The Build

At the heart of this project was one decision: the material. Prefabricated wood from the Mennonites in Spanish Lookout, traditional brick and mortar, or steel.

The architect's advice and a commitment to sustainability pointed to steel. It is robust and nearly 90% recyclable. Despite a slightly higher price, it builds faster and more efficiently. It resists the cracking that brick suffers here, and the finish is smooth enough that the frame itself becomes part of the look.

Handling pieces that size on a rural site is not simple, but the trade was worth making.

In January we got the green light from the Central Building Authority. Navigating the process required patience, but we persevered.

February took us back to Belize, where we connected with family, laid the groundwork for the project and spent time in the Cayo neighbourhood. Each step has taught us the value of research and unhurried decisions.

Libélula, Spanish for dragonfly, symbolises transformation, resilience and agility.

It has been a long time in the planning, but today, Monday 22nd April, marks the beginning of excavating the foundation.

Amid the excitement there is a hint of nervousness. Overseeing a construction project remotely from thousands of miles away in the UK is daunting, and it will be the collective power of the team that makes it happen. Strip away the layers of any project and it is people who make things happen.

Excavations kicked off on 22 April. A good first week.

Week two has been all about digging foundations by hand, laying the groundwork for something special.

Our architect, Gustavo, visited and photographed the work. We are on track to have the foundation ready for concrete pouring next week.

Gustavo inspects the site to make sure everything is ready for the next step, casting and pouring the concrete foundation. On Friday, Cayo Steel will install the anchors that support the structure of the steel-framed house.

Steel rebar in for strength. Foundation trenches taking shape. Casting and pouring the concrete foundation. Essential materials delivered.

Thank you to Gustavo Guerra for the site inspection, and to Team Libélula.

The brickwork is almost finished and preparation for the tie beam and the posts that will support the steelwork is well underway. The foundational trenches and footings are in place and flooring starts soon.

It is taking longer than expected, but constructing by hand in hundred-degree tropical heat is not something to be envied. These construction workers are the real thing.

Gustavo inspected the site with Emidio, the plumber. The foundation block wall is nearly complete.

Next: cast stub columns and steel anchors, lay plumbing pipes, dig electricity trenches, pour the reinforced concrete floor slab.

It finally rained after weeks of dry weather, refreshing the air and lifting everyone's spirits.

Foundation block wall now fully complete. Stub columns and steel anchors cast. Plumbing pipes laid. Electricity trenches in place.

Today is a significant day: pouring the reinforced concrete floor slab, which gives the house its base.

Next: allow the slab to cure, pour the concrete cap, build the ramp, and start constructing the steel frame.

The team in action, pouring the slab.

A brief pause while the concrete cured. Now the foundation is set, the site looks good and we are ready to turn this concrete canvas into a steel one. The trees are watching.

Despite the scare from Hurricane Beryl, Belize remains as it was. Steel frame construction starts next week.

Beryl made history this week as the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane. Its intensification was partly due to record-warm ocean temperatures, which also contribute to sea level rise and harm marine life.

Island nations are on the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and rising seas. Building here means building with that in mind.

The Cayo Steel Works team has been working to stabilise the ground so their truck can offload the steel beams for the frame.

Following Hurricane Beryl there has been heavy rain, leaving the ground wet and unstable, and the cement truck from a month ago had already churned it up. Hardcore rubble went down to firm it.

It is always striking how quickly vegetation grows in the tropics. Look how far the grass has come in under a month.

And just like that, Libélula's steel frame is up.

We started with a solid foundation and steel anchors, ensuring long-lasting stability. Despite the heavy rains turning the site muddy, the Cayo Steel Works team stabilised the ground and kept construction on track.

In just two days the steel frame took shape, showing the future layout of the lodge for the first time.

Next up: roof, walls, windows and doors.

The steel frame is complete, zinc panels are installed and the welding sparks are flying, just in time for the Olympics starting in Paris.

Digging in the trenches. Utilities being installed to Libélula.

Despite the downpours adding difficulty, we made progress this week. First, we finished digging the trench in preparation for the concrete post and electricity service connection, wet boots and all.

Inside, the highlight has to be the installation of the steel stairs. It is surprising how something as simple as stairs changes the feel of a space, making it read as a house with each step.

And the sparks flew again as we finished welding the steel zinc sheets. The rain tried to slow us down; the team powered through.

The build continues despite the heat and rain.

Plumbing and electrical first fixes complete. Rebar installation and casting of the first-level flooring, balcony and bedroom concrete roofs complete. Architect site inspection focused on structure, electrics and plumbing, keeping conduits neat to avoid wall patching and to allow efficient insulation.

Next: construct walls and roofing, install windows and doors for weatherproofing.

From blueprints to brick by brick, we are raising the bar.

Libélula is taking flight. The walls are nearly complete and each step brings us closer.

We are building a simple modular holiday home on the banks of the Mopan River, and the point of doing it this way is that it stays simple.

Step by step, brick by brick. Plastering begins, and the site has its first visitor.

From blueprint to riverside sanctuary. Steel beams rise, walls go up, and the layout takes shape: open-plan kitchen, dining and living, walls being plastered, the first en suite readable as a room.

Where peace, nature and sustainability meet.

A spooky week at Libélula as Halloween vibes met hard work on the build. Happy Diwali to all those who celebrated.

There are still two months left of this year. A lot can happen in two months.

The concrete roof is cast, a major step forward.

This moment feels more meaningful this week, as we paused on Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US to honour all those who gave their lives for their country. A special thought goes to those who carry lasting injuries, both physical and mental.

After heavy rains and flash floods swept through Cayo and parts of the country, Belize has shown its resilience. The rivers have calmed, the jungle has flourished, and the land is alive again.

Storms like Sara are a reminder of what sustainable design has to do here:

• Build above flood-prone ground with resilient materials
• Strengthen riverbanks with natural barriers, trees and vegetation
• Keep a flood response plan for safety and protection

Belizean rivers, despite the challenges, remain a symbol of renewal.

Twenty-nine weeks of steady effort, and the gable roof and brickwork are coming together. Each step brings us closer to the steel roof.

This Thanksgiving I am taking a moment to reflect on the journey and the people who have been part of it. Their commitment has made this progress possible.

This week I also want to honour the memory of my beloved Soo, whose gentle presence brought joy to our family.

Preparations are underway to add a safe canopy over Libélula, much like the trees provide in the Belize rainforest.

Progress continues as we shape an eco-lodge retreat by the Mopan River, blending sustainability, comfort and the land it sits on.

Merry Christmas from Libélula River Lodge. Wishing you a season filled with love, joy and cherished moments. Like the dragonfly, may this Christmas bring hope and new beginnings.

From our riverside dream to yours, here is to 2025.

A roof is more than a practical necessity. It marks the step where a structure becomes a home. As 2025 begins, the roof is finally on.

This 24-gauge standing seam steel roof is no ordinary addition. It is built to endure Belize's tropical climate, to reflect heat, and to sit quietly against the river with a clean modern line. It is the result of deliberate planning rather than improvisation.

Every step of it was considered. That is the philosophy for the rest of the project too: impact over activity, doing less but with greater purpose.

Structure up. Steel frame, brick walls and roof, done. The subfloor is levelled.

Windows ordered. Soon they will frame the river views, golden sunsets over the water.

White pitched ceiling confirmed. Bright, airy and timeless, so the space glows with natural light.

Floors locked in. Ceramic wood-style tiles for that warm, organic feel. Imagine barefoot mornings with a coffee in hand.

Next up: kitchen design, septic tank install and finalising the electrics. One step closer to a riverside retreat.