We’ve just launched a beautiful new film of Cocosan Villa, shot by
@the_truth876 (Gareth Cobain) , along with a special summer villa offer... something we’ve never done before.
For the first time,
@geejamhotel are offering an all-inclusive private villa stay with food, beverages, curated excursions, and transportation all included. Details in my bio.
Looking through my archive recently, I found these images of Cocosan Villa from when I first bought the property - a reminder of just how much has changed, and it felt like the right moment to share a little of the story behind it.
Cocosan was one of Jamaica’s first true contemporary Caribbean villas, designed by my good friend and collaborator Vidal Dowding of
@Ateliervidal ). At the time, I wasn’t seeing much local architecture that moved beyond expected colonial references. We wanted to create something modern, warm, and deeply rooted in Jamaica.
The original building had suffered fire damage, and over time, rooms and additions had been built without a clear vision. So we stripped it back and started again.
Watch this reel through to the end to see the before images and the transformation.
This was one of the first projects I took on without a main contractor, working instead with talented local artisans from Port Antonio: plumbers, electricians, masons, and craftsmen.
In hindsight, maybe a little naïve… but sometimes that’s exactly what helps you realise a vision without fear.
We completed the project in just 14 months, and truthfully, I did little else that year besides focus on bringing it to life.
Coming from a music background, the process felt familiar - assembling the right creative team, each person bringing their craft to a shared vision.
10 years on, Cocosan has welcomed an incredible mix of guests, including Harry Styles, Keith Richards, Daniel Craig during the Bond filming period in Port Antonio, Drake, and many others discovering this special corner of Jamaica.
Still evolving. Still inspiring.
