Architecture, Space

Achioté Costa Rica

View all 39 Photos

Architects

Formafatal

Location

Uvita, Costa Rica

Year

2022

Photographer

BoysPlayNice

Two rammed earth villas inspired by nature and yin and yang energies.

Designed as a duo of boutique villas for holiday rentals, the Achioté (Annatto) complex is located near the town of Uvita, Costa Rica. Architect Dagmar Štěpánová of Czech architecture and interior design firm Formafatal has designed the two structures with clean contemporary lines but with materials that blend them seamlessly in the jungle setting. Using clay soil from the excavation stage, the team built all perimeter bearing walls from rammed earth with warm, natural hues. Inspired by the yin and yang energies as well as the surrounding nature, the villas feature simple forms and complementary light and dark hues. The location, on a hill with ocean views, allowed the architect to design the buildings as partly levitating volumes that extend toward and over the slope.

Rammed earth and concrete finished in sandy and dark red terracotta colors.

The minimalist design features only essential elements. At the same time, the simplicity of the brutalist and Bauhaus-style aesthetic puts every detail into focus. The villas have deliberately sharp lines that contrast the organic beauty of the jungle. However, the chosen materials and colors soften the contrast and give a nod to the surroundings. Both villas have the same size and orientation as well as the same layout and material palette. The color palette differs, however, with the Japis Villa reflecting the yin energy and the Nefrit Villa the yang energy. Set only 12 meters apart, the two volumes offer different experiences. Jaspis has a brighter palette with light sandy hues, while Nefrit boasts darker, red-terracotta colors.

The team paired the rammed earth walls with concrete and non-slip cement. The villas also feature custom concrete furniture finished with a smooth, matte cement screed surface. Lighting and accessories created by international designers complete the design. Frameless glass opens the interiors to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The architect also designed terraces and an infinity plunge pool for each villa. Newly planted tropical plants immerse the structures into the jungle further. Photography © BoysPlayNice.

More for you

Catskills Residence


Architecture

A wood-clad cabin purposefully designed to look at home in the breathtaking landscape…

Dar El Farina House


Architecture

A desert house designed with rammed earth walls and a linear sequence of living space…

Casa Coo


Architecture

A 1923 villa in Rome, reimagined as a contemporary living space with refined details …

The Hat House


Architecture

A wood cabin built in a birch forest clearing with views of mountains and a lake.
Na…

Oberwil House


Architecture

A sculptural concrete house nestled in a verdant neighborhood in Basel, Switzerland.

The Coach House


Architecture

A family house in London designed with L-shaped volumes that open to a courtyard.
Ne…

Around the world

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Ftelia Beach Club


Around the World

Italian design meets modernist vibes in a tranquil retreat by the sea in Greece.
Nes…

Pa.te.os, A stunning coastal r...


Around the World

Four concrete houses that invite guests to lose themselves in a spectacular coastal l…

Staff Picks

Summer Houses in Rågeleje

RL House by Wiyoga Nurdiansyah

Tinyleaf, Or The Perfect Tiny Cabin

Casa Chouso Bruno Dias Arquitetura

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX