Nelson Rockefeller’s Dome House

Nelson Rockefeller’s Dome House

Nelson Rockefeller's Dome House

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Third generation member of the famed family, Nelson Rockefeller was the Governor of New York from 1959 to 1973 and United States Vice President under President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. Hugely successful as a businessman, art collector, philanthropist, and politician, Rockefeller was a moderate Republican, civil rights advocate and environmentalist. Late in his life, he concentrated much of his money, personal time and efforts in places of exceptional natural beauty.

After his divorce in 1962 from his wife of 32 years, Mary Todhunter Clark, Nelson married Margaretta Large "Happy" Fitler in 1963. While sailing around the Virgin Islands, Nelson spotted a perfect piece of land on St. Croix on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean. Nelson bought the land, built a house and gave it as a gift to his new bride, Happy. Understanding that the Virgin Islands were in the path of seasonal hurricanes generated off the African coast, Nelson designed the home as a monolithic dome, energy efficient, impervious to storms, cost effective and easy to maintain. The dome was constructed of steel reinforced concrete with floors finished in limestone tiles throughout the structure.

Open and spacious with over 4,500 square feet of living space and ceilings that soar to 24 feet with huge 24-foot Lexan domed center skylight, the Rockefeller home has five bedrooms and four baths. Natural light streaming in through the skylight makes possible a tropical indoor garden with rock waterfall in the vast living area and 360-degree views of the Caribbean and rolling green hills of the island surrounding the house. Almost completely self-sufficient, the roof design allows for rainwater to be channeled directly into the cistern and the two-panel, micro-inverter solar panel system generates two Kilowatts of power each month, making the Dome's electrical bill negligible. The house remains naturally cool due to the insulation and the mahogany framed doors circling the home capture the breeze for cross ventilation. For more information.

Nelson Rockefeller’s former St. Croix, Virgin Islands dome home just outside of Christiansted - built as a gift to wife, Happy, recently updated and now for sale. Priced at $1.499 million.

Source: www.domestcroix.com