Graphic Designer

Highbourne brings conservation-first design to a private island community in the Bahamas. New villas, expansive estate lots and thoughtfully integrated outdoor amenities redefine private island living in the Exumas. Outdoor living has always been inseparable from life in the Bahamas, but Highbourne's newest residential offering takes that relationship a step further. The 500-acre private cay at the northern gateway to the Exumas has launched sales for just 19 residences and estate parcels, with architecture, landscapes and outdoor spaces designed to exist in harmony with one of the Caribbean's most biodiverse environments. Rather than allowing development to dominate the island, the vision places the landscape first, carefully positioning homes so that beaches, native vegetation, and panoramic ocean views remain the defining features. Architecture designed around the landscape. Highbourne assembled an accomplished design team to shape the island's next chapter, selecting Olson Kundig for architecture, Studio Valle de Valle for interiors, and Raymond Jungles, Inc. for landscape architecture. Each discipline was developed simultaneously so the homes, gardens, and outdoor living spaces respond naturally to the site's topography, prevailing breezes, and surrounding vegetation. Landscape plans rely exclusively on native plantings intended to strengthen local ecosystems rather than replace them, creating outdoor environments that feel fully connected to the island. Outdoor living at the center. The nine planned four-bedroom villas begin at $18 million and occupy approximately two to three acres each. Large terraces, expansive glazing and open-air showers create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, while private settings allow residents to experience uninterrupted views across the surrounding waters. For buyers seeking greater flexibility, 10 estate lots ranging from approximately 10 to 20 acres provide generous beachfront homesites with roughly 430 feet of shoreline. Owners may build on their own timeline, with optional construction management available through Highbourne. Resort amenities expand. Development begins this fall with a significant enhancement of the island's shared amenities. Plans include a new Beach Club featuring a pool bar, racquet courts and indoor-outdoor fitness center designed to encourage year-round outdoor recreation. A $20 million marina redevelopment will introduce floating docks capable of accommodating larger vessels while improving shore power and marina services for owners. Additional improvements include renovations to the island's restaurant and general store, a new welcome center and broader infrastructure enhancements. Conservation guides every decision. Environmental stewardship remains central to the project. Bahamian naturalist Elijah Sands continues leading conservation initiatives across the island, documenting more than 300 species of plants and wildlife while overseeing efforts to protect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and other sensitive habitats. By limiting development to only 19 ownership opportunities across more than 500 acres, Highbourne aims to preserve the qualities that have made the island a destination for generations of boaters while creating a residential community designed around the natural landscape rather than in spite of it. For homeowners seeking privacy, expansive outdoor living and direct access to one of the Caribbean's most celebrated cruising destinations, Highbourne offers a rare opportunity to own within an intentionally low-density island community where architecture and nature are designed to coexist.

Jeff Bezos. (Amazon Photo). Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the seller of a $63 million mansion in Hunts Point, Wash., just east of Seattle, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported Thursday.The newspaper, which first reported on the sale Wednesday, noted that the sale shattered the state’s previous home sale price record. The Journal cited an industry source in confirming Bezos as the onetime owner.Bezos acquired the sprawling waterfront estate at 4053 Hunts Point Road in 2019 for $37.5 million, which also broke the state record, set in 2018 when a Medina mansion sold for $26.75 million.The sale this week was to a buyer called Cayan Investments LLC, according to the Journal. It incorporated in Delaware in March and has a post office box in Medina. The seller is Hunts Point Properties Trust whose trustee is attorney Kristine Wilson.The 9,420-square-foot home was designed in 2003 by Seattle architect Jim Olson, of the firm Olson Kundig, and was once owned by the late Barney Ebsworth, a luxury travel magnate and prominent art collector who died in 2018.The Olson Kundig website describes the property as an “understated house on the shore of Lake Washington” with a design that “weaves art and nature together.”Hunts Point is a wealthy enclave that’s home to other prominent billionaires and business elite, such as former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Costco co-founder James Sinegal.In a “peek inside” the mansion in 2019, The Seattle Times said the three-bedroom, four-bath home sits on 300 feet of west-facing Lake Washington shoreline