While designing and developing a community at Ambergris Cay, a 1,100-acre private island there, he began to draw.

“For each design, I developed a hand sketch, and took it to Sam Roubini,” he said. “He wove Versace’s rugs for years. He’d say: ‘Do it this way for a classical balance, or this way for depth.’”

As a result, each rug has been hand-knotted in a slightly different construction in terms of layering, texturing and depth, and in combination of silk to wool.

“They’re inspired by the sandy beaches of Ambergis Cay,” he said. “The Manta Ray is a little like an Escher print, shaded to light. The Beach Walk is kind of like footsteps, meandering left to right. And Reflections is about ocean wave action, with the sun glistening.”

The rugs are an extension of the architect’s growing portfolio of interiors, exteriors, textiles and books. “Through my work in architecture and interior design, I’m always trying to impart a human touch, an artisan’s quality, that’s not technological or hard edged,” he said. “These are all abstractions of one idea – they all revolve around an aquatic theme.”

The new rugs are typically 6’ x 9’ or 9’ x 12’, but can be custom woven if necessary. “There’s no repetition to them,” he said. “You could use them wall to if you wanted, because the design is continually expanding out.”

For more on Campion Platt, go to: http://www.campionplatt.com/

For more on Roubini Rugs, go to: http://www.roubinirugs.com/

For more on Ambergis Cay, go to: http://architectsandartisans.com/index.php/2010/01/a-private-island-in-the-turks-and-caicos/

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The 1,100-acre private island is three miles long and one mile wide, with eight miles of beaches and shoreline. There’s whale watching at a man-made cove at one end, and world class sport-fishing all around. The community is conservation conscious – there’s an architectural review board, and a naturalist on staff.

The island is accessible, with its own 5,700-foot runway for 17-minute flights from nearby Providenciales, the sole stop from New York via USAir or American. For private aircraft, it’s a two hour and fifty minute direct flight from Westchester Airport.

Its developers, DPS Sporting Club Development Company, are seasoned professionals, with a track record at Ford Plantation near Savannah and Greenbriar Village at The Greenbriar. They say they’ve already invested about $150 million in infrastructure for the private club at Ambergris Cay – with a desalinization plant, road construction and electricity.

“It’s seemingly untouched because most of that infrastructure is underground,” said Campion Platt, architect for the first round of 15 homes built there. “It’s all been planned very much in advance. They’re years ahead of the competition down there.”

Most of its clientele is looking for second or third homes, which generally feature pods made up of a master suite and two guestrooms. Three different interiors are offered – contemporary, transition or classical. “It’s a one-stop shop,” Campion said. “It can all be done in a year – and it’s convenient because owners don’t have to ship everything in.” Of the 500+ home sites available, 200 have been sold.

To say the homes he’s built from concrete block there are sturdy is an understatement. He’s adhered to Dade County hurricane codes, with impressive results. During last year’s hurricane – the first in 40 years – winds reached 140 miles per hour, but his houses stood firm. “We only lost one gutter and one shutter,” Campion said.

For more information on Ambergris Cay, visit www.tcsportingclub.com [[Show as slideshow]]