Mount Hill Residence
Bermuda
The Mount Hill Residence was absolutely unique to Bermuda. It is situated in a stately neighboorhood of upscale cottages and true Bermuda style homes. Some of these were 100s of years old and to say this set a preceedence would be an understatement. In the classical style everything inside and out flawlessly blended with the surroundings. This is where the similarity stopped. DSI would design a modular built structure on a grid of steel framing and components that fit together on site, to the best of the owner’s ability, who acted as general contractor. As it was the first of it’s kind in Bermuda, there was indeed quite a kerfuffle in the news and in the construction community. The site was visited by the Minisiter of Housing and lauded by the media both as the best and worst thing that had ever taken place in residential construction.
DSI looked to a U.S. manufacture of steel framed modulars for construction, however the company ultimately declined to re-tool their assembly line to meet DSI standards of construction, which needed to comply with stringent wind loading and code enforcement. They deemed the project too small. So, instead of seeking contractual retribution, Paul set up a small scale plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and constructed the units. Shipping out of Hagerstown, the units arrived, and Paul periodically supervised the massive FRP water tank installation and the setting of the modules.