, planning and drafting details and helping to build the main pavilion and public space, as well as two tiny homes on the massive property overlooking the ocean. Renovations to the existing damaged buildings on the property were done by a group of local men from the island, who we ate with and worked alongside daily.

I was lucky to learn from the talented local Caribbean designers, artists, and fabricators that all contributed to this project, which is now a fully functioning hotel and retreat.

Design Development, Construction Administration

Project Credits

Design/Build Team: Sylvia Demarco, Rogelio Baez, Christian, Sebastian Sepulveda, Sergio, Jamahd Hackett, Jah Witness, Ras Wali, Shannon, Miles Kozatch Project Manager: Sylvia Demarco Client: La Finca Victoria