The development at Dos Ceibas strives to be conscious of all of the elements that go into building a neighborhood. During the planning phase of the project one of the decisions we were confronted with was how to provide municipal electric for each lot. Standard practice on the island is to run wiring from the closest pole to each house, creating an above ground network of wires crisscrossing the property.
This standard solution seemed problematic on a couple of fronts. First, we wanted to preserve the spectacular view without interference. Second, above ground wiring can be dangerous in a hurricane or high wind storms. Exposed wires are vulnerable to falling branches and debris, and if damage does occur, residential lines will only be serviced after the main municipal line are working again. We made the decision to underground all of the electric lines for the neighborhood. Timing was coordinated with the cutting of the road, so we dug a trench parallel to the road to lay our lines.
This standard solution seemed problematic on a couple of fronts. First, we wanted to preserve the spectacular view without interference. Second, above ground wiring can be dangerous in a hurricane or high wind storms. Exposed wires are vulnerable to falling branches and debris, and if damage does occur, residential lines will only be serviced after the main municipal line are working again. We made the decision to underground all of the electric lines for the neighborhood. Timing was coordinated with the cutting of the road, so we dug a trench parallel to the road to lay our lines. The gray PVC piping carries the lines to a junction box on the property and from here the lines are run to each lot. This strategy facilitates later construction by ensuring that each lot has direct access to municipal power, and helps to deliver a consistent attitude within the neighborhood. The image below shows the local termination for a lot - once connected to the house the electric runs will be entirely underground!
In addition to having exceptional insulating properties, the surface is wonderful for barefoot traction. The porous finish is not slippery and is the perfect material to use around the saltwater pool. It should, however, be grouted and sealed to maintain a pristine surface - the tiny holes will otherwise trap water and cause mildew.
On the upper floor of the house a shade structure doubles as a water funnel to collect fresh rainwater. The rainwater catchment is located high up on the structure to keep the pan clear of dirt and debris. The total area is 128 sqft that gently slopes to a drain at the edge of the catchment. 
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