Paradiso 354 by SARCO Architects

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.

All this within a clean, modern, almost minimal tropical architectural design. 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.

Paradiso 354 — Photo © Andrés García Lachner

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.

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. 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.

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. The bathrooms were designed using large-format porcelain stoneware with a range of colours and textures. 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.

Interior Architecture Vision
SARCO Architects’ projects are developed with a unified approach; fundamental elements such as interior architecture and architectural lighting design are main components to this integrated design approach. Paraiso354 was built with modern minimalism in mind and its interior was designed to match the architectural spaces. The aim was to make the spaces practical and stylish while still highlighting the stunning views that are a key part of this home.

We wanted to create a comfortable, feature-rich atmosphere, always using the magnificent panoramas as the centerpiece. For an inviting atmosphere, custom solid wood cabinetry has been included throughout the home to evoke the look and feel of warmth. uanacaste wood with its unique natural grain offers a great contrast against other materials, projecting depth and character. The purpose of having limited decorative lighting and other elements was to maintain the modern, minimalist look of the home and create a backdrop for the beautiful views outside.

Architectural Lighting Design
From the front facade, the lighting design is simple, with a focus on accentuating landscape elements in the surrounding gardens and the main central courtyard before the main entrance. Once in the main entry foyer and terrace, the lighting focuses on creating subtle but strong accents on architectural elements. The metal look porcelain walls at the back of the terrace are lit up by floor recessed light strips, which also create a stunning accent of the teak wood on the underside of the large floating roofline.

Tiny spots were used along the pool for a visual indication of the end of the terrace, and those are mirrored along the underside of the long roof along the terrace side, creating a soft glow of light along the terrace edge. Light strips were used throughout the project as details associated to architectural elements. For example, the Den features a recessed cube with a floating desk which glows light up and down to emphasize the cube. The lower level corridor features a single light strip that runs the entire lenght of the corridor, creating a strong ambiance and a complement for the intense colors of the artwork by Andrea Bischof.

Landscape Design Vision
The landscape design of this home is designed to be calming and subtle in comparison to the bold architecture. By selecting lush, bushy plantings for the front areas, we create a strong yet balanced look that further enhances the building’s aesthetic. To give the entrance courtyard between the driveway and front entrance of the home a proper look, we decided to place some mature trees as an essential part of the landscape design. It was decided that two Caoba trees were the most suitable for their lush green foliage, strong branch structure and their grown up, mature size. Source by SARCO.