Paraíso 354 | SARCO Architects

PROJECT CREDITS:

ARCHITECTURE: SARCO Architects Costa Rica

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE: SARCO Architects Costa Rica

ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING: SARCO Architects Costa Rica

LANDSCAPE DESIGN: TPA Taller de Paisaje y Ambiente

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: SARCO Architects Costa Rica

PHOTOGRAPHY: Andrés García Lachner

Paraiso354 Residence, by SARCO Architects Costa Rica is an expansive award-winning modern tropical luxury residence with the utmost attention to detail and precision in design and construction.

Paraiso 354 is one of the latest in our long list of luxury homes that SARCO Architects Costa Rica have done in Peninsula Papagayo over the years.

Paraiso354 was recipient of two awards at the 2021-2022 International Property Awards, a prestigious international design competition in London, UK. It was the winner of:

● 5-Star, Best Architecture Single Residence Costa Rica 2021-2022

● 5-Star, Best Residential Property Costa Rica, 2021-2022

● Nominated for the Best Residential Property Americas Award, 2021-2022

Project Brief and Planning

Paraiso354 was a project which, from the beginning, was designed as a ultra-high end property for sale. However, our client's vision for the project was specific and ambitious. It deviated from the conventional "design it and build it to be cheap" mindset that most spec homes tend to follow by aiming to go above and beyond with Paraiso354. With our expertise in home design and construction, we could create a top of the line luxurious vacation destination. Aiming the best of the best in architecture design, it would feature ample, luxurious spaces with no expense spared on architectural finishes or systems. Our main aim was to construct a stunning 6-bedroom home that would have amenities and spaces to take advantage of outdoor living and the unique scenery in the surrounding area. At the same time, it would reflect ultimate luxury and coziness on the inside. All this within a clean, modern, almost minimal tropical architectural design.

We took advantage of some very special possibilities offered by the site in order to create a unique home. Generally, homes are designed to make the most of a particular view. This is done by orienting the majority of it towards that one direction. Paraiso354 has a spectacular vista of the bay in a westerly direction and towards the sea.

Additionally, there is a stunning sight of a secluded bay at the entrance to an estuary with mangrove forest on the other side and north Peninsula lit up in the background. The alternate perspective also enabled us to build a home with two distinct views. The westward orientation allows occupants to savor spectacular sunsets from the indoors or outdoors, thereby making the best use of these picturesque surroundings.

Taking advantage of its northward location, the bedrooms wing is designed to face the bay and forest below. This prevents direct sun exposure while still allowing for great views from the balconies and private moments with a cool atmosphere. The Family Den is strategically located to provide the best possible views. You can take in 180-degrees of natural beauty of Peninsula Papagayo from here, while also enjoying the serenity of the environment.

We also intentionally elevated the main level of the house from the natural level of the terrain, with the intention to provide a more commanding view over the bay below. At the same time, this would reduce the amount of excavation needed for the lower level of the home, adding to the project's environmental considerations. Overall, Paraiso354 would be designed as a luxurious ultra-high end property developed with the highest standards of quality and luxury in mind.

Architectural Finishes and Materials

Essential to its modern tropical and minimal design, this home was outfitted with Italian porcelain stoneware tiles for its architectural materials and finishes. The main level was designed with dark quartzite stone porcelain flooring to temper the intensity of the afternoon sunlight. The porcelain flooring seamlessly flows into the Lauttner-edged swimming pool for a unique and visually stunning effect. For a lighter atmosphere, a variation of lighter quartzite stoneware porcelain was used in the lower level.

The facade of the home is designed to make a bold statement with dark colors that blend in well with the natural environment. Large-sized slabs and porcelain stoneware are used as accents on this facade, creating an eye-catching effect against the greenery. The cubes had been carefully crafted to fit the size of the slabs, meaning that none of them needed to be cut or trimmed. So a full-sized piece was used in all their accents for an impressive finish. The aged iron of the cubes is further enhanced by the addition of natural teak vertical screens that enhance the glass curtain wall surrounding it at the main entrance, 

along with the massive barn door in Guanacaste wood that opens up to the wow-factor of the main view out to the bay.

Gorgeous natural teak ceilings adorned the main level and outdoor balconies, creating a cozy atmosphere in harmony with the dark quartzite flooring. The use of teak wood is truly unmatched, providing striking beauty and warmth.

Within the building, you'll find bright white walls that serve as a backdrop for artwork by Austrian artist Andrea Bischof. The vibrant shades of color provide a stunning contrast to the crisp white space. Andrea painted these pieces while in Peninsula Papagayo, inspired by the tones and the light around the area.

The bathrooms were designed using large-format porcelain stoneware with a range of colours and textures. We chose to combine dark, dramatic stone with the soothing whiteness of glossy and matte tiles to create a unique look. For a heightened indoor-outdoor vibe, glossy wall finishes were chosen for the bathrooms to create a mirror effect showcasing the breathtaking greenery from the exterior. The main bathroom was designed to be an inviting and tranquil oasis with striking quartzite-like slabs adorning the walls, accompanied by a serene matte opaque glass. All these culminate in an open layout that seamlessly connects to the spacious outdoor balcony.