When driving around the island of St Barts, you will notice tiny little houses; almost like little St Barts villas. These houses are colorful, and remind you of toy houses built for giant tin soldiers. However odd they may look, these houses are very much a beloved part of the island.

A house like this is called “une case Saint Barth,” and has a unique construction that is endemic to the island.  It’s hard to believe now, given the growth of the island and it’s newer villas, but almost all of the local residents used to live in these tiny houses. Can you imagine being stuck with your entire family in one of these tiny shacks?

                    St Barts Villas :: Saline Pond Case

To the naked eye, they do not look like much of anything, but some of these houses have stood for centuries.  While you’re on the island, take a few moments and get out of your car to take a closer look at them.

They are build with thick walls, made to sustain the worst of weather, like hurricanes. The roof is typically made up of a very complex and intricate piping system, designed to enable the owner to collect as much rain water as possible.  If you see a smaller building, similar in shape next to the “case” it is likely the cistern where the rain water is stored.

You will also notice that the windows in these houses are incredibly small, and you may wonder how on Earth anyone ever airs out such a place.  It is amazing the airflow that you can get in these houses if you just open the door, as well as the windows.

These days, local families have come out of their tiny houses and built larger ones – very often these new cases are built very close by. In fact, some are so close that the ancestral case has been made in to a shed, or repurposed in some other manner; in other cases, they have been expanded to make a bigger house.  Some of these old guys are in pretty bad shape, but for the most part, they have been lovingly cared for by their families.

St Barts Villas :: Saline Pond ~ Little Green Case

One of the most frequently sighted spots on the island is right near the Grande Saline Pond.  Just drive along the road in the direction of the beach parking lot.

On the right, at the foot of the hill you will see a beautifully restored green case.  It is really a quaint and breathtaking sight.  It just sits there, so peacefully, minding its own business, yet it looks so charming and inviting.  Much to my dismay though, I have seen a few houses popping up very near its vicinity. Granted, they have le bon goût of looking like ancient cases, but my personal opinion is that they are really just spoiling one of the islands greatest spots.