Guanacaste, Costa Rica, $1.575 million
A Contemporary Property in a Sustainability-Focused Resort
Called Villa Serena, the home is in Reserva Conchal, a 2,300-acre beachfront resort on the country’s northwest coast. Standout amenities include the 96-acre wildlife reserve, a beach club, two spas, a large oceanfront fitness center and numerous outdoor activities such as kayaking and stand-up paddling. Reserva Conchal has several real-estate developments, each with its own aesthetic, and Villa Serena is part of Melina, whose dozen homes have views of the Robert Trent Jones II golf course and nearby tropical forest.
Sustainability is a priority at the resort: It has close to 1,400 solar panels that provide renewable energy including solar-powered streetlights, a desalination plant that re-mineralizes seawater to make it drinkable and an A.I.-equipped irrigation system that prevents overwatering. The development also produces organic fertilizer to use in its green areas and promotes reusable water bottles.
Size: 5,000 square feet
Price per square foot: $315
Indoors: Built on the golf course, Villa Serena, while contemporary in design, has a tropical feel thanks to its open layout and abundance of indigenous trees and flowers that surround the home, including hibiscus bushes. Features include vaulted ceilings, off-white granite and marble countertops and floors, and a sprawling living room on the entry level that opens to a large terrace. The master suite is also on the main level and has both an indoor and outdoor shower. The rest of the bedrooms, all with terraces, are on the second floor.
Green elements include the sliding doors and ceiling fans that naturally cool the home and make air-conditioning unnecessary (though it does have air-conditioning), solar panels and a gray-water recycling system for bathrooms and irrigation. Villa Serena is constructed with sustainable local wood.
Outdoor space: The lawn is large, as is the terrace, which has an infinity pool facing the golf course, a hot tub, seating area and kitchen with a barbecue.