Green Castle Estate, St. Mary Parish, Jamaica
Located in rural St. Mary Parish, on Jamaica's northeast coast in a region targeted by the government for ecotourism, Green Castle is a 1600-acre property that rises from the Caribbean Sea to over 500 feet in elevation and features idyllic valleys and hillside plateaus. It feels remote, with miles of trails and farm roads providing access to a variety of tropical settings and ecosystems, but the site is easily accessible by air and by land. The property's strong agricultural heritage is evident by the organic farming, orchid production, and pedigree cattle breeding that remain still today. The nearly two miles of coastline feature all manner of connections to the sea and the thriving marine environment. Guests and residents will be exposed to Jamaica at its finest, with its natural beauty, rich history and vibrant culture as the centerpiece of the experience.
At the core of an experience based on authenticity – from food to culture to architecture – there must be a commitment to true sustainability and the resources to make it possible. Green Castle possesses both. The Green Castle vision begins with the creation of a community that is holistically designed around individual elements – environmental, social and economic – that together define sustainability. The plan for Green Castle extends beyond the conservation of hundreds of acres of land by providing for research and study dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural habitats on the property. This effort is already underway through the Greencastle Tropical Study Center, an established not-for-profit organization operating on site. Green building design standards are a fundamental aspect of the plan, as techniques that incorporate climate responsive design and influences of the local vernacular will combine to create a unique and appealing sense of place. And the site itself provides the tools for this to be possible – elevations and plateaus ideally suited to capture cooling breezes and harness the wind's energy, a climate and the farmland to support bio-fuel production.
Canopy Development was engaged by the landowner to create a development concept and executive summary describing the development strategy as well as other supporting documentation to be used in the development and financing process.
Master Plan
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 Download the Executive Summary Document (PDF) |
