This Costa Rican Villa Melds Raw Edginess With a Natural Vibe in a Luxe Getaway

Perched on a lush jungle hillside overlooking Costa Rica’s Playa Hermosa Beach, this luxury villa is a tropical paradise that melds spectacular architecture, stunning views and an interior where every bit of decor is a work of art.

Art Villas near the town of Uvitan in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, was designed by architects Dagmar Å tÄ›pánová and Martina Homolková of Formfatal in the Czech Republic. Inspired by the tropical atmosphere and colorful vibe of life in Central and South America, the architects sought to create a retreat that makes the investor’s dream come true: A place where visitors become one with their surroundings and can clear their minds in an atmosphere that fuses luxury and adventure.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Puntarenas Province on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and the Gulf of Nicoya is a popular place for tourists. It’s known for the port city of the same name, which visitors like to explore because of the culture, nearby surfing and historical value. The city is also a commercial fishing port and a terminal for ferries and a docking station for cruise ships crossing the Pacific. Naturally, it’s a logical place for having a luxury haven nearby.

Art Villas has three unique villas and one multifunctional pavilion are scattered over a plot of nearly five acres. This striking concrete residence, conceptualized by the Refuel Works studio, was the first to be designed and finished.

The two-story structure is a dichotomy of luxury and raw beauty and covers more than 6,000 square feet. The spacious common area that includes a foyer, main living room, kitchen with a dining room, and the roofed terrace by the pool, the villa has five bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. In the basement, there is a playroom for the children, a gym, a dance hall, a walk-in closet, a laundry room and utility rooms.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Even though the villa is surrounded by the jungle, landscape architects Atelier Flera designed the immediate area surrounding the structure to be as pleasing as possible, focusing on native vegetation. The result is a feeling that the house is immersed in greenery.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

The interior design was inspired not only by the surrounding jungle that is tangled and wild but also by the work of Brazilian architect Paulo Mendez da Rocha. Throughout the home, concrete walls are deliberately left raw, and natural, which complements the other elements and materials such as water and greenery – altogether creating an unusual environment, that contrasts the wild and the luxurious. throughout the villa,  teak wood, metal, and linen dominate the villa, and while custom-made furniture in pastel sand bright colors truly bring to life the overall concrete monolithic interior.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Art Villa is mainly furnished with pieces designed and custom-made by local craftsmen as well as some manufactured in the Czech Republic and then brought to the home. A mélange of custom pieces and several armchairs that were all designed by South American designers and architects are an example of how the designers mixed pieces of various provenance.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

In the kitchen, a watercolor jungle motif is hand-painted on the kitchen backsplash and in a manner, reflects the life that is going on bey0nd the walls out in nature. Woven pendant shades emphasize the natural feel and the backlit shelving really puts the focus on the mural. The dining table has an avant-garde shape that’s edgy, highlighted even further by the multicolored painted stools.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Looking toward the living room, from the kitchen, you can see how greenery is incorporated into the interior decor and how suspended tracks for the lighting work with the solid concrete structures. The pop of sky blue used for the expansive sectional sofa is a hint to the outside and brightens the space, still with a natural bent. The light fixture above the living area is particularly playful because each light actually has the shape of a giant bulb, and they are knotted into an artful tangle of rope that creates a distinctive light. Every piece in the villa is carefully considered and positioned to enhance the time spent indoors.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

All five bedrooms and bathrooms feature floors of ornamental cement tiles floors, which were custom-made over the border in Nicaragua. The patterns and colors reflect natural hues with a bit of blue to inject liveliness. The same whimsical light fixture — just in a smaller version — hangs in the bedrooms as well. The bed itself has a low, luxurious profile well suited to the overall design of the villa, with the natural wood adding warmth to the space. Above the bed, built-in wall lights are enough for reading while the lighting behind the headboard adds a bit of moodiness to the room.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

A far cry from the basic tall mirror and shelving, these unique elements do the job with much more flair. The wide-open feeling of the villa is maintained with small design touches such as attaching the round industrial shelf just to the ceiling. Meanwhile, the mirror sits in front of the wooden shelf and is attached to the floor as well as the ceiling but with just two metal posts.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

In the bathroom, the same method is used for the base of the pedestal for the sink. The same round element is used to support a wooded surface topped with a natural stone vessel sink. Wall-mounted taps keep the look uncluttered and eliminate the need for a larger vanity.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

The master bathroom has a larger vanity with a similar sink but is paired with a more traditional faucet. The sleek but natural look is achieved by using different geometries as well as a variety of materials. You can also see the use of slatted wood along with the cement tile in the bathroom areas. The deep freestanding concrete tub is situated by the window offering stunning jungle views to help any bather relax.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio
Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Of course, spending time outside the walls of the villa is a priority for any getaway and Art Villa makes it easy to do thanks to plentiful outdoor relaxation space. The patio sits adjacent to the swimming pool, which also has a deck perfect for sunbathing. Furniture that’s made for lounging sits just under the eaves for shade and shelter from rain, and a long dining table means that you can take any and all meals outside.

Art Villas Costa Rica by Formafatal patio

Indeed, Art Villa is a jungle paradise that is designed for luxurious relaxation with a natural twist. It certainly promises a vacation like no other.