“It was my pleasure to present the [award] to the team involved in ‘Pinkie and Driftwood’,” the governor said in a press statement. “What stood out for me, among many other factors, was the dedication involved in restoring and moving ‘Pinkie’, a Caymanian cottage of over 100 years old, back to the front of South Sound Road for all to see.

“A worthy winner that the judges and I all agreed on. This is an excellent initiative supporting sustainable construction in our islands.”

The award was presented at a reception at Government House on 5 Dec.

The project team consisted of John Doak Architecture, structural engineer AMR Consulting Engineers, MEP consultants Corporate Electric Design and landscaping by Vigoro. The contractors for Pinkie and Driftwood were Island Builders and Palmyra Developments, respectively.

The two awarded homes are on the same property in South Sound; one is a 1904 Caymanian cottage restored in the traditional manner, and the other a 2019 Cayman-style beach house designed and constructed to respect Caymanian-built heritage, according to the statement.

“Driftwood is the first of a brace of beach houses that speak to the Islands’ past heritage while considering its residents’ modern and changing lifestyles and societal influences. Pinkie (named after Nurse Pinkie Bush who once lived there) was an original wattle-and-daub cottage hidden behind a series of additions that had been made to the home over the last century,” the statement said.

The Governor’s Award, which aims to encourage, foster and maintain innovation, sustainability and excellence in the Cayman Islands construction industry, is open to all projects, small or large, according to organisers. Projects need to demonstrate why they are special in one or more areas of environmental friendliness, Caymanian style, uniqueness, or any other aspect that the team feels is important.