BACOLET BAY, Trinidad and Tobago — Jay Ferreira, who was born in Trinidad and had grown to love its sister island, Tobago, had yearned to build something groundbreakingly modern there, eventually choosing Bacolet Bay, a stomping ground of Hollywood celebrities in the mid-20th century, as the site for his eco-friendly property.

Mr. Ferreira, 35, recalled that the Blue Haven Hotel, close to his property, which he named The Marion Villa, had hosted people like John Lennon, Rita Hayworth and Queen Elizabeth. “This is where all the high-end people live,” a taxi driver had remarked as he pulled up to the property, mentioning the name of a retired United Nations diplomat who lived nearby.

But for Mr. Ferreira, a real estate and securities investor, the $1.8 million property was another step in realizing his goal of owning guest properties throughout the Caribbean that “stay clear of the classical Caribbean architecture” with its colonial influence.

“I think, moving forward, we should adopt modern styles of living,” said Mr. Ferreira, who now lives in Connecticut. “I think we need — as young Caribbean people — we need to be a step ahead, create modern architecture, sustainable ways of living.”