Beyond the huge ironwood entrance doors, steps across a pond lead directly into the spacious air-conditioned living pavilion.  Here, the vaulted Merbau-wood-lined roof soars over a marble dining table for ten, and clusters of seating set before a lacquered cabinet concealing the TV.  A wall of glass doors opens onto the dining terrace edging the large pool, at the other end of which rises the master bedroom pavilion taking prime position at the cliff edge.

This magnificent space opens directly onto an enormous ironwood deck edged with seating and seemingly suspended over the cliff edge.  The views from here are amazing, as they are from the super-sized 2.4-metre four-poster bed, the statement bathtub, and both indoor and outdoor showers.  The room is cooled by both air conditioning and ceiling fans and equipped with a Sonos sound system and 32-inch LED TV on a movable platform.

But where’s everything else? First impressions can be deceptive, for Villa Hamsa has been so cleverly designed that the rest of the rooms are hidden away from view; the three spacious guests suites – each with king-size beds convertible to twins, and ensuite bathrooms  – are tucked away on another level below the pool and master pavilion.  One opens onto a small balcony with stunning sea views.  The other two look onto a private courtyard where a statement bathtub rests surrounded by a pond on a small deck accessed from both bedroom and bathroom.  All three guest suites are equipped with 42-inch cable TVs and cooled by a choice of overhead fans or air conditioning.  From the corridor linking the bedrooms, a spiral staircase leads down to a meeting room opening onto a small garden at the cliff edge.

This clever layout gives a high level of privacy to guests, and means there’s plenty of corners for quiet retreat.